What Would Kojak Do? -or- So That's Why I Had Hair
October 30, 2015 8:49 PM   Subscribe

About a month ago I shaved my head and found the skin underneath wasn't in great shape, pimply and blotchy. I figured this was just a side effect of never seeing the light of day before, so I didn't worry too much about it. Now it's a month late my head is just as blotchy and pimply as it was the first time. What can I do to get it smooth and beautiful—or at least not embarrassing?

At first I just did to the rest of my head to what I do my face (which doesn't have any problems other than being slightly dry): Wash with a moisturizing face wash and apply a sunscreen moisturizer after. The shave cream and razor I use on my face have never given me a problem.

When business as usual didn't seem to do anything I tried:
- Forgoing the razor and shaving it close (<1mm) with a beard trimmer to reduce irritation
- Giving it a good scrub with exfoliating face wash and/or a pouf.

Neither has appeared to make any difference.
posted by Ookseer to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (5 answers total) 2 users marked this as a favorite
 
I wonder if it has something to do with sebum and the flora on your scalp being out of balance, causing pimples and rashes. Try changing your diet (limit carbs, particularly sugar and refined flour) and use Nizorol or something to kill the fungus (supposing that's the problem).
posted by Nevin at 9:36 PM on October 30, 2015 [1 favorite]


Could be the no-longer-shampoo that you're putting on it. You could be allergic, or the moisturization is causing your pimpledom.
posted by rhizome at 10:26 PM on October 30, 2015


Forgoing the razor and shaving it close (<1mm) with a beard trimmer to reduce irritation

FWIW my dermatologist says even the best electric shavers are worse than a good razor with proper lather in terms of skin irritation, don't know where a 1mm trim would fall on this spectrum .
posted by Dr Dracator at 1:00 AM on October 31, 2015


Best answer: I have sebhorreic dermatitis on my scalp which makes it blotchy and gives me little pimples, generally near to the hairline on the back of my head or on the top near the crown. I would have a chat with the doctor and rule out a skin condition before trying anything else so you don't make it more angry, I have long hair but need to wash my scalp 1-2 times a week with a clarifying shampoo to help as it is a reaction to natural yeasts on my skin that causes my symptoms.
posted by Peetree at 7:07 AM on October 31, 2015


Response by poster: Over the counter salicylic acid shampoo and hydrocortisone scalp treatment dramatically reduced what was going on within a day. The latter seemed more effective than the former, though it might just be that shampooing without hair is deeply unsatisfying.
posted by Ookseer at 9:27 PM on November 8, 2015


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