Itchy scalp: causes, folk remedies for home treatment

Itchy scalp is a temporary or permanent irritation of the skin that creates discomfort for a person.

This condition is facilitated by the influence of external negative factors. But in some cases, itching can signal the presence of serious diseases. Sometimes redness of the scalp is added to it.

This problem needs to be addressed in a timely manner. In most cases, home treatment will effectively relieve scalp itching. Most often, after eliminating the source of irritation, the itching itself disappears.

The development of the disease will lead to skin depletion and damage in the form of cracks. In turn, this can provoke infection and cause inflammation.

Causes of itchy skin

It is important to identify the cause of itchy scalp. Only after this can you get rid of this problem forever.

The main reasons include:

Parasitic lesions . The scalp can be parasitized by lice, fleas, ticks, and filariae. This is the most common reason. It is very easy to diagnose. These parasites are visible visually.
Fungus . There are many types of fungi living on the scalp. If the body's immunity is normal, they are harmless. But with the advent of favorable conditions for the active activity of the fungus, lichen develops. It is accompanied by unbearable itching.
Diabetes . High blood sugar can cause an itchy scalp. It can also occur from excessive consumption of sweets. In this case, you need to exclude sweets from your diet and adhere to a certain diet. After some time, the itching will disappear.
Dandruff . The appearance of dandruff often leads to severe itching of the skin. Often, not knowing how to treat it, people use a variety of available means. At the same time, dandruff does not disappear, since its appearance is a consequence of a violation of the process of sebum formation. If this problem is not eliminated, it will provoke the development of a disease such as seborrheic eczema.
Seborrheic dermatitis . The skin disease is caused by a malfunction of the sebaceous glands. There are two types of seborrhea: dry and oily. The first occurs as a result of a decrease in the activity of the sebaceous glands, and the second from the abundant secretion of sebum with a disturbed chemical composition. Dry seborrhea is accompanied by dandruff, unbearable itching of the scalp and the appearance of acne.
Allergic reaction to shampoo and other hair care products . When changing shampoo, conditioner, or mask, the skin often begins to itch and redness appears. In this case, you need to stop using them and return to a proven product. Most often, itching is caused by a component such as sodium laureth sulfate or sodium lauryl sulfate. If the problem does not disappear, you need to consult a trichologist to diagnose the scalp and determine the presence of allergic reactions. Allergy to hair coloring products is common. If it contains ammonia and hydrogen peroxide, itching of the scalp may occur after use. Therefore, before dyeing your hair with any product, it is better to test for an allergic reaction. If the itching does not stop after the procedure, you can use shampoos that neutralize the dye. They should be used to wash your hair after washing off the paint.
The cause of irritation and itching of the scalp may be an allergy to detergent or bed linen softener .
Use of hair dryers . Frequently washing your hair, using hair dryers, straighteners and other devices not only dry out the skin and cause itching, but also damage the hair.
Dry skin . An itchy scalp may occur due to very dry skin. At the same time, the hair becomes dry and brittle, very frizzy, electrified and cannot be styled. Caused by disruptions in sebum production. Moisturizing hair care products will help solve the problem.
Itchy scalp appears as a result of a lack of fatty acids, vitamins, and microelements.
Various stress factors . It has long been proven that stress provokes itching of the scalp. This is psychological pressure, excessive mental or physical stress, emotional instability. Against the background of such factors, adrenaline is actively produced in the body. To remove it you need physical activity. In their absence, adrenaline accumulates in the blood and causes severe itching.
Muscle tension . Very often itching is provoked by tension in the muscles of the back, shoulders, and neck. As a result, blood microcirculation deteriorates. In addition, constant tension in the muscles of the scalp can lead to microtrauma of muscle fibers and cause an inflammatory process. This problem is accompanied by unbearable constant itching.
In severe cases, itching appears due to intense hair loss . In this case, you will need therapy aimed at relaxing the muscle fibers of the head.
Mechanical damage . Damage to the soft tissues of the head during the wound healing stage causes itching. It is quite strong when the wound begins to heal.

Self-treatment for itchy scalp

Itching is a problem that will not go away on its own. Without timely elimination of the cause that provokes it, the disease will develop and lead to complications.

Therefore, it is important to know how to treat itchy scalp and dandruff with folk remedies.

Physiotherapy and massage are effective in treating this disease. To normalize the functioning of the sebaceous glands, decoctions of medicinal herbs have long been used.

Nettle, oak bark and chamomile are especially useful. With the help of massage, blood circulation is activated, which improves skin nutrition.

