Scalp itching: causes and methods of treatment

Almost every person at least once in his life faced with itchy scalp. This is an intolerable feeling that does not allow us to live, work, study, or simply be in society. Often itching is accompanied by dandruff, increased fat or, conversely, dry skin. All this creates not only physical discomfort, but also a real cosmetic problem that one wants to get rid of as soon as possible. Itching of the scalp can have various causes - it is trivial pollution to serious diseases that are not so easy to get rid of. In this article we will talk about itching of the scalp, how and why this unpleasant symptom occurs, and also consider various ways to eliminate it.

Why does itchy scalp

Scalp itching is a very unpleasant and dangerous manifestation.When we scratch the hairy part, the skin becomes thinner, small wounds appear, the risk of infection increases, in some places even cracks are visible on the epidermis. If the itching of the scalp is accompanied by the formation of open wounds, hair loss, severe dandruff, crusts on the skin, it is necessary to consult a trichologist. As a rule, itching of the scalp is perfectly treated, the most important thing is to identify the irritant and the cause of the appearance of such a symptom. And the reasons can be quite a lot.

1. Seborrhea. This is one of the most common causes of itching on the head. Seborrheic dermatitis is a fungal disease that results from a malfunction of the sebaceous glands. There is dry seborrhea (with insufficient production of sebum) and oily seborrhea (with excessive secretion). Seborrhea is often accompanied by itching on the skin, dandruff, acne, inflamed areas of skin in the scalp. Fungi, streptococci and other harmful microorganisms can grow and develop in the sebaceous gland controversy in seborrhea. They are activated by reducing immunity, leading to clogging of the pores.When a person is combing, he can damage these bubbles, the skin begins to get wet, the inflammation spreads over large areas. Another dangerous fungal disease that causes itchy scalp is versicolor. They can be infected by a sick person or, for example, a dog. Lichen is characterized by small areas on the scalp with partially or completely lost hair.
2. Pediculosis. Another common cause of itching is infection with parasites. Most often, lice appear in a person's hair that bite a person’s skin and feed on his blood. During the bite, the person feels a sharp tingling, which causes itching. Lice can be very dangerous and carry various diseases, such as typhoid. Lice often occur in people in a period of natural disasters, when there are no basic conditions for hygiene. Lice can also be infected in a children's team, girls with long hair are particularly at risk. One touch of curls with a sick person and everything, the parasite ran to a new place of dislocation. To avoid this, you need to look at the child’s head every day with a magnifying glass.And even if the lice scatter in time, you can determine their presence with the help of white larvae - nits, which are quite noticeable on dark hair.
3. Dandruff. With a high rate of peeling skin flakes, dandruff appears on the hair, the process is accompanied by a strong, unbearable itching. In fact, dandruff is a mild seborrheic dermatitis that needs to be addressed. If time does not take action, dandruff develops into a more serious fungal disease. Often we use a variety of shampoos, conditioners and conditioners for dandruff, not suspecting that the symptom requires medical treatment. Dandruff may be caused by some yeast-like fungi, or may be due to improper care of the scalp.
4. Allergy. Scalp itching may occur on the background of an allergic reaction caused by new cosmetic products. If you feel an itch after using a new shampoo, conditioner or balm, you need to abandon this tool. Often, allergy occurs to hair dye, especially if it contains ammonia and hydrogen peroxide. When exposed to aggressive components, itching occurs already during the staining.To avoid this, you need to carry out the test - put a little paint on the inside of the elbow and monitor the reaction. Especially if you use this brand of product for the first time. To reduce the aggressive effects of paint on the scalp, the procedure should be carried out only on dirty hair. In this case, the skin is protected by a natural fat layer.
5. Improper care and hygiene. The scalp produces a huge amount of fat, which protects the hair from drying out. Frequent washing of the head leads to the fact that the fat does not have time to develop, the skin dries, the hair becomes brittle. You should wash your hair no more than once every three days, this is the maximum. Otherwise, the fat content of the head will gradually begin to increase. Itching of the scalp can occur with frequent use of the hair dryer. In this case, the hot air simply dries the delicate and thin epidermis, leading to similar problems. The reason for the dryness of the scalp can be frequent staining, burnout of the strands in the sun, lack of vitamins in the body and physiologically low release of greasy fat. Sometimes the head itches because a person does not wash his hair for too long.The fact is that greasy fat has antibacterial components that live for about a week. If you do not wash your hair for more than 7 days, your scalp starts to itch.

In addition, itchy scalp can occur on a psychosomatic level. Stress, depression, a constant state of anxiety greatly affects human health, leading to severe itching. It is noteworthy that when a person thinks of itching, dandruff, fungi and parasites, the head begins to itch especially actively.

Drug treatment of scalp itching

Before you fight the itching of the scalp, you need to identify the cause of its occurrence. And only after that use medical and cosmetic products.

