Many people experience problems such as itchy scalp. When combing, the situation only worsens, because of which there are microcracks, abrasions, sores. The reasons for the appearance and treatment of scalp itching are described in the article. So let's get started.
Causes
Itching of the scalp can not be ignored. After all, many inconveniences arise with him. Sometimes itching can indicate violations in the body and manifest as flaky plaques or focal hair loss. The causes of itching of the scalp are manifold, and in each situation, you need to determine a specific one. Otherwise, treatment can go nowhere.
The causes of itching of the scalp are as follows:
- Stress. Due to frequent unrest and psycho-emotional overstrain, a high release of adrenaline occurs in the blood. During physical exertion, this hormone is consumed, but if there are not enough movements, its accumulation in the blood causes muscle tension in the body and the appearance of itchy skin.
- Strong muscle tension. Long tension in the occipital and brachial muscles leads to impaired blood circulation in the head, which often, along with other symptoms, also shows itching.
- Dry scalp. Usually this comes from thermal exposure - frequent drying with a hairdryer, the use of ironing, curling. Other causes include severe exhaustion, frequent washing of strands, diets with low fat intake, and old age. As a result, the layer of subcutaneous fat becomes thinner and the hair becomes thin and brittle.
- Skin irritation and allergies. This can occur from exposure to cosmetics, for example, varnish, shampoo, foam, balms, paints. Due to frequent staining, too, dry skin and dandruff occur, and often an allergy also appears. This applies more to products with ammonia and hydrogen peroxide.
- Allergy to household chemicals. It is the result of exposure to washing powders, soap with perfumes, dishwashing detergents.
- Hypovitaminosis. If an insufficient amount of vitamins and minerals enters the body, a deficiency occurs, which negatively affects the condition of the skin.
The causes of hair loss and scalp treatment are interrelated. It is important to determine the factor that led to this. So it will be easier to exclude this unpleasant phenomenon.
Diseases in which itching occurs
It must be borne in mind that itching of the scalp can occur due to:
- Seborrheic dermatitis. This is a skin ailment of an inflammatory appearance and a chronic course, arising from the yeast-like lipophilic fungus Pityrosporum ovale. Seborrhea is considered a manifestation of seborrheic dermatitis. At the beginning of the disease, dandruff with itching is formed, and then seborrheic plaques are distributed, which spread almost throughout the head.
- Seborrhea. With this ailment, inflammation of the layers of the skin occurs, the secretion of sebaceous glands production increases, the composition of sebum changes. A sign of the disease is an inflammatory thickening of the stratum corneum of the epidermis, the appearance of whitish scales - dandruff. In difficult cases, red plaques appear, covered with crusts. With the dry type of seborrhea, thinning and brittle hair, itching occurs, and with oily - the curls glisten, look greasy.
- Pediculosis. This is a parasitic skin disease caused by different types of lice. Pediculosis appears due to ignoring the rules of personal hygiene: using someone else's comb, putting on someone else's hats, etc.
- Psoriasis Chronic skin affliction from the group of scaly lichens. There are many types of disease, the main ones are vulgar, pustular, teardrop-shaped. An ailment manifests itself in the form of psoriatic plaques, with an increase in their size, large scaly plates appear.
- Folliculitis. Inflammation of the hair follicles of an infectious species. Pustules with purulent contents appear, which eventually lead to the appearance of small ulcers.
- Demodecosis. This is a skin disease that comes from microscopic mites of the genus Demodex. Damage to various parts of the body, including the scalp. There is severe itching and hair loss.
- Dermatophytosis - fungal diseases. It can be favus, trichophytosis, microsporia. When the disease appears itching, bruising and hair loss.
Itching of the scalp occurs due to diabetes mellitus, as well as with multiple sclerosis. Sometimes it accompanies some diseases of the liver and gall bladder. These are the main causes of scalp itching and hair loss.
You need to start treatment only after determining the provoking factor.
In children
Pediculosis usually causes itching of the scalp in children. Parasites like to live on the delicate skin of children. Parasites feed on blood, biting through the skin. In this case, unpleasant sensations appear due to a mechanical effect on the nerve endings.
Rarely, itching of the scalp in children appears for neurological reasons, as well as from infection or allergies. This symptom is not a disease, it is only a consequence of the disease. And what led to this symptom should be determined by the doctor.
