Not everyone who scratches his scalp has a big problem. You scratch your scalp when you’re annoyed in public, or you’re probably in deep thought. If not you probably just have an itchy scalp. And an itchy scalp is not anything you can shrug off, especially if your hair starts falling.
Common causes of an itchy scalp
It’s not only those who have long thick hair who might have itchy scalps. Even short-cropped hair or the totally bald may have scalp scratching episodes at one point or another. So it becomes clear that your hair plays second fiddle in this itchy drama. What exactly causes the itch?
1.Toxins from prescription drugs. When you’re under medication, toxins rise up to your scalp. You immune system has a peculiar way of “airing out” your body—through the scalp. Your scalp serves as these toxins dead end. Where they build up, they inflame the skin. If you’ve been sick for a long time, you get to a healing stage commonly known as “sweet itch” which means your sickly days are numbered. This leads to an itchy scalp. But the itch could sometimes be unbearable.
2. Women in menopause. Women at this stage may have a drop in their estrogen level that their skin starts to dry up and it becomes most prominent on their scalp and arms. At this stage particularly, women who smoke lose a lot of oxygen in their blood, so the itchiness is twice as much. You’d do well to avoid soda, hair spray, and alcohol. These dehydrate your skin leaving it dry and prone to develop hives and rashes.
3. Lice. They cause this creepy crawly feeling on your scalp that prompts you to scratch the itchy part right away. Women and men who grow their hair longer than the usual are likely to have lice. The part that itches the most is around your neck and just behind your ears. Lice can transfer magically to other heads in seconds. It is said that in a night they can move to as many as twenty heads.
4. Folliculitis. This is when your hair follicle swells or a bunch of hair follicles get inflamed and irritated. Shaving and careless combing creates friction on your scalp that results in swelling. The itchiness gets more intense when you break out in sweat.
5. Ringworm. It is a result of fungal infection minus the worm. This usually infects children through sharing of fungus-infected bathing tools such as body scrubs and towels. Children are prone to having ringworms on their scalp. Once the fungus settles in your skin it creates an indescribable itch.
6. Dandruff. It’s when your scalp has flakes that may turn white, grey, or red when you start scratching them. Contrary to popular belief dandruff doesn’t just arise from shampoo and soap. It can also be brought on by stress, climate, and too much oil secretions on your scalp. Dandruff thrives in a hot temperature so the itchiness doubles in intensity the more you stay in a humid room.
How to avoid itchiness on your scalp
It’s a hygiene issue that calls for a total hygiene solution.
- Avoid too much sun exposure. This keeps the natural moist on your scalp.
- Use a mild shampoo. Use a brand with a baby formula to avoid itching on your scalp.
- Use a comb with rounded bristles. This way your scalp won’t have any scratches.
- Avoid using hair blower. Air blower dries up your scalp and leaves an unreasonable itch afterwards.
A hair spa is also high on the list of recommendations, but your daily diet should take care of that. Vitamin E, zinc, and magnesium rich foods make your hair strong and loveable.
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