Fungal infections, allergic reactions to hair products, and inflamed hair follicles can cause the scalp to itch and also damage hair follicles, leading to hair loss. In other cases, scarring on the scalp can cause severe itching, because scar tissue can damage the nerve fibers in the skin.
Treatments And Medications For Itchy Scalp
Shampoo with coal tar/anti-fungal ingredients to deal with dandruff and Seborrheic dermatitis. Topical/oral anti-fungal medications for Tinea Capitis. Hair serum and minoxidil to promote hair growth.
The good news is that an itchy scalp isn't likely to cause hair loss, at least not directly. However, some skin conditions that cause you to develop an itchy scalp may affect your hair follicles and contribute to hair shedding and patches of hair loss.
When should you seek medical help? If the itchiness doesn't go away in a few days and is accompanied by hair loss, pain, sores, or intense itching, see your doctor. An itchy scalp due to a fungal infection, lice, and some other conditions won't go away without medical treatment.
If your scalp is dry, itchy, and flakey, then you may have dandruff. The causes of this condition vary: a chronic scalp disorder that replaces skin cells too quickly, poor hygiene, or even a weak immune system. The simplest treatment is a dandruff shampoo or scalp treatment.
Scalp pruritus is a common and distressing symptom. It is most commonly associated with seborrheic dermatitis and psoriasis but appears often without any noticeable skin lesion or obvious diagnosis.
An intensely itchy scalp without signs of a rash or another skin reaction can be a sign of a nerve problem. Your doctor may say you have neuropathy (neu-rop-ah-thie). It's the medical word for a problem along a nerve due to damage, disease, or an abnormality in the way the nerve works.
It can be the result of heredity, hormonal changes, medical conditions or a normal part of aging. Anyone can lose hair on their head, but it's more common in men. Baldness typically refers to excessive hair loss from your scalp. Hereditary hair loss with age is the most common cause of baldness.
Alopecia, also known as alopecia areata, is one of the most common causes of hair loss and hair thinning. Alopecia has a wide range of triggers, from stress to hormonal fluctuations to other medical conditions such as autoimmune disorders. As well as hair loss, alopecia can present with itching and tingling.
Constant scratching can lead to wounds and scabs, further damaging your scalp. The scalp can also become dry as the outer layer of skin becomes weak and lacks moisture. Scratching leaves your hair weak and your scalp vulnerable.
Itching is normal when new hair starts to grow in. The itch usually goes away after a few weeks as your hair gets longer. If the itch is severe, you may have an underlying skin condition like psoriasis or seborrheic dermatitis.
If the body does not have enough water to reach the scalp, the scalp becomes dry, dandruff and other scalp conditions may occur, and hair follicles will not be nourished (water is the key source of minerals – iron, zinc, copper and calcium, which are the most important nutrients for hair), hair then becomes dull, dry ...
Only riboflavin, biotin, folate, and vitamin B12 deficiencies have been associated with hair loss.
There are a wide range of conditions that can bring on hair loss, with some of the most common being pregnancy, thyroid disorders, and anemia. Others include autoimmune diseases, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and skin conditions such as psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis, Rogers says.
If you notice sudden or patchy hair loss or more than usual hair loss when combing or washing your hair, talk to your doctor. Sudden hair loss can signal an underlying medical condition that requires treatment. If needed, your doctor might also suggest treatment options for your hair loss.
"Stress raises levels of androgens (male hormones) in our body,” Dr Chan explains. “This causes our scalp to become oilier, which dandruff-causing yeast love to feed on (hence the itching)."
The water from the shower can strip away the skin's natural oils, causing dryness and itching. Treating these symptoms may not always be as simple as applying a lotion or moisturizer. Sometimes, dry, sensitive skin needs additional care to alleviate the irritation and dryness that cause the itch.
Dry skin: Your body loses moisture at night, which can make your skin itchy. Hormonal changes: At night, your body doesn't produce as many hormones as it does during the day and certain hormones reduce inflammation (swelling). As you have fewer hormones at night, your skin could be itchy.
1 Several underlying brain disorders present with dysesthesia, most commonly as neuropathic itch. This type of itch has been described in several neurologic conditions, including stroke, tumors, vascular malformations, demyelinating disease, and radicular compression.
Bacterial folliculitis.
This common type is a rash of itchy, pus-filled bumps. It occurs when hair follicles become infected with bacteria, usually Staphylococcus aureus (staph). Staph bacteria live on the skin all the time.
The first sign of alopecia areata is often a round or oval bald patch on the scalp.
The main symptom of alopecia areata is hair loss that occurs in small, round patches on your head. This leaves smooth, peach-colored areas of scalp exposed. A mild case of alopecia areata starts with one to two coin-size hairless patches. In many instances, it stops after that.
Ketoconazole shampoos help treat Alopecia by cleaning the skin area around your hair follicle of sebum, or the skins natural oils that are produced. Getting rid of these oils can allow your hair follicles to receive more nutrition and release for your hair to regrow.
Drinking enough water keeps your hair hydrated. As such, one can truly avoid hair loss, hair fall, dry hair, brittle hair and itchiness. Your scalp remains hydrated and healthy by having the correct amount of water in the diet.