An itchy scalp is something that people who aren’t medical professionals seem happy to have a guess at diagnosing. From questionable haircare advice to made-up allergies, there are so many theories out there that it can be hard to know what to believe.
Common Reasons for an Itchy Scalp
Dandruff
Dandruff can be very itchy and unfortunately, scratching your scalp can cause flakes to be more noticeable, either in dark hair or on your clothes.
This is naturally a little embarrassing and the bad news is the more you scratch, the worse it’ll be. If you’re feeling self-conscious about your dandruff, or the skin on your scalp becomes crusty or scaly, a doctor will be able to suggest ways you can treat it. However, first you need to know why it’s happening.
What Causes Dandruff?
Dandruff occurs when your skin cells renew too quickly, leaving the old, dead skin with nowhere to go. It can be the result of dermatitis, which makes the skin oilier than normal, or other conditions such as psoriasis and eczema (see below).
Not washing your hair often enough can be a factor, as dead skin is left in your hair, while washing your hair too often can irritate your scalp and bring on an outbreak of dandruff. Other triggers include heat, cold, stress and certain hair products.
How is Dandruff Treated?
The most common treatment is an anti-dandruff shampoo. There are many to choose from, so consult with a doctor in order to make an informed choice.
You can also review your hair washing technique. For example, digging your fingernails into your scalp can cause flaky skin, while you should also leave shampoo to set for five minutes before rinsing.
Finally, if you think a hair product might be to blame, stop using it and see if that helps control your dandruff. This is also necessary to give your anti-dandruff shampoo a chance to work.
Psoriasis
Psoriasiscauses the skin to become dry, red and scaly, with the scalp often among the worst-affected areas. Scratching the itch can make skin sore, while it might also bleed or crack. In serious cases, you may suffer from temporary hair loss in patches.
What Causes Psoriasis?
Similarly to dandruff, psoriasis occurs when skin cells are replaced too quickly. This process should normally take up to four weeks, but psoriasis sufferers can produce a new layer of skin every three days.
It’s down to a problem with your immune system, with cells that are normally used for fighting bacteria instead attacking healthy cells and prompting the skin to produce a new layer much earlier than required. This is often passed on genetically, while triggers can include alcohol, smoking, stress and injuries such as cuts and grazes.
Treating and Managing Psoriasis
Psoriasis often requires a careful plan in order to keep it under control. This is something a doctor can help you with. There are many possible treatments for psoriasis, including:
Creams and ointments
Phototherapy - involves exposes the skin to certain kinds of light
Tablets and injections - these are often a last resort, as the side effects can be unpleasant
A doctor may wish to refer you to a specialist dermatologist after your initial consultation.
Eczema
Eczema is a fairly common skin condition causing itchy, red, dry and cracked skin on many areas of the body, including the scalp.
The itching varies in severity, but one thing is certain - the worse it is, the more you’ll scratch. This can lead to infection if your skin begins to crust, ooze or becomes sore.
What Causes Eczema?
Eczema occurs especially in people with dry skin. The reasons for this are often genetic - you are more likely to have eczema if one or both of your parents have it.
There is a lengthy list of possible triggers for eczema:
Cold
Heat
Soap/detergent
Dust
Allergies
Material
Sweat
Stress
How can you treat eczema?
If you can identify a trigger for your eczema, you might be able to remove this trigger from your lifestyle. This is more practical in some cases than others - for example, it’s easier to stop wearing a particular material or using a certain soap than it is to avoid hot or cold weather.
As eczema is caused by dry skin, a doctor will be able to recommend a moisturiser or cream that will help you manage the itching.
Head Lice
While normally associated with young children, head lice can affect people of any age. You might notice lice or their eggs in your hair, while itching is often caused by them crawling across your scalp.
How do you catch head lice?
There are a lot of myths around head lice. Contrary to popular belief, they are not always an indicator of poor hygiene, nor do they have a preference for dirty or clean hair. The truth is, they’re not fussy.
The only way to pass them on is via head-to-head contact with someone. Head lice can’t fly, so there has to be physical contact between two people for them to transfer.
How do you deal with them?
If you’re concerned about head lice, there are special nit combs that will help you detect them. A doctor can also recommend a good specialist shampoo to help kill off the lice. Because the eggs can take up to a week to hatch, these shampoos will usually need to be applied twice over the course of a week to ensure you get rid of everything.
Itchy scalp treatment
By discussing your problem with a trained medical professional, you can pinpoint genuine potential reasons why you might have an itchy scalp. A doctor can use this diagnosis to provide practical advice on how to treat it.
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Every one of our doctors is registered with the General Medical Council and can be found on the NHS National Performers List, so you know you are only ever receiving the best possible care and advice.
They are experienced in treating a wide range of conditions, and can help with almost everything your regular GP could in a physical surgery. You can meet some of our doctors here.
Push Doctor also has an in-house Medical team, who support our doctors day in, day out, and enable our doctors to do what they do best. They are also responsible for the ongoing training and development of doctors on our platform.
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Push Doctor is regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the independent regulator of health and social care in England.
They are the foremost authority in our industry, assessing health providers' ability to provide people with safe, effective, compassionate and high-quality care – be they offline or online doctors.
Push Doctor is registered with the CQC under the name 'Square Health', with the registration number 1-3060117803.
Our most recent inspection took place in May 2019, concluding that the service we provide is safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led – gaining a 'Good' rating overall. You can read the report in full on our CQC profile.
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Our NHS-trained GPs can, if appropriate, issue prescriptions online following a consultation. Once your consultation is complete, our team will search for the closest pharmacy to you which has your medication available. We'll then send you a text when your prescription is ready to collect.
To collect your medication, simply hear to the nominated pharmacy to collect and pay for your prescription. You will need to take a valid form of ID to show the pharmacist when you arrive. This process is almost always done within the same day of your consultation.
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Our GPs can send a sick/fit note directly to you if necessary following an online consultation. These can be sent directly by email or first-class post.
Fit notes include recommendations about how and when you'll be able to return to work or education, or whether you're able to return to work with amended duties (e.g no heavy lifting or reduced hours). They can also contain detailed advice about managing your medical issue in the workplace.
