ated with a desire to scratch [1] . Just like skin pruritus, its etiology may be of dermatological or non-dermatological origin. It is common for the dermatologist to encounter patients with no evident cause of scalp pruritus, making it a distressing situation for both the clinician and the patient. The aim of this paper is to review the clinical signs of the most common causes of scalp itch and other less common causes that must be considered in a systematic approach to scalp pruritus. Materials and MethodsWe performed a MEDLINE search through PubMed (1975PubMed ( -2017, using the terms scalp itch and scalp pruritus and included clinical trials, review articles, case series, and case reports to search for the causes of scalp itch. PathophysiologyAlthough various pathogenic etiologies contribute to scalp pruritus, the scalp itself has distinct neuroanatomy and vasculature, specific neuromediators and corresponding receptors, as well as the presence of scalp sebum and microflora, which are all properties that may explain its tendency to be implicated in patients who complain of itch. Keywords Scalp · Itch · Pruritus · Seborrheic dermatitis · Contact dermatitis · Anxiety · Lichen planopilaris · Lice · Pediculosis · Psoriasis · Trichoscopy AbstractScalp itch is a frequent complaint in the dermatological setting. It is common for the dermatologist to encounter patients with no evident cause of scalp pruritus, making it a distressing situation for both the clinician and the patient. The aim of this paper is to propose a systematic approach to scalp itch, which classifies scalp pruritus into two types: (1) with or (2) without dermatological lesions, and presence or absence of hair loss. Also, it is important to think first about the most common causes and then rule out other, less common etiologies. The acronym SCALLP and the five steps for scalp evaluation (listen, look, touch, magnify, and sample) are useful tools to keep in mind for an assertive approach in these patients.

Female patients with FFA are significantly more likely to have SLE. Patients with LPP (including CLPP and the FFA subtype) are less likely to have diabetes. Patients with CLPP excluding FFA are less likely to have hypertension, heart disease, and hypothyroidism.

Background: Contact dermatitis of the scalp is common and might be caused by many chemicals including metals, ingredients of shampoos and conditioners, dyes, or other hair treatments. Eliciting a careful history and patch tests are necessary to identify the responsible allergen and prevent relapses. Objectives: To identify allergens that may cause contact dermatitis of the scalp by reviewing patch test results. Methods: We reviewed the records of 1,015 patients referred for patch testing at the Dermatology Department of the University of Miami. A total of 226 patients (205 females and 21 males) with suspected scalp contact dermatitis were identified, and the patch test results and clinical data for those patients were analyzed. Most patients were referred for patch testing from a specialized hair clinic at our institution. Results: The most common allergens in our study population were nickel (23.8%), cobalt (21.0%), balsam of Peru (18.2%), fragrance mix (14.4%), carba mix (11.6%), and propylene glycol (PG) (8.8%). The majority of patients were females aged 40-59 years, and scalp itching or burning were reported as the most common symptom. Conclusion: Frequent sources of allergens for metals include hair clasps, pins, and brushes, while frequent sources of allergens for preservatives, fragrance mix, and balsam of Peru include shampoos, conditioners, and hair gels. Frequent sources of allergens for PG include topical medications.

Introduction: The prevalence of frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) is increasing worldwide and early diagnosis and prompt treatment are necessary to prevent definitive scarring. Currently, there are no FDA approved treatments for FFA. This paper seeks to explore the efficacy of current therapeutic options in FFA. Areas covered: The evidence available to date gives some guidance as to potential effective treatment approaches for FFA patients which include 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors, intralesional steroids, hydroxychloroquine, topical calcineurin inhibitors, excimer laser, pioglitazone, oral tetracyclines and minoxidil. A MEDLINE search (PubMed 1994(PubMed -2015 was performed to identify the cases described in the literature. The MEDLINE search terms Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia and Treatment were used in combination with no language restrictions. We included case reports, case series, review articles and clinical trials which specifically mentioned attempted therapeutic modalities in FFA and their respective outcomes following treatment. Expert opinion: I first reported the efficacy of finasteride in FFA patients 12 years ago and still widely utilize this medication when treating patients with FFA. In treating FFA patients I prefer to associate oral finasteride to topical tacrolimus, hydroxychloroquine and excimer laser in patients with clinical or dermoscopic evidence of active inflammation.