Causes and treatment of irritated scalp

2023 Author: Alfred Shackley | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-21 13:14

If the scalp is irritated, the quality of the hair deteriorates. Hair follicles are weakened, hair grows weak, can split, fall out, or often become heavily soiled. Plaque often appears at the roots of the hair, flakes of the skin flake off, and dandruff forms.

What causes irritation in the hair growth zone, and how to get rid of this problem?

Causes of scalp irritation

The skin under the hair is softer than on the exposed parts of the body - it is protected by the hairline. Therefore, it reacts more sharply to external factors.

The wrong choice of care products, too aggressive dyes, a hard comb - all these factors can cause itching and redness of the skin under the hair.

If you dress not for the weather - too warm, then under the hair the skin sweats more than in other parts of the body, reddens, the hair follicles pretend and weaken. If you neglect a hat on a frosty or windy day, the peripheral blood supply is disturbed in the subcutaneous zone, vascular spasms occur, and you get the feeling that goosebumps are running under your hair.

A symptom of a parasitic disease - head lice - small sores in the lice habitat.

They bite constantly, injecting poison, which causes a strong burning sensation. People reflexively scratch themselves, microtraumas appear on the root area, secondary infection with a fungal infection and a purulent-inflammatory process can begin.

A purulent-inflammatory process is a fairly frequent complication of scalp irritation.

Itching and redness appear:

• with fungal infections - lichen of various etiologies;
• for owners of dry skin after washing, if you choose unsuitable shampoos that wash off the sebaceous secretion;
• with seborrheic dermatitis - oily or dry - exfoliating scales of the keratinized skin layer do not separate, the supply of oxygen from the outside is disrupted;
• with atopic dermatitis;
• with neurodermatitis;
• during allergic reactions;
• with hypervitaminosis and vitamin deficiency;
• in case of metabolic disorders in the body - for example, with diseases of the gallbladder, liver or intestinal malfunction, metabolic processes slow down, toxins accumulate in the body, and negative skin reactions appear.

Under stress, an increased amount of adrenaline is released into the bloodstream, which causes muscle spasms and nervous itching. When the scalp is irritated, the person tends to scratch. Physical influences - especially if the itching is severe enough - are not controlled. In micro-wounds and scratches - damage to the surface of the root zone - pathogenic microorganisms are introduced. Suppuration begins.

How to prevent scalp irritation and cure inflammation that has already begun?

Treatment of dermatological diseases

Home care will not get rid of infections caused by parasites or pathogens. Nowadays, getting rid of lice is quite simple - in pharmacies, head lice remedies are sold, which you only need to apply once. You can use popular proven advice - smear your head with kerosene.

Kerosene increases scalp irritation and may require serious treatment in the future. When using modern means, it will be enough to nourish the hair follicles with oils, since even the most "safe" ointments have a drying effect and the strands, after application, can begin to split.

The approach to the treatment of dermatological diseases is always individual. Seborrheic dermatitis and ringworm are eliminated according to different therapeutic schemes. General action drugs may be required - in tablets.

If seborrheic dermatitis is poorly expressed, then you can try to eliminate it with the help of therapeutic shampoos - "Nizoral", "Sulsena" or the like. When the crust thickens, and the condition worsens, inflammation appears in the root zone, you need to seek help from official medicine.

Some types of lichen can be mistaken for seborrheic dermatitis, and it cannot be treated with shampoos. You should not independently diagnose and prescribe medications - you must definitely pay a visit to a dermatologist.

For diseases caused by nervous stress, the therapeutic scheme is as follows. The first step is to eliminate the annoying factor - the stressful experience. It is worthwhile to deal with it seriously, to analyze a possible way out of the situation. If this is not taken care of, nervous itching can be replaced by severe neurosis. Prescribed sedatives, antidepressants, rinsing the head with herbal infusions - mint, valerian, lemon balm; antihistamines.

It is impossible to get rid of scalp irritation caused by an allergic reaction without antihistamines. Be sure to find out what turned out to be an allergen - a hair care product, pollen sprayed in the air or food. Get rid of the allergen.

To normalize the condition faster, you must follow a diet. Eliminate allergenic foods from the diet - chocolate, citrus fruits, sweets with dyes.

By the way, the diet will help to cope with scalp irritation in case of fungal diseases and dandruff. The activity of reproduction of fungal flora is increased by: grapes, foods with yeast, carbonated drinks, hot spices, fatty foods. They should be temporarily removed from the diet.

If purulent-inflammatory processes have begun - pustules or crusts appear on the scalp, then topical agents with antibiotics are used for treatment. The inflammatory process and irritation are soothed by sea buckthorn ointment.

In case of deterioration of the condition and an increase in purulent foci, the doctor may prescribe general antibiotic therapy.

Prevention of scalp irritation

The possibility of irritation in the hair growth zone will decrease if you adhere to the following recommendations.

1. Before dyeing hair or applying medical masks and balms, carry out an allergy test on the wrist in order to exclude a negative reaction to the components of the formulations;
2. Purchase only high quality cosmetics for hair care.;
3. Regularly check the expiration date of your cosmetics - you cannot wash your hair with old shampoo or apply expired varnish, you may experience an allergic reaction;
4. Hair should be washed as it gets dirty. Dry - no more than once a week or five days; for oily hair, the interval between hygiene procedures should not be less than a day, otherwise the secretion of sebum will increase;
5. To avoid getting head lice or a fungal infection, you should only use your combs, keep track of what bedding was given at the hotel or train, and do not come into close contact with unfamiliar people. Condoms help to avoid sexually transmitted infections, but these means of "personal protection" will not save you from deprivation and head lice;
6. If you follow the principles of rational and proper nutrition, do not take everything that happens around to heart, try to get enough sleep, then the risk of developing dermatological diseases will significantly decrease. Stress is considered one of the main factors causing eczema and psoriasis;
7. You should not get carried away with hair coloring, styling with thermal action accessories. They negatively affect the condition of the hair and irritate the scalp.

Folk remedies - rinsing with herbal infusions, soothing homemade masks made from fermented milk products and oils improve the condition of the root zone and help strengthen the hair follicles.

Complex skin and hair care will help to avoid unpleasant problems - scalp irritation.