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For the past 3 or 4 months, my scalp has been insanely itchy. I don't have dandruff, nor do I have lice (I've had both). I can't for the life of me figure out what is causing it. I've experimented with freshly shampooed v. oily hair, using coconut oil(helped for about a day), using a new shampoo, brushing more often, brushing less often, Get it wet more often, wet less often, and nothing works. The itch won't go away. And it's getting worse and getting to the point where it's affecting my mood and affecting my day to day life, not to mention making me worried about scarring my scalp and losing hair.
If anyone has any other ideas, I'd love to hear them, this is really getting incredibly bothersome.
Hey "Itchy" !
I think you should see a dermatologist ASAP.....it could be a whole lot of things that are not readily visible and easily treated.
Let us know how you make out.
Walter
That's that I was thinking about doing, my problem is not knowing where to go for a dermatologist, being that I'm the type of person to never go to the regular doctor, let alone find a specialist. I wouldn't know where to start.
Well you could look up some dermatologists and call one and then
you would find out the procedure. Also have you tried the Head
and Shoulders shampoo for itchy scalps? That's what I use.
I don't care for jojoba oil for my hair any longer but I have found in the past that it's very effective in treating an itchy scalp.
I'll try this tomorrow
I'm not sure what may be causing it, but I've found using dandruff shampoo and/or dandruff conditioner works to remove the itch even when there's no visible signs of dandruff. You might try this before seeking professional help.
--Dale
Dale's Facebook Page
Hey Jarvis,
I would try two solutions:
1. As mentioned by Dale, try some Head & Shoulders shampoo and conditioner, even if you do no visibly have any dandruff, especially the "dry scalp" editions, I found those to be tremendously helpful when it comes to itchy scalp.
2. Try buying some Lavender and Peppermind oils, and rubbing/spraying them onto your scalp. They both have soothing effects, and should cause a noticable difference :)
I'm a tad iffy about Head & Shoulders, I've heard a lot of bad things about them. I'll try the lavender and peppermint though! Thank you
You don't have to use Head and Shoulders, Sauve makes some dandruff shampoos and conditioners with coconut extract that work well and don't seem to be too harsh. If you doing condition only, try their dandruff conditioner, it works well for me.
--Dale
Like others said, go to a dermatologist. Don't get to the point where the itchiness irritates your scalp and you start feeling pain.
Hi Jarvis
Just look in any phone book for the names of Dermatologists in your area. They will all be listed in the Yellow pages along with other doctors and specialists. Call and make an appointment. (This can be done without another doctors referal.)
Best of luck to you and wow, it sounds like a dreadful condition. Hope you get this problem solved real soon.
All the best-
Justin~
I looked. There is exactly one dermatologist in my phone book. I'm going to give them a call next week depending on my success with One more try on my own.
A few more to try: SLS free shampoo, fragrance free products, use conditioner rather than shampoo, avoid letting products touch your scalp. And what has worked for me: finishing whatever my hair routine (dilute shampoo followed by very thorough rinsing, conditioner on the length, and finishing with a vinegar rinse...for me, the acidic rinse is the most important for scalp happiness.
My current routine is to use shampoo one every few weeks, conditioner whenever I get my hair wet (1-2 times a week), an ACV rinse after every time I condition, and finish off with a cold rinse. As of last week, I've added coconut oil every other day or so to this (just on my length) and coconut oil deep conditioning on my hair once a week.
Tea Tree Oil. There are various skin care products containing Tea Tree Oil. There are also some hair care products that contain it as well. Apply ointment/salve directly to scalp, use the shampoo and conditioner on your hair. It smells like an evergreen forest. Something has caused your scalp to become inflamed and irritated, Tea Tree Oil is very effective in calming down inflamed and/or irritated skin. Avoid scratching! I would also suggest that you clean any combs and brushes you use (Just soak them in warm water with a bit of shampoo added to it, then rinse and air dry.) because if it's an infection of some type, you would be recontaminating the scalp. Tea Tree Oil has antiseptic properties as well. If you can't get the problem cleared up in a few days after treating with Tea Tree Oil, then you should take the advice given to see a dermatologist.
Myself, I have not had a problem with itchy scalp in the past few years. I found mine would get itchy if I washed my hair and scalp too much with shampoo. Washing just once weekly and keeping shampoo/conditioner away from my scalp has abated all itching entirely.
Nutrition, your living environment, pets, stress, etc can also be a factor.
My two sheds...
- Oren
I vary on my use of shampoo. Sometimes it's once every few weeks, sometimes once every month or two, and sometimes I go 6 months or longer without it. I haven't shampooed on ce a week in years.
I'm fairly sure nutrition is part of it, and I'm currently working and making progress on eating a lot better than I used to.
Stress is no doubt an issue, and I can almost guarantee that it is part of the problem. Family issues, an increasingly stressful job ( which is where the itch is most noticeable), some major body modification in the near future that I'm really excited about, but understandably nervous, changing my diet to be healthier, and a major change in overall lifestyle in the coming year, which I will go into more detail about when I do a 7 year update in February (or sooner, if I'm able to get some good pictures)