Chesapeake, Virginia native Daree Allen Nieves, 39, has struggled for years with an intensely itchy and irritated scalp. The discomfort began when she started straightening her tightly coiled hair. “I started getting relaxers when I was 13,” she explains.
When she was in her late twenties, she began seeing a dermatologist every few months — first a white doctor, then a Black one. Both prescribed a number of different treatments for her dermatitis (the medical term for skin irritation), but nothing helped. Her scalp problems persisted even after she gave her hair what she calls a “big chop” and went natural.
“I’ve never been given a real cause or solution for my issues,” she says.
Allen Nieves’ experience is not unique. Tightly coiled Black hair is very delicate and can require a lot of upkeep, but sometimes certain products, treatments, and even so-called “protective” hairstyles can cause more problems than they solve. People may notice continuously flaky scalps, slow or no hair growth, or even progressive hair loss, but have no idea what to do about these conditions.
While a person’s first instinct may be to head to a stylist or buy a supplement, thinking that it will finally help hair grow, the real solution should be a visit to a dermatologist — specifically one with experience treating Black scalp issues.