Diagnostics
To determine the cause of the appearance of itching of the scalp, a diagnosis is necessary. This will determine the treatment method. You should contact a specialist - a dermatologist, trichologist, mycologist or dermatocosmetologist. Based on the etiology of the disease, consultation with doctors such as an endocrinologist, an allergist, and a neurologist may be necessary.
At the first stage, the doctor performs a physical examination: determines the causes of itching, as well as features - duration and intensity. A specialist examines the affected skin. At the second stage, studies are prescribed, the results of which confirm the diagnosis.
The doctor needs to establish the diagnosis and causes of itching of the scalp. This will allow you to prescribe the correct treatment. Diagnostic methods are as follows:
- Microscopic examination of biomaterial, for example, the contents of the hair follicle for the presence of a subcutaneous demodex tick. It is required if there is a risk of demodicosis.
- Microscopy of scraping for pathogenic fungi. It is used for trichophytosis, folliculitis, microsporia and other fungal ailments.
- Bacteriological inoculation of the separated scraping on the microflora. The method identifies the pathogen and establishes its susceptibility to antibiotics, antimycotics and other drugs.
- Luminescent diagnostics by a Wood lamp. Need for mycoses, dermatoses.
- Histological examination of the affected area. It is performed with psoriasis.
- Dermatoscopy It is carried out at a risk of favus, seborrheic dermatitis.
- Spectral study of strands for trace elements. It is necessary to determine the cause of seborrheic dermatitis.
- The study of the hormonal system. Analyzes are required to determine the cause of itching.
The causes and treatment of itching of the scalp should be determined by a doctor. Only then will it be possible to quickly and correctly cure this unpleasant phenomenon.
Medications
Information on the treatment of itching of the scalp with the reappearance of this aesthetic pathology can be obtained from the doctor who conducted the therapeutic procedures. Usually, the treatment option is selected based on the nature and cause of the disease.
Local, oral and other medications may be prescribed by a specialist. You should not prescribe medications yourself, in this case there is a risk of exacerbating the problem. Often, treatment is performed using drugs with a different focus and therapeutic effect:
- Seborrhea is treated with antifungal agents, vitamins B2, E and A.
- If a person has increased nervousness, antidepressants and sedatives are prescribed.
- Hormonal disruptions are treated with drugs that can normalize hormone levels.
- If the cause of itching is allergy, then antihistamines are needed.
People who have this problem often turn to doctors asking for advice on how to eliminate itching at home. Specialists can prescribe folk remedies. Among them are therapeutic masks that have been found to be safe and effective.
ethnoscience
Itching of the head does not disappear itself. If it is not eradicated in a timely manner, then the disease develops, and complications begin. If you don’t want to go to the doctor or there’s no possibility, then treatment of itching of the scalp with folk remedies will give a good effect. Restore the functioning of the sebaceous glands allow decoctions of herbs. The use of nettles, oak bark and chamomile is especially useful. And thanks to massage, blood circulation is easily restored and, therefore, skin nutrition is improved.
The treatment of scalp itching is possible using the following useful agents:
- The use of onion juice and garlic. They have sulfur and acid, thanks to which the itching and dandruff that appeared after staining are eliminated. You need fresh juice of onions or garlic, which is mixed with lemon juice and vegetable oil. Components must be taken in equal proportions. The finished composition is applied to wet curls, gently rubbing into the skin, and left for 30 minutes. Then you need to wash your hair with warm water, adding vinegar or lemon juice to it in advance.
- Using a mask with apples. The tool eliminates itching and peeling. To prepare the mask, apples must be chopped on a coarse grater. The finished mass is applied to the scalp before washing. A cotton hat is put on top, left for 30 minutes and washed off. Perform the procedure 2 times a week.
- Olive-lemon mask. Such procedures are needed to moisturize the scalp, eliminate dandruff, and cleanse. For the mask you need olive oil (2 tbsp. L.), Lemon juice (1 tbsp. L.). The first component must be heated in a water bath and add the second. The finished composition should be rubbed into the scalp, put on a plastic bag and a towel. After 20 minutes, you need to rinse with any medicated shampoo.
- Mask of linseed and olive oil. It is effective for severe dry scalp. Oils (1 tbsp. L.) Must be mixed and heated in a water bath. The warm composition is rubbed into the scalp. Put a hat on top and insulate with a towel. After 30 minutes, you can rinse.
