Scalp picking: why you should not scratch off flakes
HLN, 15 March 2024
Scratching flakes off your scalp as seen on TikTok? Dr Griet Voet in HLN on the risks with psoriasis and eczema, and a better way to deal with it.
Videos of people removing scalp flakes with a comb, tweezers or their nails are going viral. In HLN, Dr Griet Voet explains why that is not a good idea. The videos often show psoriasis, seborrhoeic eczema or a fungal infection, and scratching off the flakes does not tackle that cause.
With psoriasis, scratching can trigger new lesions (the Koebner phenomenon), and small wounds lead to more itching and a vicious circle. Sometimes infections, scarring or even hair loss follow, and the behaviour can turn into a compulsive habit. Dr Voet advises loosening flakes gently with suitable shampoos or topical products and having a doctor determine the cause. If that does not work well enough, prescription treatments are available.
Key advice
Do not scratch or pick flakes off your scalp.
Soften flakes with a suitable shampoo or topical product.
Have a doctor or dermatologist determine the cause of the flakes.
“It may temporarily help the scalp and hair look better, but it does not tackle the cause” — Dr Griet Voet
Want to know more? Read about Hair and scalp disorders at Clinique Dermatologie Gent.