Most people are familiar with dandruff and know that it
causes ones scalp to itch. While dandruff is a common cause of itchy scalp
it is not the only cause. There are actually quite a few possibilities to
consider when trying to determine the cause of an itchy scalp. Some of the
most common are:
·
Contact Dermatitis
·
Psoriasis
·
Seborrheic Dermatitis
·
Lice
·
Ringworm
·
Folliculitis
Lice require a specific treatment to kill the troublesome
parasite that lives and lays eggs, or nits, on the hair shaft. Therefore,
lice should be ruled out prior to other treatments. Search for lice behind
the ears and at the base of the hair line. If lice are present small nits
can be seen attached to the hair shaft about one inch from the scalp.
Contact dermatitis is an allergic reaction, usually to
chemicals in shampoos or other hair products.
Seborrheic dermatitis
involves flaky skin, flaky scalp, yellowish scales and inflamed red skin
that often leads to a
sensitive scalp
. Folliculitis is caused by an overly dry scalp where bacteria have become
trapped in the hair follicle causing bumps and pimples to appear.
The key to stopping most other scalp problems is to create a
proper balance of oil. If the scalp is too dry or too oily problems can
occur. Shampoos and other hair treatments need to be pH balanced and
without harsh chemicals. There are natural ingredients such as zinc that
work to clean away bacteria and create the proper balance of oil on the
scalp. When the scalp is normalized with the correct balance most itchy
scalp problems
will be solved.