- Oatmeal mask. The product has a nourishing, moisturizing and cleansing effect. To prepare the mask, you need a decoction of nettle, chamomile, sage or plantain (6 tbsp. L.), And also oatmeal (2 tbsp. L). Flakes should swell. The finished mixture is rubbed into the skin and hair roots with massage movements. They put on a plastic bag and wrap their heads in a towel. After 2 hours, rinse with a neutral shampoo.
- Dandelion flower lotion. It has a calming effect on the scalp. Fresh flowers must be chopped, placed in a container and pour vodka (50 ml.). Freshly squeezed lemon juice and liquid honey (1 tsp each) are added to the mixture. The components are thoroughly mixed and infused for 2 weeks. The resulting tonic must be filtered and applied to the skin and hair 30 minutes before washing. A cap or kerchief is put on top.
- Mask with a banana. To prepare it, you need half the fruit, which is mixed with onion juice (1 tsp) and warm honey (1 tbsp.). The mask must be applied to curls and left for 40 minutes, and then rinse.
All of the listed remedies for itching of the scalp are considered safe and effective. In just a few treatments, positive results are expected.
Shampoos
What to do with itching of the scalp if there is no time for preparing folk remedies and going to the doctor? You can use a special shampoo. In addition to the main action, they can have other positive properties.
Shampoos come in:
- antibacterial;
- cleansing of sebum;
- antifungal;
- exfoliating.
You can buy these funds at the pharmacy. The best are the following:
- Nizoral. It has an antifungal effect, it is created in Belgium. A remedy is required to combat the symptoms of the disease. Its use destroys fungus, itching, peeling. If you perform the procedure 2 times a week, then a month later the problem will be fixed.
- "Sebozol". It has a healing effect. With it, the skin affected by the fungus is restored. You need to wash your hair with such shampoo for at least a month, and 2 times a week.
- "Sulsena." The use of shampoo allows you to get rid of itching and peeling.
Shampoos must be used according to the instructions, otherwise the situation can only worsen. Typically, the manufacturer indicates the duration of the sessions and their frequency.
Essential oils
Severe itching of the scalp is easily eliminated with essential oils. They are part of shampoos with cosmetic and therapeutic properties. For example, one of the popular in folk medicine is tea tree oil and burdock. At home, they are used in pure form. With them it will be possible to eliminate itching of the scalp and dandruff, as well as make the hair healthy.
Using esters and regular oils is easy. They must be rubbed into the scalp and hair roots, leaving for some time. It is important to wrap your head after this with a plastic bag and towel.
The following types of oils are considered popular:
- Burdock. It allows you to eliminate dandruff, reduce hair loss. After the procedure, the curls will be strong and shiny.
- Tea tree. It treats dandruff, itching of the scalp. In a week, the results will be noticeable.
- Lavender. It treats dandruff, accelerates hair growth, makes them shiny. A few drops are enough, which are added to the shampoo and wash your hair with this product.
- Castor oil. Oil is needed to eliminate itching, dandruff and protection against hair loss.
- Coconut It has an excellent antibacterial effect, strengthens thin strands. The oil protects against dandruff and gray hair. Can be mixed with shampoo.
- Almond. The product nourishes the roots of strands, eliminates split ends and dandruff. It is used several times a day, applying droplets to a comb.
- Flaxseed, jojoba, sea buckthorn. These oils treat dandruff, strengthen and nourish strands.
Diet
The health of hair and scalp depends on nutrition. Due to unbalanced food, itching, peeling, and inflammation appear. To prevent these problems, you must:
- include liver, yeast, eggs, almonds in daily nutrition;
- regularly consume dairy products;
- Do not eat sweet and fatty;
- drink plenty of clean water;
- include fiber-rich foods on the menu;
- eat fresh vegetables and fruits.
If problems are already detected, then the diet will accelerate recovery. Usually, folk and special remedies do an excellent job in treating itchy scalp and dandruff. But if there is no positive result, you need to visit a doctor. This will prevent the disease from starting.
Prevention
Any disease is easier to prevent than to cure. To avoid unpleasant symptoms, you need to follow simple tips:
- Use high-quality shampoos, balms and lotions in which there are no harmful allergen components.
- Use only personal styling devices.
- In hairdressers and salons to control the processing of tools.
- Lead a healthy lifestyle, eat right and eliminate bad habits.
- Do not self-medicate.
These simple tips will prevent such an unpleasant phenomenon as itching of the scalp. But if he still appeared, then it should be treated with effective and safe means.