Why Does My Head Itch: 11 Reasons and Amazing Treatments!

Anyone who suffers from an itchy scalp understands that it can appear out of nowhere at any time of year. The experience is never enjoyable, and it can be frightening if it is new and unexpected.

For example, dandruff and fungal infection are common infections on the scalp, ailments treatment that can be easily resolved with the right dandruff shampoo or drs prescription medication. An itchy scalp can be caused by many factors and environmental changes.

While they are easily treatable, you may need to seek a board-certified dermatologist’s help to get rid of them completely. Other reasons like frequent hair washing can be more serious which should not be ignored. Consider the following: precancerous lesions, allergic reactions, and Chronic Autoimmune Disease.

A typical sign of scalp pruritus is an itchy scalp. Scalp itching can have many explanations which we will explore further. The most cause of itchy scalp is dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis which are inflammatory skin conditions and disorders.

Changes or an overgrowth of yeast on the skin can all lead to seborrheic dermatitis that will bother you later.

Dandruff can be caused due to dry scalp, oily hair, or various skin disorders, so we should take special care of all these things.

Home remedies treatment for itchy scalp includes pure coconut oil, tea tree oil, an apple cider vinegar rinse, peppermint oil, and medicated shampoo for treatment.

If the itching persists or you notice any sores on your scalp, a doctor can suggest medicinal scalp treatments that, you should not ignore.

Why Does My Head Itch?

If your head is itching all the time there can be many reasons and most of them are natural in this, we will answer your question- “why does my head itch?”

1. Dandruff

Dandruff can be caused by several factors including irritated, greasy skin as you have a white flaky scalp or flaky skin and scalp itchiness.

Dandruff is caused by three things: an oily scalp (instead of dry), a build-up of dead skin or styling products, or a yeast-like fungal infection called Malassezia, which feeds off the oil on most people’s scalp skin.

Dandruff is not treatable. Most people never recover and will have to deal with the symptoms for the rest of their life. The flakes usually come and go.

Using a specific shampoo to treat dandruff can help you to control your disease and reduce itching and flakiness.

1.1 How To Get Relief?

Massaging the shampoo into the scalp can help remove product build-up instead of just your hair; if flaking occurs, consider a shampoo with zinc or salicylic acid, which combats fungus, buildup, and oil.

Dandruff by itself does not cause hair loss. On the other hand, when a person has severe dandruff he scratches his scalp so hard that it hurts. To get relief from itching, stop using the dandruff-causing product.

1.2 Does Dandruff Stink?

The combination of bacteria and sweat on your scalp can result in an unpleasant odor. Fungal infection on your skin can cause dandruff and a smelly scalp.

The first step in getting rid of the unpleasant odor from your scalp is to determine “Why does my head itch”.

2. Hive

These are red, raised, and extremely irritating lumps that can appear anywhere on the body, including the scalp.

Hives typically appear and disappear within a few hours. Hives can disappear and reappear. Chronic (long-lasting) hives occur when hives appear and disappear for more than 6 weeks.

When hives appear on the scalp, they are frequently accompanied by a rash of itchy red lumps. This is known as allergic contact dermatitis. Hives can be itchy, peeling, or dry and scaly.

Your allergic reaction may subside after washing your scalp with lukewarm water and rinsing away irritants. It does not result in hair loss. Hair loss is a more persistent issue that can have a variety of causes and is not always tied to hives.

2.1 How To Get Relief?

Take an antihistamine, such as Benadryl or Zyrtec.” “A topical antihistamine cream is not something you should try”. They may aggravate the situation.

3. Allergic Reaction

This skin reaction causes intensely itchy scalp, dryness, or overly greasy. When you use a lot of product on your hair, it often becomes irritated, which can lead to scratching.

Hair colors, shampoo/conditioners, and consumer products are the top three sources of scalp-only allergies.

Certain components in hair products can induce an allergic reaction. A scent or a moisturizing ingredient called propylene glycol frequently the allergy reactions.