1. Funds for lice. If itching is caused by pediculosis, you need to use various sprays, shampoos and lotions to help you cope with the parasites. Among the most effective means can be distinguished Paranite, Medifox, Nyuda, A-Par, Pedikulen, etc. Most of these products are completely safe for children. Strictly follow the rules of application of funds, otherwise one surviving larva is able to quickly restore the entire population of insects.Typically, these funds are kept on the hair for at least 10-15 minutes. After using any product you need to comb the curls with frequent comb to rid the hair of dead lice and nits.
2. Antifungal drugs. If itching is caused by seborrhea, anti-fungal medications should be used to effectively suppress inflammation. For the treatment to be effective, you first need to pass a smear from the skin for analysis. This will help identify the type of fungus and its sensitivity to drugs. The most commonly prescribed drugs that include Nizoral and Miconazole. It should be noted that the drugs can not act through a thick layer of dead skin scales, so you need to first soften the skin with vegetable oil, comb the scales, lifting them from the skin, and only then use medicines. In the treatment of seborrhea also use shampoos with zinc, hormonal ointments, rarely - antibiotics.
3. Antihistamines. If itching is caused by an allergic reaction to some cosmetic products, it is necessary to take antihistamines - Zodak, Zyrtec, Diazolin, etc.No longer use the new product, it is better to stick to the usual shampoo, which does not cause you itching and dandruff.
4. Shampoos for dandruff. These are complex compounds that contain a combination of active substances. Among the most effective can be identified Keto plus, Kelyual, Algopiks, Elf, Nodeds, etc. These are real medicated shampoos that should be used only during the period of dandruff and prophylactic treatment - no more than once a week. You can not use them all the time, they are quite aggressive.
5. Vitamins. Often, itching and dry scalp occurs against the background of a lack of minerals and vitamins in the body. It is mandatory for the patient to take vitamin complexes that will help boost immunity. The composition must have riboflavin - it participates in fat metabolism, stimulates the oxidative - reduction process, eliminates dryness and dandruff.

If itching of the scalp is caused by stress and anxiety, sedatives are prescribed. Immunomodulators, intestinal probiotics, etc. can be used to improve immunity. Be sure to follow the rules for hair care.Head should be washed no more than twice a week. You need to eat right and balanced diet, limiting the amount of fat and carbohydrates, but increasing the amount of protein consumed. Be sure to stabilize the emotional state, stop being nervous. Every day, brush your hair at bedtime for at least 10 minutes. This will provide a light massage, improve blood circulation in the tissues of the epidermis. Discard thermal devices that dry hair and scalp. In the fight against itching of the scalp it is very effective to use also various home masks.

Folk recipes in the fight against itching of the scalp

Itching, dandruff and dryness of the skin on the head are perfectly amenable to home treatment. Here are some proven recipes that will help you quickly and permanently get rid of itchy skin.

1. Herbal rinse. Normalize metabolic processes in the scalp, get rid of fat and dandruff will help regular herbal rinses. Prepare decoctions of chamomile, hypericum, nettle, coltsfoot, plantain and just rinse curls with them after washing. Rinse the broth should not be, just blot it with a towel.
2. Onions, lemon juice and butter. Onions and garlic contain phytoncides, sulfur and special acids that are effective in combating dandruff, seborrhea and itching. Mix onion juice with lemon juice and sunflower oil in equal parts. Lemon juice inhibits the activity of the sebaceous glands, eliminates excess fat, and oil softens the aggressive action of garlic or onion. The composition should be applied to the scalp, wrap and leave for 20-30 minutes. The mask delivers some inconvenience - burns. But it's worth it, the composition can be used as a mask against hair loss.
3. An Apple. The juice of this fruit is composed of acids, which quickly neutralize itching and inflammation, gently soothe and heal the skin. Apple should be grated and applied to the hair roots and scalp. Keep the mask for about an hour. The result will be noticeable after the first procedure.
4. Oils. Use a variety of cosmetic oils, many of them have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, the oils perfectly soften the skin, relieve dryness. In the fight against itching, you can use almond, sea buckthorn, peach, burdock and castor oil.
5. Dandelion tincture. Excellent remedy for itching, dandruff and dry scalp. Dandelion flowers are crushed, filled them with a bottle and poured with alcohol or vodka. The tincture is prepared for at least three weeks, after which it is filtered and rubbed into the scalp three times a week. The effect will be noticeable after 2-3 procedures.
6. Rye bread. This mask is useful if you need to get rid of a strong itch here and now. Rye bread should be soaked in hot water, let it brew for 15-20 minutes, and then squeeze, strain and rinse the hair. Rye water will quickly soothe, relieve inflammation and itching, relieve redness.

These simple recipes are quite effective, but to completely get rid of the problem you need to carry out at least 4-5 procedures. In the future, you need to make masks prophylactically, once every few weeks, to prevent recurrence of the problem.

Scalp itching is not just an annoying symptom that leads to thinning of the skin and tissue damage. Itching cannot be tolerated; a person has to scratch his head in crowded places, putting himself in a very uncomfortable position. Moreover, frequent itching leads to the fact that the hair and styling fall, a woman becomes shaggy.Permanent scratching leads to lifting of hair scales from the skin, dandruff becomes much more noticeable. All these arguments tell us that itching cannot be tolerated. It is necessary to clarify its nature as soon as possible and actively fight this symptom. If you can’t get rid of the itch yourself, be sure to consult a doctor. In time taken measures will help you to prevent the development of serious diseases.

Video: how to get rid of dandruff and head itch