Inflammatory baldness or Alopecia Inflammatio occurs as a result of an inflammatory in nature skin diseases, such as psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, various folliculitis, etc., as well as a disease outbreak could be caused by some external action causing skin inflammation as insect bites, such as ticks, bees, ants, etc.

Seborrheic dermatitis is first and foremost a skin condition, but it can also involve temporary hair loss if the dermatitis is located on the scalp or other terminal haired skin areas. The dermatitis shows up as scaly inflamed skin which can be itchy or painful to touch. This is an inflammatory condition the cause of which is not well understood. It seems that the sebaceous glands attached to the hair follicles begin to produce a very rich form of sebum. The sebum contains fewer free fatty acids and squalene but increased amounts of triglycerides and cholesterol. The trigger for this is most likely androgen steroid sensitivity. Times of hormone fluctuation, such as during puberty, can activate the onset of seborrheic dermatitis. The excess rich sebum production in seborrheic dermatitis can trigger the proliferation of skin flora. Yeast Pityrosporon ovale (also called Malassezia furfur) has been shown to gradually increase in numbers with the intensity of seborrheic dermatitis. This excessive yeast proliferation may further be a cause of irritation and inflammation. Although all this inflammation is not specifically directed at the hair follicle, if hair follicles are in the vicinity of the inflammatory cells then they can still be adversely affected. Hair follicles find inflamed skin an unhealthy environment in which to grow. Thus seborrheic dermatitis may non specifically cause hair loss, which should be reversible with reduction of the inflammation intensity.

Psoriasis may affect up to 2% of the world’s population. Psoriasis has a genetic component and it seems Caucasians are the most susceptible ethnic group. The development of psoriasis may occur at any age, but the most common age for it to begin is when people are in their mid thirties. It is another inflammatory skin condition that involves a suspected autoimmune disease mechanism. Clinically, the scalp is often involved with psoriasis plaques especially for children and teenagers. Psoriasis most frequently looks like a bright pink patch that is covered in small scales of dead skin. In severe cases the entire scalp can be affected and the scale builds up and forms a sort of cap that can be seen all over the scalp and may also cover non-hairy areas like the forehead. Sometimes people with psoriasis are also be susceptible to the development of seborrheic dermatitis. This may later turn into psoriasis. As well as directly affecting the skin, psoriasis may also indirectly cause noticeable hair loss if it develops in hair bearing skin such as the scalp. The psoriasis plaques (affected patches of skin) may contain hair follicles that have been forced into the Telogen resting stage by the condition and this results in few visible hairs being present in the psoriasis plaques. This Telogen Effluvium is the typical form of hair loss that psoriasis induces, but sometimes psoriasis can cause a scarring baldness. While psoriasis induced Telogen Effluvium is fully reversible with successful treatment, the psoriasis induced Alopecia Cicatricial is a permanent form of hair loss.

Insect bites can cause skin inflammation process with associated hair loss. Tick bites have been reported as causing patches of hair loss that could potentially be confused with Alopecia Areata. The mild inflammatory response to the tick bite inadvertently affects hair follicles in the immediate vicinity and stops hair fiber production. The hair loss is temporary and regrows when the inflammation subsides. Alopecia Difusa after bee stings has also been reported. There are reports of ants causing a focal hair loss that might be confused with Alopecia Areata. Here the issue is not so much an inflamamatory reaction as occurs with skin bites and bee stings, but rather ants that get into the hair can chew off the hair fibers. What is left is a patch of very short stubble. Why the ants cut the hair fiber is not clear, but they might be collecting the hair as nesting material.