I am 29 yrs old, and within the past week, I have begun to have more
hair loss than usual when shampooing or brushing my hair. In fact, I
can simply run my fingers through my hair and pull out 5-20 hairs at
once. Is that normal? I am a blonde and have always had two patches,
one on either side of my head that seem to be "baby hairs".  I can't
ever do anything with them, but now they are more noticeable and
because they are white, my scalp is very visible there.  Also, I
noticed a sore at the very top of my head yesterday.  Today when I
woke up, I had another one around the same area, but closer to the
front of my head.  I forgot they were there initially, unless I combed
over them, but now they itch quite a bit.  I completed 3 treatments of
Accutane for cystic acne six months ago and have FINALLY gotten that
under control.  I'm wondering if anyone else hase experienced this and
if it could be a side effect of the treatment. I also noticed that
this all happened in the same week I started my menstrual cycle, so
maybe it's hormonal or something. To add to that I am a nursing
student and my stress level has gone through the roof! The searches I
have performed on the web list a host of different diseases, but none
seem to have clear pictures. If there is a clear cut diagnosis for
this problem, can you forward it to me, or can you direct me to some
websites with LARGE clear pictures, so I can compare them to what mine
look like.  I don't want to have to deal with another embarrassing
chronic problem! If anyone is out there who found a successful
treatment for this kind of problem, PLEASE SHARE!  Thanks so much!

Yes!  I have been embarrassed to visit my Dr. to say that my head
scabs up every month, but yes, I know what you are talking about.  I
have done lots of web searches looking for some direction or
comparison and have found nothing of any use.  I have experienced it
like this...about 2 yrs ago I had my second daughter and a month or so
after delivery GOBS of hair were falling out...didn't go to Dr.  I
figured that it was normal post-natal hair loss and just went about my
business.  Soon after my head would become REAL itchy about a week
before my period and I got these sticky lesions, for lack of a better
term.  They are right around my hairline to about 2 inches back, all
the way around my scalp.  If I can keep my hands off they dry up after
a couple of days and then I have the pleasent job of getting the scabs
out of my hair for the next week or so without it being noticable to
anyone else.  I have dark hair.  This is not fun or easy.  I wear a
lot of ball caps.  But this happens without fail each and every month
now.  If you have ANY idea of what is going on I would love to share
thoughts.  Well...other than EWWW!  HELP!!!

I'm in my thirties, haven't had any children, but in the last 6 months
I have noticed my hair - normally quite thick - being much thinner. 
It seemed like I was losing more than the 50 to 100 strands the
"experts" say is "normal".  I actually even counted them one day and
it was 224!  I haven't made the connection to any hormonal cycle, but
I'll pay attention now.  I'm not currently on any medication but I did
take Clomid for six months stopping last February.  It seems like my
whole scalp is dry and itchy with little scabs all over.  There are
flakes, too, that seem like more than just dryness.  This is driving
my mad and the more I fret, the more I touch and "check" my scalp -
which can't possibly be good for healing it.  I'm about to break down
and go to the dermatologist since I've tried both dandruff shampoo and
using moisturizer or olive oil on my scalp and neither have helped. 
It's comforting at least to know I'm not the only one with this odd
and irritating condition.  I hope we get an answer!  In the meantime,
best of luck and happy hair.  :)

At least now I know that I'm not the only one with this problem!  I
have never had dandruff or any type of scalp problems.  I have always
had fairly healthy hair, in spite of some of my abuse towards it such
as:  haircoloring, highlighting, blow drying, and using a curling
iron, etc.  However, over the last two months I have suddenly
developed an awful scalp condition with little scab type bumps on my
scalp, and a very dry, itchy, flaky scalp.  It is so embarrassing
because I am a very clean person, and it looks like I don't wash my
hair or something!
I try not to scratch because that just seems to irritate the bumps,
but I am becoming completely obsessed with my hair and scalp.  I have
spent a small fortune trying many different shampoos and conditioners,
and I'm now using a new Head & Shoulders dandruff shampoo for dry,
damaged hair, and one of their conditioners.  It seems better than it
was, but I still have some bumps and flakiness.  I have always used
very high quality shampoos for color treated hair, and now my color
fades so fast after I get it done.  The harsh dandruff shampoos are
terrible for color treated hair.
I have been under a lot of stress over the last two months, and my
scalp problems did seem to start right about the time all of the
stress started, so maybe stress is the reason this is happening, but I
really don't know.  I am a 45 year old woman, and I am starting to go
through some weird hormonal stuff, so maybe that's it.  I really don't
know.
If anyone else who has gone through this scalp thing has any good
suggestions, please post!  I'm desperate!  Thanks!

Vinegar is the answer, white or apple, some people leave it in for 20
min and do a towel rap. I just dilute it 1 to 1 with water and put it
in a spray bottle. Sprits my scalp while before I brush my teeth and
shave.