Why does my head feel like my hair is being pulled?

Author: Rosetta Gottlieb  |  Last update: Wednesday, December 17, 2025

Common causes of scalp tenderness and sensitivity. Migraines, headaches, and autoimmune disorders can cause scalp pain, irritation, and inflammation. Sunburns, rashes, wounds, and insect bites also commonly cause scalp tenderness.

Why does my head hurt like my hair is being pulled?

Skin conditions including dermatitis, infections, and psoriasis can affect the scalp and cause tenderness. Other diseases that affect the head or blood vessels in the area, such as tension headaches, can also lead to scalp tenderness. Systemic conditions like fibromyalgia can cause scalp pain.

Why does my hair feel like it's pulling on my head?

The pain, burning, or tingling sensation that you may experience when you move your hair comes from the nerves on your scalp. You feel a strong pull on your head. This happens when the blood vessels in the skin of your scalp are inflamed and press the surrounding nerves, causing scalp sensitivity [1].

Why does my head feel like it's being pulled?

Tension headaches occur when neck and scalp muscles become tense or contract. The muscle contractions can be a response to stress, depression, head injury, or anxiety. They may occur at any age, but are most common in adults and older teens.

Why do the roots of my hair hurt?

Scalp pain can stem from a range of different causes, including skin conditions, infections, hair styling habits, headaches, sunburn, and more. Treatment to reduce scalp discomfort will depend on the underlying cause, and can vary from self-massage, medicated shampoos, or topical or oral prescription medications.

Scalp Pain Decoded: What's Behind the Discomfort?

Why do the roots on my head hurt?

There are many possible reasons why a persons scalp feels sore and tender to touch, including skin conditions such as psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis. Other potential causes of a sore and tender scalp include occipital neuralgia , a type of headache, and alopecia areata .

What autoimmune disease causes tender scalp?

Most people who get polymyalgia rheumatica are older than 65. It rarely affects people younger than 50. This condition is related to another inflammatory condition called giant cell arteritis. Giant cell arteritis can cause headaches, vision troubles, jaw pain and scalp tenderness.

What does a pre-stroke headache feel like?

People describe a stroke-related headache as a very severe headache that comes on within seconds or minutes. Oftentimes, the area affected by the headache is directly related to where the stroke occurs.

What does brain tumor head pressure feel like?

Brain tumor headaches tend to cause pain that's worse when coughing or straining. People with brain tumors most often report that the headache feels like a tension headache. Some people say the headache feels like a migraine. Brain tumors in the back of the head might cause a headache with neck pain.

Why do I feel my hair pulling?

Puberty hormones and stress hormones may prompt hair pulling to start in those who have the genes for it. Habit learning. Many people with trichotillomania feel an itch, tingling, or an urge to do it.

What neurological conditions cause scalp pain?

Overview. Occipital Neuralgia is a condition in which the occipital nerves, the nerves that run through the scalp, are injured or inflamed. This causes headaches that feel like severe piercing, throbbing or shock-like pain in the upper neck, back of the head or behind the ears.

Is scalp tenderness a symptom of MS?

People with multiple sclerosis (MS) may experience abnormal sensations, including pain, burning, itching, or numbness. For some, these sensations affect the scalp and cause discomfort.

How do you reduce inflammation in the scalp?

Natural Remedies for Scalp Inflammation
  1. Aloe Vera: It is well known for its relaxing effects, making it ideal for treating an inflammatory scalp. ...
  2. Coconut Oil: Coconut oil is rich in fatty acids and has anti-inflammatory and antifungal properties, which are beneficial for soothing scalp irritation.

What does a mini-stroke feel like in your head?

The symptoms of a TIA are similar to those of a stroke and include: Numbness or muscle weakness, usually on one side of the body. Trouble speaking or understanding speech. Dizziness or loss of balance.

What does an aneurysm headache feel like?

Symptoms of a ruptured brain aneurysm usually begin with a sudden agonising headache. It's been likened to being hit on the head, resulting in a blinding pain unlike anything experienced before. Other symptoms of a ruptured brain aneurysm also tend to come on suddenly and may include: feeling or being sick.

Can your body warn you a month before a stroke?

Although strokes frequently happen, warning signals may appear a month before a stroke. Here are some early stroke warning signs that you shouldn't ignore. Numbness or weakness: One side of the body, face, arm, or leg may experience this.

What does a dehydration headache feel like?

Pain from a dehydration headache can range from mild to severe. You may feel pain all over your head or in just one spot, like at the back, front or side. The pain usually feels like a dull ache, but it can also be sharp or stabbing. You may have a throbbing (pounding) headache, or the pain might be constant.

What does a high blood pressure headache feel like?

The severity of these headaches can vary from mild to severe. Some people experience a dull ache behind their eyes, while others experience throbbing pain in the temples. Hypertension headaches are often accompanied by nausea, dizziness, blurred vision, and sensitivity to light.

How do I know if the pressure in my head is serious?

You should go to the ER if you have a sudden severe headache that worsens quickly. You should also get immediate medical care if you have a headache and experience: Confused thoughts, slurred speech or weakness.

What does a lupus scalp feel like?

Chronic Cutaneous Lupus

Lesions most often appear on the face, ears, scalp, neck, and hands. They are usually not itchy or painful, but they may cause dark spots or scars that remain on the skin after they heal. Scarring on the scalp may destroy hair follicles and result in permanent hair loss.

What are the red flags for temporal arteritis?

Symptoms of temporal arteritis

frequent, severe headaches. pain or tenderness at the side of your head (temples) or on the scalp. jaw pain while eating or talking. vision problems, such as double vision or loss of vision in 1 or both eyes.

Why does my scalp feel tight?

A dry scalp lacks moisture which causes tightness and feels uncomfortable. Dryness of the scalp is caused by an unhealthy scalp moisture barrier, which can be triggered by many different things like heat styling, or irritation from build up. Whatever the cause, it can lead to itchiness and flakes.

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