5 Reasons: You Have an Itchy Scalp & Home Remedies to Get Rid of It
When your scalp itches, it brings discomfort in the form of frequent scratching and is a distraction.
You are continuously focusing on the itching and honestly, that doesn’t even give relief because the itching won’t stop.
Sometimes, visible signs like scabbed or flaking skin are accompanied by itching.
Although an itchy scalp doesn’t have any severe indications it’s better to stop that scratching from disturbing you.
Below you’ll find everything you need to know about an itchy scalp, along with its treatment and prevention measures.
5 Most Common Causes of an Itchy Scalp
- Dandruff
You might have noticed flakes on your hair or clothing and your scalp is dry and itchy, you might have dandruff. Some of the causes of dandruff are:
# Seasonal changes
# Hormonal fluctuations
# Yeast overgrowth
# Stress
Treatment:
If you have mild dandruff, it can be treated with mild shampoos containing zinc and selenium.
But if the condition persists for long, try consulting a physician to prescribe anti-fungal shampoos.
- Ringworm
Also known as Tinea Capitis is a fungal infection that affects the scalp and causes itching as well as hair fall.
Ringworm goes deep into the hair follicle resulting in round patches on the scalp with raised borders.
Ringworm is a highly contagious infection and can be caused by sharing things like these of an infected person:
# Towels
# Combs
# Hats
# Pillows
Treatment:
Consult a physician to prescribe anti-fungal oral medicines to treat ringworms.
- Head Lice
Head lice are the most common answer you’ll receive if you ask them the reason behind itchy scalp.
Head lice can invade anyone’s scalp and not just toddlers.
They live on the human body and consume blood from the scalp and this feeding makes the scalp itchy.
Lice are caused by physical contact, which is when people’s strands of hairs come in close contact during any activity be it sleeping, playing, etc. so, technically lice don’t jump but can definitely crawl from one head to another.
Treatment:
A nit comb is the most preferred one to treat hair lice.
Just comb your hair from roots to tip and remove the eggs and lice.
Another way is to let your physician prescribe you OTC liquids, shampoos or lotions to kill the lice and eggs on your scalp which can later be removed properly with the help of a nit comb.
- Allergies
Itching can be caused by allergic reactions to hair care products and hair dyes on your scalp.
Various ingredients can cause allergies such as para-phenylenediamine found in hair dye.
Treatment:
Discontinue the usage of the allergic product to get relief from itching.
- Sensitive Scalp
Itching scalps can also be a reason for sensitive scalp and the causes for the same include diabetes, anxiety disorder, frequent hair styling, etc.
Treatment:
The potential causes for a sensitive scalp differs and hence the treatment differ for each.
Home Remedies To Get Relief From An Itchy Scalp
- Coconut Oil
Using organic coconut oil is a soothing treatment for an itchy scalp.
It has lauric acid, which has antimicrobial properties that help the skin absorb coconut oil and work efficiently.
Usage:
Warm two spoons of coconut oil, dip a cotton ball and apply the oil over the scalp with the cotton ball.
Massage your scalp gently with fingertips for five-six minutes.
Keep it overnight and rinse off with a mild shampoo in the morning.
- Apple Cider Vinegar
This one has all three properties that can reduce dandruff and hence, itching.
Apple cider vinegar has anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal properties.
Usage:
In one cup of water dilute ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar.
Apply this mixture on the scalp and leave for 10 minutes before washing it off with a mild shampoo and cold water.
- Onion Juice
Onion juice helps minimize hair thinning and nourishes hair follicles because of the rich amount of Sulphur in it.
It keeps your hair moisturized and reduces itching.
Onion juice also helps in keeping your scalp healthy, clean and reduces inflammation.
Usage:
Peel and grate an onion to squeeze out the onion juice.
Apply this juice with the help of a cotton ball on your scalp.
Rinse off with shampoo after 30 minutes.
- Aloe Vera
Aloe vera possesses numerous benefits for skin, body and scalp too.
It gives a soothing effect that treats dry and itchy scalp and acts as a moisturizer too!
Usage:
Take an aloe vera leaf and scrape the gel from it.
Apply it to the itching areas of your scalp and leave it for 20 minutes. Rinse off with lukewarm water.
You can also use organic aloe vera gel available in the market.
- Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is acidic and has anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory properties that help clear the scalp of dirt and dead cells.
But never use lemon juice directly on your scalp because of its acidic nature.
Usage:
Dilute 2-3 tablespoons of lemon juice with ½ cup of water or curd.
Apply this mixture to
- Biotin
Your scalp needs attention and nutrients to facilitate hair growth.
Biotin here comes as a magic remedy that boosts hair growth by working from inside the body.
You can add this to your diet by eating nuts, sweet potatoes, etc or by adding supplements to your diet.
Please Note:
While apple cider vinegar and onion juice have a very strong smell and are unbearable for some.
Other options can be tried without any hesitation.
We insist that you know the real reason behind your itchy scalp before jumping on to any of the itchy scalp treatments.
Although scalp itching is a common issue and can be treated at home with the help of scalp care supplements.
But in few serious medical conditions, it needs a physician’s prescription, kindly consult your doctor in such scenarios because a healthy scalp is a home for healthy hair.