Itchy Scalp Causes and Treatment

Before we dig deep into the matter of itchy scalp causes and treatment, let's find out what exactly is an itchy scalp. An itchy scalp is very common in adults, which may or may not be due to any disease. The common belief is that dandruff is the main cause of an itchy scalp. But that is not the only cause. There are a number of causes which may result in an itchy scalp. So let's study some of the itchy scalp causes and treatment in detail.

Itchy Scalp Causes
When you are suffering from an itchy scalp, it is important to know the itchy scalp causes and treatment. You may think that it could be dry skin, but mind you, it could be more of a serious skin condition. The following are some of the causes of an itchy scalp.

Folliculitis
When there is inflammation of one or more hair follicle on the skin, it is called folliculitis. Folliculitis usually occurs in areas where irritation occurs the most such as sites of shaving, skin friction or rubbing from clothes. The inflamed follicles are often infected with bacteria, especially with Staphylococcus organisms that normally live on the skin in most cases of folliculitis. More on folliculitis causes symptoms and treatment.

Acne Keloidalis Nuchae
Also known as the keloidal folliculitis or nuchal folliculitis, the acne keloidalis nuchae is a chronic skin condition which is often characterized by inflamed bumps and scars on the back of the neck. Acne Keloidalis Nuchae is not related Acne Vulgaris i.e. common acne but its initial appearance is like that of acne-like lesions of inflamed hair follicles on the nape of the neck. It can result in larger scars if not treated.

Head Lice
One of the most contagious infections, head lice also known as Pediculosis Capitis that often occurs in school children. The infestation is mainly caused by the human head louse (Pediculus Umanus Capitis) and it is very itchy. The nits or eggs are laid by the female in the base of the hair near the scalp where they hatch about seven to eight days later. A nit survive a total of almost ten days off the body i.e. on clothes, hairbrushes, carpets, etc. but an adult louse cannot survive even for two days off the human head. Head lice is mostly spread by children through close head contact and sharing their belongings which may be infected with lice.

Dandruff
Dandruff which is also known as seborrhea is a common non-contagious skin condition which occurs in skin areas which are rich in oil glands, like the face, scalp and upper trunk. It is marked by flaking and sometimes accompanied by redness and itching of the scalp. Dandruff varies in its severity which ranges from mild flaking of the scalp to scaly red patches. Stress, winter, and frequent shampooing can also make the problem of dandruff worse which may result in itchy scalp hair loss.

Ringworm
One of the itchy scalp causes, the medical term for ringworm is tinea capititis. This is a very common fungal infection of the scalp. Though the name is ringworm, no worm is involved with the scalp ringworm, rather a rash appears in the form of a scaly, round patch that sometimes clears or improves in the middle , thus looking like a ring. Scalp ringworm is commonly seen in children which is acquired by contact with infected people, animals or objects such as towels, combs or pillows.

Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a lifelong skin condition which is very likely to run in families but can also be initiated by certain situations such as stress, infection as well as ingestion of certain medications. It is non-contagious with conditions like thickened, red and often scaly patches on the skin. The exact cause of psoriasis is not known till date but the common belief is that it may be caused by the errors in the immune system function.

Itchy Scalp Treatment
An itchy scalp can be a matter of great annoyance for the sufferer. Scratching your head might give you temporary relief but it may also aggravate the problem. Here are some of the itchy scalp remedies and treatment which you can follow at home.

Step 1
It is your duty to see that your hair is clean with no build up of oils and dirt since these can clog pores and make your scalp itchy. Use a good shampoo with a ph balance of 4.5 to 5.5 that help to keep your skin moisturized.

Step 2
Check your hair products. Your itchy scalp might also be due to an allergic reaction to a shampoo, conditioner or other hair products. If you are using a new product it could happen that it might have irritated your skin. It is also possible that your could have developed a reaction to an old product. Be careful while using hair dyes and the chemicals that are used while perming since these can also irritate the scalp. You should take the help of your hairdresser who can recommend you of soothing lotions and cream to counteract the illness.

Step 3
To prevent hair dandruff you can add a few drops of tea tree oil and shampoo as usual. You can also cider vinegar after you have shampooed your hair with a natural shampoo. Or else you can simply treat it with over the counter shampoos meant for dandruff.

Step 4
If you do not see any of the live lice, but just nits, there is no need to treat with a head lice shampoo. You might ask if there is live louse where did the nits come from. Yes, nits are the eggs of a female adult louse but might have already died or inadvertently removed. So try to remove the remaining lice and see what happens. If you see that the nits are still growing in its number, it is certain that live lice are still dwelling in your child's hair. You can wash your child's clothing and bedding in hot water and use a vacuum to clean furniture, carpets, stuffed animals etc. which again might be home to lice.

So these were some of the itchy scalp causes and treatments. Itchy scalp causes and treatment in terms of the above mentioned diseases like acne keloidalis nuchae and psoriasis, you will have to approach a dermatologist for his expert counseling. Because if not treated properly, they may spread to other parts of the body. Follow a healthy diet, avoid scratching your scalp if it itches cause it may lead to cuts and scraps and try to keep out of stress.