Dr. Muge Guler Ozden is a professor of dermatology at Ondokuz Mayıs University Medical Faculty Department of Dermatology, Samsun, Turkey. Her research interests include research in the areas of Psoriasis, Vasculitis, Atopy and Allergy, Cosmetic Dermatology, Laser, and Behçet\'s Disease.
Trichodynia is defined as a painful sensation in the skin of the scalp or the hair without an underlying cutaneous disease. The term “trichodynia” (cutaneous dysesthesia syndrome) has also been proposed for discomfort, pain, burning, or stinging of the scalp related to diffuse alopecia. Probably, the diffuse alopecia or telogen effluvium and trichodynia are related. The underlying mechanisms creating the pain are not clear, though it has been proposed that it is probably multi-etiological. The most accepted hypotheses are increased expression of the neuropeptide substance P, underlying psychiatric disorders, nutritional deficiencies, and perifollicular inflammation. Although dealing with trichodynia can be distressing and literature support is weak, there are a number of treatments available.
Part of the book: Current Perspectives on Less-known Aspects of Headache