Expert: Peter J. Panagotacos, <B>M.D.</B> - 10/1/2006

Question
hi,
 I have been having itchy scalp and ocassional flaking especially when i do not wash my hair everyday.  However when i left a moderately dry climate for a very humid climate, the itching and flaking stopped.  
 BUT, i feel like the hair on the top of my head (where the back of my head meets the top of my head) is getting a little thin.  My hairline is still intact.
Any advice.  Also im in school so i am under a lot of stress.

art

Answer
You may have seborrheic dermatitis which can flare up under stress causing itch and scales. Daily shampoo with Head and Shoulders should make it better. The thinning could be from having a telogen effluvium which is an excessive shedding due to stress. This may have caused male pattern balding to show up earlier than it normally would have but most likely the hair lost due to stress will grow back in the next six months. If not see a dermatologist to start Propecia.