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Ask the Beauty Brains: Itchy Scalp

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  1.  
    • CommentAuthorTaya
    • CommentTimeJul 4th 2010
     
    Dear Beauty Brains, I just read up on your article about smelly scalps and wanted to know if there are any causes or solutions to itchy scalps.

    My sister started developing an itchy scalp several months back and it would sometimes get so itchy she would have to shower twice a day and she would also itch her hair/head in her sleep! One time she was so desperate that she put socks on her hands to stop her from itching. The weather doesn't seem to affect it and she doesn't produce a lot of dandruff and her hair looks normal in every way just the itching. We have checked for lice and there are none. She also had two spots on her head before this.

    My conclusion maybe, that we have a faulty shower - which can get really hot - and my sister and mother are the only two who for some reason can deal with hot water.

    Which seems to be the most plausible explanation. At first I thought that buying her some deep-cleanse shampoo would do the trick but it didn't really work.
    I just hope people could chip in and give me a few ideas/theorys and possible solutions.

    We don't think it's that much of a deal unless she actually makes her scalp bleed (which thank goodness has not happened), also worried if it might weaken her hair follicles? I told her if she keeps scratching she'll become bald.

    Thanks!
  2.  
    I am just a member here, but reading your description a couple of things come to mind for me. Hot water will cause dryness for your hair and scalp. Twice a day is a bit much for washing her hair especially if it is already dried out from using hot water.

    If dryness is the problem the deep cleansing shampoo would only make it worse. Has she tried a dandruff shampoo? Did she have any success with that to calm the itching down?

    Also is her hair curly? Or wavy to curly? If so it would be drier by nature than straight hair. The scalp oils don't travel down the hair shaft as well with curly/wavy hair as they do with straight hair.

    One thing she might try is to use a mild shampoo and only wash her hair every third or fourth day. On the days she was not washing with shampoo she can use a plain no silicones conditioner to 'wash' or clean her scalp with. Suave Naturals conditioner, VO5 conditioner, and White Rain are the ones I know of that work well. (They are also super cheap. About $1 US per bottle.) You just use the conditioner like you would shampoo. Clean your scalp with it and rinse. Then style as usual.

    Might want to get the faulty shower fixed. In the winter months, if it gets cold where you live, the hot water will dry out not only your hair and scalp but your skin as well.

    Hope that helps.
    • CommentAuthorsarahf
    • CommentTimeJul 5th 2010
     

    I think it would be worth trying a dandruff shampoo even if you're not seeing dandruff.  Dandruff shampoo will kill any fungus that might be contributing to the itching and the spots you saw.  You could try Nizoral (ketoconazole shampoo is the generic name).

    • CommentAuthorTaya
    • CommentTimeJul 5th 2010
     
    Thanks Lindy for commenting :) and no, we don't have curly/wavy hair. We're asian and have very straight hair :)
    I bought a VO5 conditioner for her to see if it helps and also
    thanks Sarahf I told her to stop using the deepcleansing and try the anti-dandruff but the one we have right now is 2 in 1 anti-dandruff shampoo and conditioner would that affect anything?

    Thanks guys!
    • CommentAuthorsarahf
    • CommentTimeJul 5th 2010
     

    Hi Taya,

    I'm not an expert, but as long as the 2 in 1 product has one of these active ingredients (see link) http://thebeautybrains.com/2008/08/12/8-ways-to-fight-dandruff-and-itchy-scalp/  it will be a reasonable thing to try.  If it were me, I'd try the product for a while, and if nothing is better, try a different shampoo with one of the other active ingredients they mention in the article.  If none of those help, she should see a doctor.  There's no way to be sure it's dandruff; it could be psoriasis, an allergy, or something else altogether.

    Sarah

  6.  
    I agree with Sarah. if nothing seems to be working after trying a couple of different types of shampoo a visit to the doctor is definitely in order!

    Hope your sister gets some relief soon!