3.1 What Is The Duration Of Scalp Allergy?

It is not the same for everyone, it varies from person to person, but its effect can last anywhere from a few days to eight weeks in the body. Consult with your board-certified dermatologist about how to treat the reaction so that it does not continue for as long.

4. Scalp Psoriasis

On the scalp, you may have red itchy patch spots, white dandruff scalp itchiness, silvery-white scales, and a dry scalp. Scalp psoriasis is often itchy, ranging from mild to severe itching.

Scalp Psoriasis can be a sign of psoriasis arthritic symptoms which should not be ignored, it’s a serious condition that should be treated in time.

If you suspect you have Scalp Psoriasis anywhere on the body see a board-certified dermatologist for a diagnosis as soon as possible and also see a good rheumatologist for Psoriatic arthritis screening as soon as possible.

4.1 How To Get Relief?

There is no cure for scalp psoriasis. You may have flare-ups and periods when the plaques go away on their own (remission).

If you seek treatment options it can provide relief for your symptoms, treatment for Scalp Psoriasis may include UV light or medications because it is harmful to the sun. These drugs may be applied directly to the lesion(affected areas) or may be injected and you also can take it by mouth.

5. Head Lice (Itchy Scalp)

When you have itching start in the whole head, adult lice lay eggs which are as tiny as a grain of rice that you can see along the shaft of your scalp. If you manage to remove the adult lice first there is a high chance to stop lice. Poor hygiene is also one of the main reasons do not let dirt settle on your hair.

This mostly happens when you come in contact with a person who is already infected or even by using someone’s comb. Adult lice moving cause severe itching.

5.1 How To Get Relief?

It can also be treated using Permethrin shampoo which is easily available in the market.
You will find it easily on OTC too, you can also use home remedies.

6. Seborrheic Dermatitis

Seborrheic dermatitis is often seen after typhoid, corona, malaria, or any other prolonged illness. In this, dandruff sticks to the scalps, it is called Seborrheic Dandruff.

Seborrhoeic Dermatitis dandruff is caused by oil that is stuck on the scalp for a long time. Fungus develops when the oil gland in the body produces more oil than needed.

Seborrheic Dermatitis is the starting of dandruff which is also known as scalp Eczema. This mostly happens to those who have seasonal allergies.
there are two types of Seborrheic Dermatitis-
1-Adult
2-Infantile

It last for a long time but its treatment is for a very short time. You should find out in which season it comes to you and treat it in the same season every time.
There is a big myth “the more you have dandruff the more oil you should apply” This is wrong. That’s why we should not apply oil during Fungal Infections.

6.1 How To Get Relief?

• Need to eat antifungal medicine.
• Apply medicine on the scalp and some shampoo. Applying it for 2-3 minutes also helps to cure some fungal infections.
• If men want, they can apply it daily but for women, it should be used only 2-4 times a week.

7. Nerve Issue

Sometimes you don’t notice anything on your scalp except maybe a few marks from past scratches.

Sometimes the verve in the scalp suddenly overreacts. No one knows the reason why it is a sudden burning sensation in the roots of the nerve. When we scratch it we feel temporary good and there may be a psychological reason.

There is no single neurological condition behind sudden itching, many factors are involved.
Sometimes it may be a previous injury to the brain and spinal cord, due to which we start itching our scalp so hard. If you have no skin problem and no symptoms but still are feeling severe itching it could be a Neuropathy problem and Immune System.

7.1 How To Get Relief?

First and first, you should consult with your doctor to determine the nature of the problem. It could also be due to some previous reason that you ignored and needs to be detected.
Your doctor will then send you to a reputable neurologist for treatment.

8. Scalp Ringworm

Scalp Ringworm is also called Tinea Capitis. It looks like dandruff that is scaly although later it may be a round white patch with raised borders. The main reason for contagious fungal infection is contact with an infected person, who has already had it.
People who keep pets like dogs and cats can easily get infected. “No matter how much you love your pets this is true”.

