Introduction
Traditional herbal mixtures (khalta) are commonly used in North Africa and the Middle East for various purposes, including hair growth, skin care, and general wellness. While often perceived as “natural” and therefore harmless, these preparations are not standardized and may contain irritants or toxic components that may cause unexpected side effects such as skin allergy or scalp hypersensitivity . We report the case of a woman who developed persistent neurological-like symptoms following the application of a khalta for hair growth.
Case Presentation
A middle-aged woman presented with:
Chief complaint: Persistent headaches and scalp pain.
History of present illness: The patient applied a khalta mixture to her scalp with the aim of enhancing hair growth. Shortly after application, she developed skin allergy and local irritation. Over time, she experienced recurrent headaches. Despite discontinuation of the mixture, her symptoms did not improve.
Current status: The patient developed chronic hypersensitivity of the scalp (allodynia). Even gentle triggers such as shampoo or water caused exaggerated pain and discomfort.
Examination: Neurological evaluation was normal. No evidence of structural or systemic disease was found.
Discussion
This case highlights that not all natural hair growth remedies are harmless. Herbal hair mixtures may trigger skin reactions and even neurological-type side effects like scalp allodynia (pain from non-painful stimuli). Physicians should remain vigilant when evaluating patients with unexplained headaches or scalp hypersensitivity.
Conclusion
Herbal mixtures such as khalta may cause not only dermatological reactions but also persistent neurological hypersensitivity. Public health efforts are needed to raise awareness about the risks of unregulated herbal hair growth products.