There are other useful tips:

Using onion and garlic juice . They contain sulfur and acid, which effectively removes itching and dandruff caused by hair coloring. To prepare, add lemon juice and vegetable oil to freshly squeezed onion or garlic juice. Take all ingredients in equal quantities. The resulting composition should be applied to wet hair and left for half an hour. After this, rinse with warm water, after adding vinegar or lemon juice.
An apple-based scalp mask against itching and flaking is effective . To prepare, you need to chop one medium apple on a coarse grater. Apply the resulting mass to the scalp before washing. Put a cotton cap on top, leave for half an hour and rinse. You need to make this mask twice a week.
Olive-lemon mask moisturizes the scalp , fights dandruff, and cleanses. To prepare, you will need 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Heat the oil in a water bath and add lemon juice. Rub the resulting composition into the scalp, put a plastic bag and a towel on top. After 20 minutes, rinse with any medicated shampoo.
If your scalp is extremely dry, you can use a mask of linseed and olive oil . Mix the oils, a tablespoon of each, heat in a water bath and rub the finished mixture into the scalp. Put a hat on top and insulate with a towel. Wash off after half an hour.
Oatmeal mask perfectly nourishes, moisturizes and cleanses the skin . To prepare it, you will need a herbal decoction of nettle, chamomile, sage or plantain - 6 tablespoons. Oatmeal - 2 tablespoons. Initially, you need to prepare a decoction by brewing a medicinal herb. Then pour this product over the oatmeal and let it swell. Rub the resulting mixture into the skin and hair roots with massage movements. Place a plastic bag on top and wrap with a towel. Leave for two hours and rinse with neutral shampoo.
An effective way to soothe the scalp is dandelion flower lotion . Fresh dandelion flowers need to be crushed, placed in a container and filled with 50 ml of vodka. Add freshly squeezed lemon juice and a teaspoon of liquid honey to this mixture. Mix well and leave for two weeks. After this, strain the tincture and apply to the skin and hair half an hour before washing. Put on a hat or scarf on top.
A banana mask will help with itchy skin . To do this, mix half a banana, a teaspoon of onion juice and a tablespoon of warm honey. Apply the mask to your hair and leave for 40 minutes, then rinse.

Folk remedies

In addition to doctor's prescriptions, traditional medicine recipes can be used to treat itchy scalp.

Onion and garlic juice mask

Both components are taken in equal proportions. To enhance the effect, add lemon juice (30 ml) and vegetable oil (1 tbsp) to the mixture. Distribute the mask onto damp strands, leave the product on the head for half an hour under a plastic cap and a terry towel.

As a rinse aid, prepare a solution based on apple cider vinegar (take 100 ml of vinegar per 1 liter of water). Do not use onion-garlic mixture for hair that is prone to drying out.

Apple mask

Before each wash for 2 weeks, apply a mixture of grated apples to your hair. A cap made of cotton material is put on over the head. Exposure time – 20-30 minutes. The frequency of procedures is no more than 2 times a week.

Lemon and olive oil mask

Oil (30 g) and the juice of one lemon are mixed in a glass container. The oil product should be taken slightly warmed up. This is done in a water bath. The product distributed on the hair is kept for about half an hour. Wash off the fat with medicated shampoo in 2-3 passes. Treatment mode – 2 r. in Week. The course is carried out over 1-1.5 months.

Using Shampoos to Treat Itching

In today's world, people are overly busy. They don’t have time to prepare traditional recipes if there is an itchy scalp and what to do when your head itches, because it’s difficult to tolerate.

In this case, it is wise to use a special shampoo against itchy scalp. It may have other positive properties.

Such funds are divided into 4 groups:

antibacterial;
sebum cleansers;
antifungal;
exfoliating.

You can buy shampoos at the pharmacy. The most popular of them:

Nizoral is an antifungal shampoo manufactured in Belgium. The product effectively combats the symptoms of the disease. Kills fungus, painful itching and peeling. If you use it twice a week, then after a month the problems will disappear.
Sebozol - has a healing effect and restores fungal-affected skin areas. It should be used for at least a month, twice a week.
Sulsena is a popular shampoo that has proven itself well. Removes itching and flaking.

Special shampoos should be used strictly according to the instructions. Otherwise, you can only make the situation worse.

Essential oils to combat dandruff and itching

There is another effective way to treat itchy scalp and dandruff. It is based on the use of essential oils. They are included in many shampoos with cosmetic and therapeutic effects.

The most popular in folk medicine is tea tree and burdock oil . At home, they can be used in their pure form. They will not only help get rid of itchy scalp and dandruff, but will also make your hair look healthy.

Using essential oils is quite simple. You just need to rub them into the scalp and hair roots, leave for a while, wrapping your head in a plastic bag and a towel.

