Aging of scalp and age-related disorders of scalp

Abstract

Scalp, like skin elsewhere in the body, -undergoes intrinsic and extrinsic aging processes. Bald scalp shows features of both intrinsic and extrinsic aging, typically with marked solar elastosis. Hair provides natural ultraviolet protection, but the protection is not complete. Nonbald scalp predominately shows features of intrinsic aging. Diseases caused by ultraviolet irradiation are more commonly found in balding scalp, including actinic keratosis, squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Other diseases occurring in the aging scalp include seborrheic keratosis, angiosarcoma, and erosive pustular dermatosis (EPD). © 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.