An itchy head has many causes.
In mild cases, it's mostly due to irritation caused by harsh chemicals in hair products.
Usually discontinuing the use of these products does the trick.
However, there are other causes of scalp irritation that need special medical attention.
Listed below are some of the most common itchy scalp causes.
· Dandruff (Pityriasis simplex capillitii).
The skin on your head normally sheds dead skin cells.
But when the shedding becomes excessive resulting to large visible flakes, accompanied with irritation and mild to moderate itching, you are most likely suffering from dandruff.
This is commonly triggered by frequent exposure to extreme cold and heat, dust and dirt in the environment coming in contact with an oily scalp.
In most cases, dandruff can be treated with medicated shampoos and making sure your head is kept clean from oil and dirt.
· Head Lice (Pediculosis Capitis).
This is considered the most common itchy scalp cause generally affecting children, particularly girls who tend to tie up their hair.
Well, contrary to popular belief, head lice can affect all people of both sexes and all ages.
Aside from itching, this condition has fairly very few other symptoms.
There are specially formulated shampoos or powders that kill the lice eggs or nits.
Over-the-counter products usually contain pyrethrins or permethrine.
Other prescription products have Malathion or lindane as an active ingredient.
Comb your damp hair with a fine toothed comb specifically made to remove nits.
Repeat the shampoo and comb treatment until you can no longer detect the presence of the lice eggs in your hair.
· Contact Dermatitis.
Often contact dermatitis occurs when the scalp develops sensitivity to certain hair products.
Hair styling products such as creams, gels, perm solutions, and dyes may cause an allergic reaction on the skin resulting to acute itching, red papules that may ooze and encrust.
Naturally, the inflammation will resolve once you discontinue the use of product.
In severe cases, steroid creams may be applied to speed up the healing process.
· Seborrheic Dermatitis.
A skin disorder affecting the scalp causing sebaceous glands to go hyperactive leading to itching, flaking, and patchy hair loss.
This disorder affects both sexes but is more commonly observed in males, predominantly younger men.
The cause is yet unknown, although factors like genetics, hormones have been theorized.
Sensitivity to Malassezia, a type of yeast is also popularly proposed as the cause.
The treatment involves a medicated shampoo containing ketoconazole, salicylic acid, or coal tar.
· Psoriasis.
A scalp condition that is characterized by the formation of thick plaques on the scalp and on other parts of the body.
Often it is difficult to determine scalp psoriasis from seborrheic dermatitis as both itchy scalp causes have similar symptoms like flaking, red inflammation, itching ranging from mild to intense.
Sometimes the severity of the itchy scalp causes sleep deprivation and impedes everyday life.
For mild cases medicated shampoos used for seborrheic dermatitis may be used.
Medical help is needed to treat extreme and persistent cases.
Recently, phototherapy with ultraviolet light has revealed potential in treating psoriasis of the scalp.