Many patients, having come to the appointment with a dermatologist, complain of skin itching. Head without dandruff, skin without signs of fungal infection - and a person experiences pain and scratches the epidermis to blood. Why such a pathology arises, what are the reasons? Many factors can provoke the appearance of itching of the head and hair loss, but it is difficult to determine the exact cause with accuracy. A number of dermatological studies should be performed to make a diagnosis. The article lists the most likely causes of discomfort, as well as the most effective methods of therapy.
List of common causes
If the head itches, but there is no lice, there is no dandruff and there are no other external manifestations of the disease, then what is the cause of the discomfort? The exact cause can only be called a dermatologist. But you can make yourself a diagnosis and try treatment at home. The most common causes of itching of the head are listed below. The skin may be different - dry, oily or normal, the hair may or may not fall out at all.
- The presence of chronic diseases of the internal organs in the acute stage. In particular, the skin can itch with pathologies of the liver and pancreas. If there is a suspicion that the cause of the itching of the head lies in the disruption of the functioning of the internal organs, a full examination should be taken. Liver diseases are accompanied by itching of the skin of the body and head, heaviness in the right hypochondrium (the liver enlarges and presses on adjacent organs), and a violation of normal digestion. A person, in addition to itching, can suffer from nausea, diarrhea, constipation, feces can acquire a light shade (this symptom is characteristic for hepatitis of various etiologies).
- If a person has diabetes or other metabolic disorders, he almost always suffers from itching. Head without dandruff or any other signs of fungal diseases, but at the same time a person is forced to comb the skin to blood due to excruciating itching. With diabetes, wounds from combing heal for a very long time. Sometimes pus accumulates in them. Often, patients with diabetes also suffer from increased hair loss.
- Imbalance of the hormonal balance in both women and men often leads to the fact that a person experiences severe itching of the scalp. At the same time, symptoms such as baldness, amenorrhea, disturbance of the psychoemotional background, infertility, and cycle failure develop in parallel. If possible, it is necessary to take tests for the level of sex hormones. If deviations from the reference values are found, then the prescribed medication should be taken. Taking hormonal drugs will help get rid of unpleasant symptoms as quickly as possible - itching of the head will go away on its own without the use of additional masks or shampoos.
- Atopic dermatitis, psoriasis and eczema almost always develop imperceptibly for the patient. There may not be any external manifestations, but severe itching of the scalp causes severe discomfort. Over time, crusts and small inflammation may appear, as well as papules with purulent contents. It is important to visit a dermatologist and abandon attempts at self-treatment. Atopic dermatitis and psoriasis are quite complex dermatological diseases that require long-term treatment and a special diet.
- Psycho-emotional stress and constant stress are also the cause of the appearance of skin itching of the head without dandruff and some other external manifestations. At the same time, hair does not fall out at first, a person feels a constant desire to comb the scalp. But if you do not take any measures in terms of treatment, do not make masks and do not use medical shampoos, then the hair will begin to fall out in the second or third month after experiencing severe stress. Often, girls forget about nervous tension and do not associate it with hair loss. Meanwhile, severe stress almost always leads to alopecia (hair loss) after two to three months.
Which doctor should I go to?
If the head itches, but there is no lice, this is an occasion to contact a qualified specialist for help. A dermatologist is engaged in similar pathologies. As a rule, you can get an appointment for free if you have an insurance medical policy in the city skin and venereologic dispensary. If the patient, for one reason or another, does not want to get a personal card there, then you can contact a paid diagnostic center - you do not need to have an insurance policy for this.
After a visual examination of the problem area, the doctor is likely to prescribe a series of tests. This is not only scraping from the problem part of the body, but also a regular biochemical blood test. According to its results, it will be possible to assume the presence of diseases of the liver, pancreas, and kidneys (accordingly, total bilirubin, ALT, AST, creatinine or urea will be increased separately or all together). After the examination and receiving the results on hand, it will be possible to assert with confidence what exactly caused the discomfort, and it will become clear how to treat itching of the head.
The list of the most popular tools
The whole variety of remedies for scalp itching can be divided into two large groups: pharmacy and folk remedies. The first ones are good in that they act right the first time, and the bad ones are that they are quite expensive. Folk remedies are very cheap, but in order to alleviate severe itching of the head (without dandruff and without obvious symptoms of seborrhea), you will have to be patient. Folk remedies have a cumulative effect, and a person feels obvious relief only a month after the start of regular use.
The most popular products from the pharmacy:
- Line of drugs "Sulsena".
- "System 4".
- Psorilom.
- medical shampoos - "Nizoral", "Sebozol", etc.
Among the popular methods for itching the head (without dandruff and without obvious symptoms of mycotic lesions or seborrhea), oil masks, compresses with egg yolk, rinsing with infusion of oak and chamomile bark, saline and soda scrubs are effective. You need to use them on a regular basis, then there will be a result.
Remedies "Sulsena" for scalp itching
You can buy funds of this line in any pharmacy, a doctor’s prescription is not required for this. A full set will cost about a thousand rubles. One of the most popular and inexpensive remedies for itching the head is Sulsena paste. However, the instructions for use report that for maximum results you need to use a paste in conjunction with shampoo and spray "Sulsena".
The remedies are effective for itching of the head, which is provoked by the presence of dandruff, dermatitis, metabolic disturbances, stress, pregnancy, etc. Sulsen must be used on an ongoing basis, otherwise the symptoms will reappear.
Means of this line are effective due to its composition. Selena disulfide is the main component (found in pasta, shampoo, and spray), which relieves itching and irritation.