The main medicinal properties of oils:

Burdock oil - eliminates dandruff and reduces hair loss. After use they become strong and shiny.
Tea tree oil - removes dandruff caused by fungus within 7 days after starting use.
Lavender oil - promotes hair growth, eliminates dandruff and gives hair shine. Mix a few drops of oil with shampoo and wash your hair.
Castor oil - relieves itching, dandruff and prevents hair loss.
Coconut oil has a wonderful antibacterial effect and strengthens thinning hair. Prevents the appearance of dandruff and gray hair. Can be added to shampoo.
Almond oil - nourishes hair roots, eliminates split ends and dandruff. Can be used several times a day by placing a few drops on the comb.
Flaxseed oil, jojoba oil and sea buckthorn oil effectively eliminate dandruff, strengthen and nourish hair.

How to quickly eliminate itching?

Mayonnaise mask

This mask will not only help get rid of itching , but also nourish the skin, which will relieve it from dryness and irritability .

To prepare it you will need to beat one egg with a tablespoon of honey and three boats of mayonnaise. Apply the resulting substance to your hair and leave for 30 minutes. Use the mask twice a week until the itching completely disappears.

Olive oil

You need to take 50 ml of olive oil and thoroughly massage into the scalp and distribute over the strands. Wait 45 minutes and thoroughly rinse your hair with a suitable shampoo and apply conditioner. Use two to three times a week.

Attention ! This mask is not very suitable for people with oily hair, as it can make it even greasy. If you want to use oil for this type of curls, you should reduce the number of procedures to one.

Banana mask

Suitable for people with any skin and hair type . To prepare, you only need two ripe bananas mixed with two tablespoons of sour cream or kefir. The puree is applied to the entire scalp and scalp.

After 20-30 minutes, rinse the mixture first with clean water and then with shampoo. Use twice a week for 8 weeks . Then you need to take a break for a month and use the product for prevention.

Check out reviews of effective anti-dandruff shampoos:

cosmetic : Head & Shoulders, Clear Vita ABE, Alerana, Horsepower, tar shampoo;
pharmacy : Nizoral, Sulsena, Sebozol, Fitoval, Ketoconazole, Vichy, shampoos with zinc.

Read tips on how to choose the right shampoo for a man or woman, as well as for dry or oily dandruff.

It is better to treat seborrheic dermatitis immediately after its first manifestations, which will help avoid deterioration of the condition of the scalp and hair. In addition, timely therapy guarantees a quick and necessary result.

Diet for treating scalp itching at home

Nutrition affects the condition of hair and scalp . Unbalanced and unhealthy food provokes itching, flaking and inflammation of the scalp.

To avoid such problems, you need to follow the recommendations:

Introduce liver, yeast, eggs, and almonds into your daily diet.
Make it a rule to regularly consume dairy products.
Do not eat sweets and fatty foods.
Drink plenty of clean water.
Eat foods that contain fiber.
Eat fresh vegetables and fruits.

If the problem already exists, then using a diet along with treatment will speed up the healing process.

Basically, folk recipes and special products do a good job of eliminating itchy scalp and dandruff.

But if there is no positive result, you should consult a doctor. This will prevent the occurrence of serious problems and diseases.

Anti-dandruff scalp mask. Folk remedies

It is important to understand that such methods are a preventative measure. Dandruff on the head does not appear on its own. Microcracks and deterioration of the scalp are a consequence of any disease or malfunction in general metabolic processes. So, let's look at folk remedies for seborrhea.

Egg masks

A huge number of recipes made from chicken eggs will help you forget about seborrhea for a long time. Eggs in combination with other products will help not only restore the scalp, but also strengthen the hair structure. For complete recovery, it is recommended to use masks at least twice a week.

Recipes:

Separate the yolk from the white and beat both elements well. The protein is rubbed into the scalp first. After 5 minutes, it’s the yolk’s turn. The mixture must dry, after which it must be washed off with warm water.
To prepare the next mask, you need to brew 2 tbsp. l. daisies. Take 50 ml of broth and mix with protein until smooth. Leave the mask on for 15 minutes. Then rinse with shampoo.
Melt 2 tbsp. l. honey and beat 2 yolks. Heat 3 tbsp. burdock oil and mix with the remaining ingredients. The product is applied not only to the hair roots and scalp, but is also distributed along the entire length of the hair structure. Wrap your head in a towel. The mask is left for 30 minutes, after which it is washed off with shampoo.
Beat 1 egg with a mixer and add 100 ml of kefir until a homogeneous consistency is achieved. Rub the mixture into the roots of the hair using massage movements and wrap it in a plastic bag and towel. Wash off after half an hour.
1 tsp olive oil, 2 tbsp. l. lemon juice and 2 egg yolks must be thoroughly mixed and rubbed into the scalp. Leave for 30 minutes, then rinse well under cold water. It is possible to get rid of dandruff using this method by using the mask at least once a week. Can be used as a preventative measure.