Understanding Acne Triggers on the Scalp and How to Treat Them
Did you know that acne can appear not only on your face? It turns out that this skin problem can also appear on your scalp. In fact, scalp acne is more common than you might think. This is because there are many follicular pores there, where acne grows.
The problem is, acne on the scalp can cause extreme pain. It is not uncommon for acne to burst prematurely and cause scabs or scars. Not only does it sting when exposed to water and other hair care products, but scabs can also cause hair loss.
That is why you need to know why acne appears on the scalp and how to treat it.
Causes of Acne on the Scalp

Basically, the triggers for acne on the back, top, left, and right of the head are the same. The triggers are:
1. Unclean Hair Condition
For those who want to know what scalp acne indicates, it is usually a sign that your hair is not clean enough. Excess oil and other dirt on the hair can stick to the scalp and clog pores.[1] This can cause inflammation and acne.
2. Choosing the Wrong Hair Care Products
If you feel that you have been taking good care of your scalp but acne still appears there, then it is possible that you have chosen the wrong products. This usually happens when you choose hair care products that contain oil when your hair type is also oily.
Excess oil can be more prone to interacting with acne-causing bacteria on the scalp.[2] The interaction between the two will certainly not be good for your scalp because it can cause acne to appear there.
3. Hormonal Imbalance in the Body
In addition, acnecan also appear on the scalp due to imbalanced hormone production, especially androgens. It turns out that this hormone surge can also cause oil production to spike. This oil can interact with bacteria and other dirt. This interaction can clog pores.
4. Folliculitis of the Scalp
It turns out that scalp folliculitis can also be a major trigger for acne on the scalp. Usually, this happens due to microbial infections in the hair follicles, such as bacteria, fungi, and parasites.[3]Infections from these three types of microbes can cause inflammation on the scalp and acne will appear there.
In addition, trauma to the scalp can also cause folliculitis, such as a scalp wound from shaving or accidentally pulling hair. Using chemicals on the hair can also cause folliculitis. The same goes for ingrown or hairs that grow inward.
How to Treat Acne on the Scalp
If you are wondering whether acne on the head can go away on its own, it actually can. This is because the scalp also has immune cells. So, as long as you do not have a disease that attacks immune cells such as HIV, scalp acne can heal on its own.
However, the healing process is indeed very long, taking months or even years. Here are tips on how to get rid of acne quickly:
1. Make Sure Your Scalp Is Always Clean

The first and easiest thing you can do is keep your scalp clean. This is so that there is no oil, dirt, or dead skin cells there. This way, your pores will not be clogged and acne will not appear there again.
If possible, you should also exfoliate occasionally to make your scalp even cleaner. As a reminder, avoid scratching your head, because that can cause acne to burst prematurely and cause scabs.
2. Use the Right Hair Care Products

Using the right hair care products can also make acne heal faster. Make sure you only use anti-dandruff, oil-free, and non-comedogenic hair care products. These products will not clog the pores on your scalp.
3. Take Acne Medication

Finally, do not forget to take acne medication so that the acne can disappear faster. Without medication, acne usually takes months to disappear. Whereas with medication, mild acne can disappear in just 1-2 weeks.
However, generic medication can cause side effects. For a safer alternative, you can take herbal medicine such as Sido Muncul Herbal Aluss.
This herbal medicine is made from natural ingredients such as galangal and brotowali, which are effective at eliminating acne on the head. You can take this herbal medicine regularly until the acne disappears. Do not forget to read the directions for use so that the results can be much more effective.