[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]An itchy scalp can be a nuisance. Even after a shower, you can’t shake the dryness and discomfort. However, there are natural solutions that can bring you sweet relief.
First, it’s important to know what the cause is. Here’s what causes an itchy scalp and how you can get relief through natural remedies.
What causes an itchy scalp? 8 possibilities
Your itchy scalp could stem from various causes — or even a mix of factors. While discovering the reason behind your itch isn’t always essential, it can help. Here are eight possibilities to consider.
1. Dandruff
Dandruff is basically a
mild form of seborrheic dermatitis, a skin disorder that affects oily areas of the body. It’s called cradle cap when it occurs in infants. This condition can also affect your face, upper chest, underarms or groin. The primary symptoms are dry white flakes and itching, although you may also develop a rash, especially if it affects more than your scalp.
2. Lice
Although they might give you the ick, lice are common. The primary symptom is itching or a crawling sensation, and you can often see bugs or eggs in your hair. Treatment usually requires a shampoo with permethrin or ivermectin, along with a thorough house cleaning and laundry session.
3. Psoriasis
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder, which means many over-the-counter remedies won’t touch it. However, you can sometimes reduce your symptoms
with an anti-inflammatory diet and ease itching with colloidal oatmeal. Be sure to consult a doctor to discuss your options.
4. Allergic reactions
You might be allergic to something in your shampoo, styling products or even your laundry detergent. Take a look at any products you started using recently.
5. Autoimmune disease
Other autoimmune diseases besides psoriasis can cause scalp itching. For example, lupus can affect
the top of your head, causing itchy rashes and alopecia, although rarely pain.
6. Atopic dermatitis
Atopic dermatitis or eczema creates symptoms similar to dandruff. However, you may also have greasy or waxy skin or develop oozing or weeping lesions.
7. Scabies or ringworm
Although not as common as they once were, scabies and ringworm still affect people each year. Scabies result from tiny mites that cause bumps and intense itching, usually worsening at night. Ringworm stems from a fungal infection and creates a raised, round, itchy ring.
8. Nerve issues
Your nervous system can go haywire. Damage to the nerves around the scalp can sensitize them, and certain psychological disorders can also create an itching sensation with no apparent cause.
Itchy scalp treatment: 9 natural solutions
This list may or may not help you discover the underlying cause of your symptoms. Only your doctor can confirm your diagnosis, but nothing can stop you from seeking relief. Here are 9 home remedies for itchy scalp.
1. Switching shampoos
Don’t overlook the obvious. Remember, scalp itching can result from an allergy, and people can be allergic to many substances that cause no harm to others. You can
develop them at any age — so even things that once caused no trouble can start to bother you. Your first order of business for treating an itchy scalp that’s lasted several days or more is to examine your
shampoo, conditioner and other styling products.
Begin your process of elimination with the obvious — did you recently switch to a new product? See if ditching it helps. If not, select an all-natural, chemical and fragrance-free shampoo. Gradually add products back to your repertoire, no more than one per day, until you find the culprit.
Furthermore, take a look at your overall styling routine. If you shellac your hair with spray or gel, it could make your scalp feel itchy even if you aren’t allergic. Furthermore, intensive heat styling can dry out your scalp, leaving it itchy. Try to limit how often you use a hair dryer.
2. Wash your sheets
Allergies can also come from the products you use to wash your clothes. Washing machines can harbor residue from your detergent, so start by giving your machine
a thorough cleaning with vinegar and baking soda:
- Set the device for a large load on the hottest setting.
- Add 3-4 cups of distilled white vinegar as the tub fills.
- Let the water agitate before stopping the cycle and letting the vinegar sit for one minute.
- Add baking soda and turn the agitator back on.
- Stop the cycle, let the device sit for one hour, then run as usual.
Once your machine is clean, use a chemical and fragrance-free detergent to
launder your sheets — and skip the scent beads.
3. Coconut milk
Coconut milk is rich in lauric acid, which nourishes and conditions your scalp and may protect your hair’s protein. It also may have antimicrobial effects, which could help treat an itchy scalp that makes you scratch until you bleed.
4. Olive oil
Olive oil conditions and nourishes your itchy scalp and may be an effective holistic remedy for lice. Putting olive oil on your hair with a shower cap overnight to smother the bugs can eradicate the problem. Follow with a rinse of white vinegar in the morning to loosen the adhesive the female uses to attach eggs to strands, and use a fine-toothed comb to remove the mess.
5. Avocado oil
Avocado oil is high in vitamins B and K, which nourish your hair and scalp’s microbiome. Your microbiome is the series of bacterial colonies living everywhere on your body, many of which perform various beneficial functions.
Vitamin K, in particular, prevents calcium buildup on the scalp, which may cause itchiness in sensitive individuals.
6. Tea tree oil
A yeast-like critter
called Malassezia is the suspected culprit behind stress-induced dandruff and itchy scalp.
Tea tree oil contains antifungal properties that may knock it out. Next time you buy shampoo, look for products that contain tea tree oil.
7. Colloidal oatmeal
The word “colloidal” simply means manufacturers have ground this oatmeal so fine that it can dissolve in water — making it ideal for scalp applications. Create a paste out of the
oatmeal and water and massage it into your scalp, letting it sit until the itching subsides.
8. Beer
Beer has yeast — and Malassezia is closely related but not the same. Although it sounds contradictory, the species in beer may proliferate and take over, knocking the other variety back into balance. Whatever the mechanism, many people report relief from itchy scalps from applying beer to their hair and sitting with a shower cap for 30 minutes or so.
9. Meditation
While it’s true that you can’t meditate your way out of a lice infestation, this ancient practice may help with an itchy scalp that springs from nerve damage or no discernable underlying cause. Meditation
builds positive new neural pathways, which is how your brain transmits messages across nerve fibers. Over time, you could find your symptoms ease.
When to seek medical care
Some cases of itchy scalp require prescription treatment, which means calling your doctor. If these home remedies fail to work after several weeks or you experience severe distress or hair loss, contact your health care provider.
Get itchy scalp relief
An itchy scalp is uncomfortable and can be downright embarrassing. While you can’t always determine the underlying cause, natural solutions often bring relief.
Try holistic remedies for itchy scalp and see what works best for you. The relief you seek might be as close as your shower or pantry.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title="Featured Products" border_width="2"][vc_row_inner equal_height="yes" content_placement="middle" gap="35"][vc_column_inner width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="173880" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css=".vc_custom_1711387482991{padding-right: 7% !important;padding-left: 7% !important;}" link="https://www.vitacost.com/tea-tree-therapy-tea-tree-oil-0-5-fl-oz"][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="173879" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css=".vc_custom_1711387510218{padding-right: 7% !important;padding-left: 7% !important;}" link="https://www.vitacost.com/badia-kosher-coconut-milk"][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="173878" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css=".vc_custom_1711387533122{padding-right: 7% !important;padding-left: 7% !important;}" link="https://www.vitacost.com/mill-creek-biotene-h-24-natural-shampoo"][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]
