All You Need To Know About Itchy Scalp, Symptoms, Causes, Prevention And Treatment
Itchy scalp, or scalp pruritus, is a common problem that can cause frustrating symptoms, such as frequent scratching and discomfort
Itchy scalp is simply a condition were by your scalp repeatedly scratches you, hence making you so uncomfortable the condition is also known as scalp pruritus. It’s a common condition and mostly caused by dandruff and an inflammatory skin condition called seborrheic dermatitis. This condition might last for years if not properly treated.
SYMPTOMS OF AN ITCHY SCALP?
Some of the symptoms of itchy scalp includes:
A. Scalp redness
B. Scalp swelling
C. Sores on the scalp
D. Bald patches
E. Dry skin
F. Iritated skin
CAUSES OF ITCHY SCALP
Itchy scalp can be caused by different things and conditions. When your head itches you always, there may be many reasons for it. itchy scalp can be very annoying. Finding the cause and treating it should be a priority for you.
Below are some of the common causes leading to head itching are;-
1. Dandruff
This mainly occurs as a result of the body’s response to yeast overgrowth, resulting in itching and dry, flaky scalp.
2. Ringworm
This is a fungal infection that affect the scalp. It goes deep into the hair follicles resulting in round patches of hair loss.
3. Head Lice
This type of infection can attack anyone’s scalp, not just kids. Poor hygiene does not necessarily result in an infestation of headlice, as it may infest clean hair too. A louse spends most of its life cycle glued to a hair strand, hence proper hygiene should be proritize.
4. Scabies
Scabies happens to be one of the worst that can cause the most severe of itching on the hair. Mites cause scabies, resulting in intense itching. If it affects the scalp too deep,then the itching may keep you awake all night.
Treatment
Basically the treatment for your itchy scalp depends on its cause. For example, dandruff is treated through frequent hair washing with special topical agents. Each scalp medication works in a unique way, such as reducing oil on the scalp or killing fungus.
Some medications that might be used to treat dandruff include:
- Keratolytics, such as salicylic acid or coal tar
- Antifungal creams
- Pyrithione zinc
- Topical steroids
Treatment for head lice requires treatments lsuch as washing the hair with a pediculicide or using a medicine that kills lice. A fine-tooth comb can remove lice eggs (nits) while the medication kills active lice.
In addition to these treatments, people living in close contact may need preventive treatment. All clothes, bedding, and towels that came in contact with the infected person must be washed and sunned properly
Per adventure you discover that your itchy scalp is due to an allergic reaction, you should refrain from using the product that caused the reaction and speak to a doctor if the reaction is severe.
There are multiple other causes of itchy scalp not covered here. The best way to find out what’s causing your itchy scalp is to have a medical professional take a look at your scalp