    I have been through the whole itchy scalp thing and it is no fun. At one time my scalp got so dry in winter when it was really cold outside and the heat was on non-stop that my scalp actually burned and hurt a lot. Since I don't shampoo as much now and only use conditioner to 'wash' my hair with most days I don't have that problem anymore. The other big pluses for me have been not so much frizz, my scalp is not as oily as it once was and my hair is much more shiny now.
    • CommentAuthorvanyel5
    • CommentTimeJul 8th 2010
     
    i'm a little late popping in but i thought i'd throw in my 2 cents...for me, shampoos with sodium lauryl sulfate can make my scalp feel itchy...like crazy itchy. i'll make sure i use a product that doesn't contain it...or sometimes products with no sulfates, but i find the 'no sulfates' routes tend to make my hair look dirty too quickly. don't get me wrong, not bashing sulfates, i don't think they're inherently evil or anything, that's just my scalp's reaction. in the end, nothing beats talking to a doc! hope that poor girl gets a break, and soon!
  8.  
    Just so no one thinks I have completely lost my mind this comes from a book I read The Curly Girl Handbook. I don't see how it could hurt anything so I thought it worth a mention.
    I suspect it works because of the lactic acid but the Beauty Brains would have to answer that part of it.

    The book suggests one cup of heavy whipping cream beaten until fluffy (or you can use Reddi Whip). Pour into your palms and massage into your scalp. Leave it for 5-10 minutes, then rinse well with cool water. It is supposed to be an excellent exfoliant for a dry, flaky scalp.

    I haven't tried it myself yet, but was keeping it in mind just in case my scalp gets itchy in mid-winter.
    • CommentAuthorsarahf
    • CommentTimeJul 10th 2010 edited
     

    That's funny because I use a wavy hair styling product called "whipped cream" by sebastian...and it comes out of a reddi-whip-esque dispenser.

  10.  
    It sounded completely weird to me when I read about it but I seriously don't see how it could hurt anything to try using the whipped cream.

    The styling products I use don't have the silicones in them so my list of 'try this ones' ends up short. Right now I use Fruit of the Earth aloe gel (clear) mixed in equal parts with Aussie aussome volume gel. It works pretty well for me!
    • CommentAuthorK
    • CommentTimeJul 12th 2010
     
    I find that making a scalp scrub of epsom salts and olive oil works really well. I know it sounds weird, but when my scalp gets itchy, I exfoliate it with this paste and it does the trick! The salts are a natural antibacterial, the scrubbing action removes dry skin, and the olive oil is soothing and moisturizing. Apply it to dry hair in the best method that works for you. I find that parting my hair in very small sections and scrubbing the exposed scalp in between works well. Yes, its tedious, but it ALWAYS does the trick! Leave it sit for 30 minutes then shampoo and condition like normal.

    Using a super moisturizing shampoo and conditioner really helps too- the best in the entire world is Biolage ULTRA Hydrating shampoo and ULTRA Hydrating conditioner. Make sure to work the conditioner into your scalp. I find VO5 to be very harsh and drying, and I don't the conditioner is very moisturizing. But that's me.

    Hope this helps!
  12.  
    @ k I make a scalp scrub out of white sugar and my regular super cheapo conditioner. I just mix it together and scrub my scalp in the shower. It exfoliates quite well.

    I don't use the VO5 or Suave conditioners to be moisturizing. I use them as conditioner wash. I don't have a super dry scalp. It is actually much more towards 'normal' now than it used to be.

    I am glad the Biolage works for you!

    It just goes to show that what works for me won't necessarily work for other people and vice versa. :-)
    • CommentAuthorCherrysnow
    • CommentTimeJul 13th 2010
     
    Hi Taya
    Your sister might have sensitive scalp which require gentler shampoos for it. I recently had a scalp diagnosis which explains the slight itching and dry scalp. Maybe getting a scalp diagnosis would help. I had mine done at a hair salon, where they used a camera to look at the scalp and hair follicles. I also had a scalp treatment where they applied lotions to get rid of debris clogging the hair follicles. They then review your scalp with the camera again. They also recommend shampoos to maintain your scalp condition but I couldnt afford it :P ... the moral of the story is that sensitive scalps would have pinkish inflamed areas seen by the camera. Hope this helps a lil :)))

    PS. i had my hair bleached many times but this one time, it itched so so so bad that i was begging them to take it off under 20mins. So i think some ingreidents in hair products do make a huge difference. Maybe try some organic products? :)))

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