Finnish complex of tools "System 4"
This famous complex includes three means:
- bio-botanical shampoo with menthol and moisturizing ingredients in the composition;
- mask for the scalp "O", which includes a complex that strengthens the hair follicles and relieves scalp itching;
- bio-botanical serum for use immediately after shampooing (applied to the skin by parting).
Instructions for use with the complex informs that all three means should be used. The System 4 kit with three 200 ml bottles costs about three thousand rubles. Use helps with itching of the scalp, provoked not only by seborrheic or atopic dermatitis, but also from hair loss caused by metabolic disorders, chronic diseases of the internal organs, hormonal failure.
"Psoriloma" for scalp itching
Psorilom is a popular remedy for itching of the scalp provoked by psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and mycotic infections. The form of the drug is shampoo, gel, spray, as well as granules for oral administration. Often patients try a lot of drugs, then lower their hands and ask the doctor: "What to do?" Itching of the head interferes with normal life and work. As a rule, the use of Psorilom preparations in the complex helps to solve the problem even in the most advanced cases.
The main active ingredient in Psorilom is zinc pyrithione. The entire line of funds is aimed at combating the manifestations of psoriasis, however, reviews of patients with diabetes who suffer from severe itching of the scalp, report on the effectiveness of the line Psoril. Also, positive reviews about the remedies leave patients with atopic, seborrheic and mycotic dermatitis.
Will shampoos help get rid of excruciating itching?
As a rule, the first step of a person who suffers from discomfort is the purchase of shampoo from itching of the head. And for some patients this is enough. However, in most cases, the action of the shampoo is too little to completely relieve the patient from itching. Shampoos can only help with implicit itching.
List of the most popular scalp itching shampoos:
- "Nizoral" with ketoconazole in the composition - helps get rid of both dandruff and atopic dermatitis at an early stage, which provokes itching of the scalp.
- "Dermazole" - contains zinc pyrithione and ketoconazole.
- "Sebozol" - an excellent emollient, moisturizing and antiseptic shampoo - is effective for dandruff and dermatitis.
- "Fotoval" - can be used together with the spray of the same name, or separately, it is effective in case of itching of the head of various etiologies and in case of hair loss.
Scrub for scalp at home
One of the cheapest remedies for itching the scalp is a homemade scrub made from salt and baking soda. Every house has salt. It is possible to use both coarse grinding and extra-class salt. Making such a scrub is very simple. After the first procedure, more hair may fall out than usual: do not worry about this, this hair would still fall out when combing in the coming week.
Five tablespoons of coarse salt and a teaspoon of soda should be mixed in a small cup. Moisten the hair with water, apply a salt mixture over the parting and massage the head thoroughly. A part will be scratched by the skin - do not worry about this. If there are wounds on the head, then a salt scrub can provoke pain.
Mask of nourishing oils for scalp itching without dandruff
Oils perfectly soften the skin and relieve itching. True, if the pathology is very pronounced, then the action of oils may not be enough. The most useful oils are olive, linseed, and cottonseed. These are leaders in the content of beneficial fatty acids.
They should be mixed in equal proportions and applied to the scalp along the parting. Keep on your head for 20 minutes, no more. If you keep the oil on your head for longer than it should be, there is a high risk of clogging the pores, as a result of which the hair begins to fall out, because the bulbs do not get enough oxygen.
Homemade Mask Recipes
Masks for itching the head at home are very easy to prepare, the components are cheap, and they can be purchased at any pharmacy or grocery store.
- Infusion of oak bark has an astringent effect, heals small wounds and relieves itching. A cool infusion of oak bark should be prepared in advance (crushed composition can be bought at the pharmacy). Cool or dilute at room temperature with water, pour into a basin and lower your head there for ten to fifteen minutes.
- The mask with egg yolk is suitable for dry skin, which peels off and causes the owner many inconveniences such as itching, cracks, hair loss. So, you need to mix in a container one raw egg yolk, a tablespoon of brandy, a couple of tablespoons of olive or linseed oil. Apply parting on the scalp, leave for 20-30 minutes, insulate on top with a handkerchief or towel.
- Mask with sulfuric ointment: mix two teaspoons of sulfuric ointment with the same amount of any cosmetic oil and with egg yolk. Apply on partings, insulate your head with a handkerchief and leave for exposure for half an hour. Sulfur ointment is washed out of the hair quite hard, so you have to soap the hair with shampoo two or three times.
The opinion of doctors: how to get rid of itching as quickly as possible
In order for the itching of the scalp to pass quickly and no longer bother the patient, the use of external therapeutic drugs is not enough. You should change your lifestyle, increase immunity, get rid of diseases of the liver, pancreas and other organs of the digestive tract. In a word, bring your immunity and health into a relative norm.
Tips on how to get rid of itching of the head as quickly as possible are as follows:
- Start taking a high-quality multivitamin complex, the best ones are Pantovigar, Perfect, and Supradin. This will get rid of a deficiency of vitamins and minerals, which will positively affect the condition of the skin and hair.
- Refuse bad habits - drinking alcohol and smoking, and refusal should be on an ongoing basis.
- Choose shampoos and other hair care products from the above therapeutic lines.
- Watch your diet: there should be enough protein, carbohydrates and fats in the diet daily, otherwise problems with the condition of the skin and hair cannot be avoided.
- Psycho-emotional overloads should not be allowed: severe stress and chronic overfatigue always lead to a deterioration in the condition of the hair and skin.
- Watching a dream: if a person suffers from insomnia, both the nervous system and metabolism suffer, which ultimately negatively affects the condition of the hair and skin.