Itchy Scalp & Hair Loss - Get The Facts & Fix The Issue!

One of our least appealing articles, and not one we’d suggest reading on a date, but something that can help if you’re dealing with a sore scalp and hair loss. If you want to know what causes severe scalp itching as well as how to make your head stop itching, just read on.

Folliculitis

Shampoos can have a huge effect on your scalp and hair. Shampoos made from quality ingredients can really help with issues such as dandruff, dry scalp, oily hair and a whole range of other issues, but if you’re using a particularly strong one it can also cause infections like this lovely one called Folliculitus.

Folliculitus is a scalp condition that causes hair loss by damaging the hair follicles, causing bald patches, and itchy scalp and thinning hair. As if this wasn’t bad enough you can also gain symptoms such as boils and white heads, leaving you with scarring and, yet again, an extremely itchy scalp. Yep, scalp pimples and hair loss, it’s a winning combination. Luckily, despite the horror story symptoms, a trip to your doctors and the right antibiotics can clear it right up. Then it’s best to stick to a light shampoo for sensitive skin that won’t irritate your scalp.

Dermophytes (Ring Worm)

Yep, sounds pretty unpleasant, but if you’ve got a red itchy scalp, hair loss but no visible dandruff, then this might be something you’re suffering with. Ring worm is a fungal infection that’s actually fairly common in the grand scheme of things, spreading the same way a verruca might. The symptoms are red itchy patches on the scalp and at times a mass of black dots, leading to skin irritation and bald patches. Even if your scalp is itching in one spot

Like with Folliculitus, ring worm can be cured with the right antibiotics, or, if it’s minor, natural remedies such as tea tree oil, apple vinegar, coconut oil, aloe vera and Colloidal Silver. However, it’s important to check with your doctor first to see how advanced the infection before you begin treating it with natural remedies.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that affects around 2-4% of the population and is characterised by skin and scalp irritation as well as hair loss in certain areas. Psoriasis can vary depending on person to person, environmental factors, diet and stress. At its worst it can give the sufferer red, scaly skin all over the body and head, causing bald patches over the scalp. The itchy scalp and rashes can be hard to treat, with different remedies having varying effects on person to person.

Medicines for the itchy scalp include topical creams, with around 75% of cases being managed by this alone, as well as light exposure (always consult with your doctor on how much light your skin should be exposed to, as everyone’s is different).

Dandruff

The least scary of the all the reasons for an itchy scalp, and something that can easily be treated with a specialist shampoo. Dandruff can lead to scalp irritation but very rarely hair loss, and at it’s worst you’re more likely to just gross out your co-workers than lose your hair. Still, an itchy hairline and scalp are irritating, and dry patches falling from your scalp can ruin a good black T-shirt, so treatments are necessary.

You can opt for medicated shampoos specifically designed to deal with dandruff, but proceed with caution with these. They can help a lot, but as they’re usually pretty strong, they shouldn’t be used too regularly, and if you find you’re developing red patches or irritation, stop using it immediately. Natural home remedies can also be useful, and you can use them alone or add them to your shampoo. Tea tree oil, baking soda, apple cider vinegar, coconut oil, lemon, and even garlic are all proven to help with varying degrees of dandruff.

On That Note

So, if at any point in the last few weeks or so you’ve been asking yourself ‘why is my scalp red?’, ‘why does my hair itch?’, and ‘why don’t people want to sit next to me?’ then you might be suffering from some of the scalp conditions listed above. There are so many ways to treat them or at the every least alleviate some of the symptoms, so even if you’re suffering from a sensitive scalp and don’t want to use any strong medication, there are steps you can take.

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