8.1 How To Get Relief?

For adults antifungal medications are taken by mouth and sometimes Prednisone.
For children antifungal creams and Selenium Sulfide shampoos.

For treatments of Tinea Capitis, you will need to take an antifungal medicine called Terbinafine by mouth for 4 weeks. And if children have any problems Griseofulvin is an alternative medicine for treatments

Antifungal creams can be applied to the scalp to prevent the spreading of Tinea Capitis and other children until it has healed. Selenium Sulfide should also be used at least twice a week for the best result. Avoid frequent washing of your hair.

9. Hair Products Reaction

If your scalp becomes itchy, dry, and flaky, it’s a sign that you need to wash it properly with a decent shampoo.
Don’t wash the scalp in a hurry, it leaves the shampoo on the scalp and can leave further irritation.

And this will leave to itchiness and rashes on the scalp which can lead to a condition called Allergic Contact Dermatitis, this is common in people who color and dye their hair.

Whatever product you are using must keep in mind that it should not contain a dye called Phenyldiamine (which causes of itchy scalp), which is often found in hair color(black hair color). Sometimes you may also be allergic to shampoo and other herbal products that you may apply on the head earlier.

9.1 How To Get Relief?

To stop the scalp itch, the first step is to discontinue the use of the product causing the reaction. In case you have trouble knowing this a board-certified dermatologist can help.

10. Atomic Dermatitis

If you already have any type of Eczema problem like Atomic Dermatitis AD, it can be one of the reasons it developed on your scalp. When you have Atomic Dermatitis you may have redness and flakes on the scalp, in most cases, it also burns the scalp and severe itching.

It does not only appear on the scalp but affects other body parts, it can be a prolonged condition with anyone and is often diagnosed in younger children.
And this is also the most common form of Eczema.

Even if you do proper care of your skin, you may still experience flare-ups again. Therefore you should know in advance how to prevent your symptoms when they return.

10.1 How To Get Relief?

According to clinical research, most people find that using a moisturizer cream twice a day help to control their symptoms.

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11. Skin Cancer

The most common type of cancer is skin cancer, which can develop anywhere on the skin. The area most exposed to UV lights is

Most likely to get skin cancer, and the scalp is one of them. According to Cosmetic and clinical research, 13 percent of skin cancer occurs on the scalp. Skin is the body’s largest organ, the skin, and scalp can be damaged not only by exposure to UV rays but also by pollution and chemicals.

At first, it is difficult to know that you have skin cancer but when you get all the parts of your body evaluated, then it will be known, thus the head should also be examined.
In case, you spend the majority of your time outside (UV rays) you should get your scalp and body checked regularly.

According to women, skin cancer on the scalp is more common in men it could be possible because they don’t take care of themselves as well as women.

Types of skin cancer on the scalp-

• Basal Cell Carcinoma
• Squamous
• Melanoma

11. How To Get Relief?

• Surgery-In this the cancerous tumor is removed and the surrounding damaged skin is cleaned, only then you do not have it again.
• Mohs surgery- When there is frequent and serious skin cancer, then it is used for treatment. This is an attempt to save as much of the skin as possible.
• Radiation– When the skin cancer is large, it may be used as an initial treatment. It is used to kill cancer cells that remain after surgery.
• Chemotherapy- This is used when skin cancer is only in the top layer of the skin.

Conclusion- Why Does My Head Itch

Scalp itching is a common complaint to board-certified dermatologists in dermatology clinics.

For board-certified dermatologists, it often happens that there is no clear and only one cause of itching in the head, due to which there is a lot of difficulty in treatment and which can be a problem for both the doctor and the patient.

Why does my head itch? It is critical to understand the reason for an itchy scalp to manage it. Dandruff is a common cause of itchy scalp.

The presence of a high number of Malassezia species on the scalp is thought to produce dandruff irritation by boosting interleukin-8 production.

Furthermore, lipase is present in the organisms, which hydrolyzes human sebum triglycerides into free fatty acids, causing scalp discomfort and inflammation.