Itchy scalp: a very common ailment
The first cause of itchy scalp is dryness of the skin, often caused by contact dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis and the resulting dandruff or psoriasis, but also by allergies, food intolerances, stress, wrong diet. It is not enough to take care of the lengths, the roots and the health of the scalp are also very important for the well-being of the hair. Discover also the advantages of dry shampoo, watch the video!
Causes of itchy scalp: they are many and varied!
Taking care of your hair is essential to be able to always show it healthy and natural.Dry skin, in fact, can cause persistent itching, even if caused by temperature changes or polluted environments, allergies to dyes, hairspray, mask or hair conditioner. low quality with unnatural components.Stress also affects this problem, weakens the hair shaft and sometimes causes it to fall out. Scratching from persistent itching in the presence of others or a shower of dandruff creates discomfort and a lot of embarrassment in the person affected by these problems, as they could give the false idea of poor hygiene. Furthermore, if you scratch intensively and with your nails, micro-lesions can be created on the skin, susceptible to infection, which inflame the follicles, with consequent thinning of the hair. And so is psoriasis or a fungal mycosis (such as ringworm) or a generic infection. The problem of lice, which are easily transmitted especially at school, of parasites that cling to the hair and which can be removed with special combs and specific shampoos, should not be forgotten. Even a too high temperature of the hair dryer or too long exposure to the sun and at certain times can harm the health of the scalp, giving rise to redness and real burns that dry the scalp, cause dermatitis and cause itching and pain.
See also
Prevention: the word on the agenda!
The main prevention concerns the rules of personal hygiene, relating in this case to the scalp. The change of season must also be taken into account. In late summer, between October and November, the hair appears drier and parched by the summer heat, especially by the humid heat, and by sweat, which causes the proliferation of bacteria. Sweat, particularly after physical activity, can irritate and infect the skin, which has become more sensitive, and so can chlorine, sea water and sand. In fact, more hair loss occurs in autumn. But don't panic. It is a natural fact, due to the thermal shock, and of short duration. When you sweat, therefore, rinse your hair well with warm, not hot water, to compensate for the stress of the heat of drying with a hairdryer. In summer, dry them in the open air. It is also good to rinse them often, but only with warm water and a little. very delicate shampoo, to free them from grease and dust. When drying your hair, you should not rub it too much, but just pat it dry or wear a few terry turbans for a few minutes to remove the water. Never overdo it with shampoos. Hygiene is fundamental, but in everything you need measure. On the other hand, for those suffering from particular alopecia some trichologicals recommend washing their hair daily with special and very delicate shampoos to remove excess fat.
The word to the specialist: what do you recommend?
Sometimes these problems persist even after trying natural remedies and specific products of good quality and which usually exert a beneficial action on the scalp. Then it becomes necessary to consult a trusted dermatologist, as the causes of this itch can also be pathological .
In fact, you can't always solve everything with "do it yourself" remedies. Often there is a need for a diagnosis made by a specialist and a treatment that is right for you.
Symptoms, in addition to itching, may also include redness, pain, peeling of the skin, burning, formation of pimples or pustules, weakening and loss of hair or exaggerated excess of sebum on the skin of the head. It will then be the doctor's task to identify the causes, to solve the itching problem with a specific targeted treatment. The cause could in fact be a serious disease, such as alopecia or fungal mycosis. There are various types of alopecia: cicatricial, genetic, aerated, seborrheic. Alopecia needs specifics depending on the case. For each type of alopecia there are excellent products that can delay or stop hair loss. Psoriasis also causes many problems on the scalp and beyond. This autoimmune pathology involves chronic skin inflammations, even rather unsightly, with heavy itchy flaking on the head, elbows and also in other areas of the body.
A healthy and controlled diet: an exceptional therapy!
It is essential to avoid a diet loaded with fats and irritants, consuming foods that are as natural as possible. Among all those recommended by nutritionists, the Mediterranean diet is always the best or one of the best, not only for the health of the internal organs, but also to solve the problems of your scalp, as it strengthens the hair, nourishes the skin of the head, sheltering the stresses suffered, especially if you have a very sensitive skin type. The preferred foods to consume are omega 3 and 6 antioxidant vegetables and vegetables rich in vitamin E, such as lettuce, spinach, carrots, broccoli, tomatoes, sprouts, raw extra virgin olive oil, blue fish (such as herring, sardines, bonito), dried fruit, sesame, wheat germs, red and orange fruits, shellfish, whole grains, soybean oil and many others that counteract desquamation and have a nourishing and moisturizing action.
Discover all the allied foods for hair beauty!
Hair cosmetics and natural remedies.
If, on the other hand, it is a not too continuous and exaggerated nuisance, you can think about how to prevent it, how to reduce it or even eliminate it completely. In this case, good quality cosmetic or pharmaceutical products can be used that revitalize the hair shafts, anti-itch or anti-dandruff shampoos, never aggressive and foamy. Always wash your hair with a gentle massage to avoid seriously irritating or infecting the skin of the head. In case of irritation, antibacterial products can be used to avoid the risk of serious inflammation of the follicle, with temporary or permanent loss of an area of the hair. The other specific products for hair care, shampoos for dry skin, conditioners, dyes, hairspray, masks must also be of good quality. So always check their INCI at the time of purchase. In addition, anti-dandruff, anti-itch sulfur or anti-hair loss shampoos must be neither too frequent nor too spaced.
In many cases, other, more natural remedies are useful to combat itching of the head and inflammation of the follicles; for example, you can use aloe vera pulp or gel, left on for about fifteen minutes before rinsing. It does not grease the hair and the skin remains hydrated for a long time. It is also worth trying the effectiveness of a few drops of Tea tree oil, which serve as an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agent for dermatitis and dandruff, or even honey mixed with essential oils to make compresses. These ingredients are also excellent remedies for the health of our tired, swollen, cracked feet or for the problem of calluses, as well as apple cider vinegar that can be used in the last rinse or even orally, mixing a spoon in a glass of warm water. Thanks to its exfoliating properties, even coarse salt fights dry skin and dandruff, especially oily skin. Among the various useful remedies for head skin dryness, olive oil cannot be forgotten, which moisturizes and nourishes dry and brittle hair. For dry dandruff, natural products such as jojoba oil or sweet almond oil are also on the market. On the other hand, these substances are not suitable for oily dandruff. In fact, one of the main causes of itchy scalp is always an excess of dandruff caused by seborrheic dermatitis, which makes the skin dehydrated and causes different types of flaking. Beware of stress: try to adopt a healthier lifestyle, and from time to time take some herbal tablets, based on valerian, lemon balm, hawthorn and passion flower that do not belong to the class of psychotropic drugs, and do not require a prescription, but they have a strong relaxing power. During the change of season, especially amino acids, vitamins a and b, iron, vitamins A and B and cysteine could be useful, which keep the scalp and hair in good health and also promote regular growth.
