I Recently Discovered That I Have A Small Red Rash/spot On My Scalp That Itches

Posted on Mon, 10 Aug 2020

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Mon, 10 Aug 2020 Answered on

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi, I recently discovered that I have a small red rash/spot on my scalp that itches, stings and is irritated.. it’s only on one spot of my whole head and scalp and for about maybe 3 months I would scratch that one spot because it would itch and now I just seem to have a rash that is irritating and I don’t know what it is or how to relieve the stinging and itching. how to treat it at home. The first time I rubbed alo Vera gel onto it it relieved the stinging and itching and I did it a second time but I think I seemed to have put too much on the second time and it got really irritated and itchy... after I treated it the first time the stinging had went away and it left it dry and itchy..

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Seems like Seborrheic dermatitis

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to ask a doctor service..I have gone through your query and viewed the image.

You seem to have seborrheic dermatitis which presents as dry, scaly, red patches on scalp and sometimes face. I suggest you to use a ketoconazole based shampoo e.g Nizoral 2% shampoo. In addition I suggest you to apply a moderately potent topical steroid lotion e.g Fluticasone propionate 0.05% or Mometasone furoate 0.1%, on the affected area. This is a prescription steroid.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if you need any more assistance.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (9 hours later)

Thank you! Will the nizoral shampoo cause hair loss? is there anything else you’d suggest after nizoral?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (6 hours later)

Brief Answer:
seborrheic dermatitis

Detailed Answer:
Hi.

You may use a conditioner after shampoo. The shampoo wont cause hair loss. You may also use a moderately potent topical steroid lotion e.g Fluticasone propionate 0.05% or Mometasone furoate 0.1%, on the affected area. This is a prescription steroid.

Take care

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar