How To Soothe An Itchy Scalp And What Are Its Causes?

Thinking, “It is easy for you to say, but I am tired of trying different methods to achieve no or very few results. Most of the people who have itchy scalps have said the statement. And trust us, we know where you are coming from. And somehow, some products or home remedies cause more harm to hair and scalp than soothing it. If you are also going through this face, don’t worry. We have got the solution for you. But before that, let’s learn what’s the reason behind an itchy scalp.

What Causes An Itchy Scalp?

Believe it or not, the most common reason why you feel like scratching your scalp is dandruff or Seborrheic Dermatitis. It is a cognition of suffering from very light dandruff. When we asked about the cause for the same, our expert dermatologist replied, “Seborrheic Dermatitis, or Mild Dandruff as we call it, is a common scalp problem caused by abnormal inflammatory reactions that happen with the commensal yeast present on the scalp. However, what causes this response is still unclear, and medical science is working on finding a reason for it.

I think I don’t have dandruff issues, so why am I having an itchy scalp? Our expert explains further that dry and flaky scalps are other primary reasons that cause an itchy scalp. What does it mean? Well, it means your scalp is not moisturized enough. The condition can be treated at home, and only if it stays for more than 2 weeks; it requires medical assistance. For more, it could be a symptom of head lice, hives, and dermatitis. All of these conditions require you to take the advice of a healthcare expert. 

What Are The Symptoms Of An Itchy Scalp?

An Itchy Scalp shows many symptoms, including dry scalp and redness over the scalp. Other than that, you may feel bumps and a little more warmth in particular areas. These areas are commonly the areas that you want to scratch badly. 

The common symptoms of an itchy scalp are:

• Dry patches of skin
• Tender skin
• Rashes
• A tickling sensation on the scalp
• Low fever
• Redness
• Swelling
• Sores

Having all these symptoms? Don’t worry; an itchy scalp can be treated at home easily. However, you must not scratch your head whenever you feel an itchy scalp. Wondering why? Let’s find out. 

Why You Shouldn’t Scratch Your Head?

While many choose to look for solutions to prevent itchy scalp, some find it okay to scratch their scalp often. Well, if we believe experts, then you shouldn’t be scratching your head no matter how much your head is itching. Wondering why? Well, most of the time, while scratching, we damage our scalp more than it already is. Also, people who scratch their heads suffer from issues like sores and small injuries caused by nails and over-scratching. Using medicated hair products over a bruised scalp can further irritate it and elevate the problem. 

How To Soothe An Itchy Scalp?

Soothing an itchy scalp depends upon the issues you are suffering. If you are having mild to high dandruff, then frequently washing and conditioning your hair could provide you much relief. Remember to use a mild shampoo that works well on dandruff without drying your scalp. Follow up with hair grease or hair spray after the conditioning to ensure the scalp is moisturized enough. These products will not only provide nourishment to your scalp but will also simplify the hair combing process. Thus, less friction will be produced while you try to comb your hair after a wash, meaning less hair breakage and less pain. 

If you are looking for a high-quality range of Hair grease and Hair spray for adults and children, then you should try Tender Head’s Adult Haircare & Child Haircare range. 

However, if the dandruff keeps coming back, you can use medications for relief. A few medications that work well in treating dandruff include:

• Topical steroids
• Antifungal cream
• Pyrithione Zinc
• Salicylic Acid
• Coal Tar

However, if you are getting troubled with head lice, then you need to wash your head with pediculicide or use different medications that kill lice. After the wash, use a fine-tooth comb to remove the lice heads from your scalp.

Also Read: What Makes A Child Tender-Headed & How To Deal With It?

Note: When combing hair for lice egg removal, always start combing from the front and then in a straight line without stopping anywhere till you reach the back of your ear tip area. Also, always remove knots and comb your hair with a wide-tooth comb before going with a fine-tooth comb to ensure a smooth process.

If your little one is having head lice, then it doesn’t mean that it is only him/her that you have to care for. Change pillowcases and towels daily to ensure that the lice don’t affect your scalp health. It is recommended for the person suffering from head lice to use a different towel than the rest of the family. And the towel should be changed after every use. 

If you feel that you are not suffering from these issues and still have an itchy scalp, then it is time to consult a dermatologist. They will check your scalp health in detail to find the issues you are suffering from. Most often, your scalp health will start coming back to neutral in the first few days of treatment.

How To Prevent Having An Itchy Scalp?

Wondering how you can prevent an itchy scalp from happening the next time? Here are a few adjustments you can make in your routine to say goodbye to an itchy scalp forever. 

Choose Carefully What You Put On Your Scalp

Not everything that says it is good for your scalp will cause you to benefit. Well, just because someone else might be getting benefits from a home remedy, it doesn’t mean it will work for you as well. So, what should we do?

Understand Your Scalp Is Unique

Well, first of all, we have to understand that your scalp is different and unique, just like you. So, you must think carefully before putting anything over your scalp. Before using any hair care product, double-check its ingredients and check their possible side effects. Also, look for the right amount you should be putting over your scalp. Wondering why is it important? Well, using too much product can often dry your scalp, and using too little can leave it dirty, and both are the best conditions for developing an itchy scalp. 

Care So It Doesn’t Get Irritated

Always use hair care products that have a mild impact on your scalp. Using hair care products that are heavy on fragrances, sulfates, or alcohol can further irritate your scalp, making it more prone to damage. 

Go Easy On Your Scalp

Yes, we know you want to ensure having a clean scalp, but rubbing it too much will only cause dryness after the wash. So, what should you do? Use your fingers to gently massage your scalp while shampooing. It ensures your scalp gets cleaned completely without drying out the essential oils. 

Always Follow-Up With A Conditioner

Using a conditioner after every wash is essential. Why? Well, a conditioner conditions your hair and ensures that your hair doesn’t get too dry and the PH level of your hair is restored back to normal. 

Change Pillowcases Every Week

Most often, we overlook the surfaces we are putting our heads on. These surfaces have bacteria that can cause harm to your scalp. Also, most often, we forget to change our pillowcases for weeks because they never seem dirty, especially if you have some in darker shades. Thus, change your pillowcases at least once a week or every time you wash your hair. 

Never Leave Oil Over Your Scalp For Too Long

We are advocates of using oil and massaging your scalp gently. Most often, oil combats the dryness that could cause an itchy scalp. However, things change when you leave the oil in the hair for more than 12 hours and even sometimes for days. When left for too long, oil can start to clog the pores over your scalp along with the dust particles, causing issues like redness, bumps, and itchy scalp. You can use special oils curated with a mix of different oils to enrich your scalp with benefits like the adult oil and child oil range by Tender Head, which contains 12 types of different oils and lots of Vitamin E. 

Oiling Tip: Always put oil over your scalp 30 – 60 minutes before the hair wash to achieve the best results.