Ways You Can Stop An Itchy Scalp

Having itchy scalp can be annoying and very uncomfortable; You donning your beautiful hairstyle only to start feeling that terrible itch you just have to scratch and wreck your beautiful hairstyle - talk about the devil and the deep blue sea. 

This itchiness sometimes comes with visible features that can help you more correctly identify problems you are dealing with. This can come for example with flaky or peeling skin (dandruff) or sometimes it doesn’t.

Do not fret yet, most times having an itchy scalp can simply be you just have an itchy scalp, nothing to worry about, and other times, however, it could be an indication of something more severe like an underlying medical condition. Here are some causes of the itchy scalp:

• Seborrheic dermatitis (commonly known as dandruff): This is a condition that is commonly known to cause itchy scalp. It is often accompanied by itching, flaking or peeling off of the skin, reddening of the skin, etc. Although the exact cause of dandruff is not known, things like stress/anxiety, seasonal changes, or hormonal fluctuations can trigger it on your skin and when it affects your hair, it is called dandruff. 
• Products buildup in your hair: Get your shampoo, please! Sometimes your hair can have too many good things. Constantly using different products on your hair can lead to a build-up on your scalp, clogging up your pores and leading to incessant itching. Washing your hair regularly will solve this.
• Allergic reactions: If you start to experience itching after using a product, then it is possible that you are reacting to that product and should stop using it immediately. It could also be your shampoo, as some shampoos irritate the scalp if they're not rinsed out properly. 
• Scalp psoriasis: This is a scalp condition that causes a flare-up of your scalp and leads to intense itching accompanied by reddening, flaking, and a very dry scalp.

There are multiple other causes of an itchy scalp from dry skin (dandruff), fungal infections to autoimmune disorders or hormonal fluctuations. What you need to do first is find out what could cause your itchy scalp; stress or anxiety can even be a trigger for itchy scalp, as inconsequential as it may sound.

1. Diabetes
2. Head lice
3. Stress/anxiety
4. Frequent heat styling without intervals/breaks
5. Ringworm or tinea capitis

Itching can range from being relieving to being quite painful; either way, it could be accompanied by other symptoms like sores on scalp, redness, hair loss, dry skin, bald patches, etc. It is imperative that you seek medical help or diagnosis if your itching leads to hair loss, is painful or doesn’t go away after a few days. Some itching like that caused by head lice or allergies will not go away without medical treatment. 

How To Prevent Itchy Scalp

The best way to prevent itchy scalp is to wash your hair regularly in order to wash out the build-up of oils from hair products or that secreted by your hair. Do not use extremely hot or cold water to wash your hair so that you don’t irritate your scalp; use warm water to wash your hair.

Also, if you are fond of styling your hair with heat styling tools then make sure to take breaks and not make it a regular occurrence. Avoid products that have fragrances or chemical ingredients that you cannot vouch for.

Go to the stylist with your own hair tools; sharing of hair tools like combs, brushes, towels, can lead to the spread of head lice so use your own tools for your hair.

What can help with your hair itching?

There are natural products that contain ingredients that help to soothe your scalp and reduce itchiness while promoting hair health and growth. They include:

• Apple cider vinegar: This contains acetic acid which has antifungal and antibacterial properties and it is very useful in relieving itching. Simply dilute vinegar and use it as a shampoo and wash out after a few minutes. Do not use apple cider vinegar on broken skin.
• Coconut oil: Coconut oil contains lauric acid which is a saturated fat that possesses antimicrobial properties. Coconut oil is easily absorbed into the skin which makes it a soothing relief from itching.
• Tea tree oil: This is particularly effective for lice related itching, tea tree oil is a natural treatment for itching hair which can help to alleviate itchiness.
• Salicylic acid: Shampoos that contain salicylic acid as an active ingredient are effective for treating itchy scalp caused by dandruff. It has antibacterial properties and helps with skin exfoliation which makes it quite efficient in treating scaly or flaky hair.

Other natural ingredients include peppermint oil, selenium sulphide, lemongrass oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, etc, all-natural ingredients which form the basis of all out products at Glammed Naturally Oil; our braids oil for example has all of these essential ingredients as well as our itchy hair bundle which you can get at ITCHY SCALP BUNDLE | Glammed Naturally Oil

Again, it is important to correctly detect the underlying cause of your itching in order to get the right treatment and not agitate it. If your itching persists, make sure to see a certified medical practitioner (dermatologist)