If you feel bites on your head but see no lice, it's often caused by other tiny bugs like fleas, mites (demodex), or chiggers, or even mosquitoes/flies, but it could also be non-insect issues like dry skin, dandruff, psoriasis, eczema, fungal infections (ringworm), allergic reactions, or even nerve irritation (occipital neuralgia) or stress. Look closely with a flashlight for actual bugs; if none appear, consult a doctor for skin conditions or nerve issues, as they can mimic bug bites with itching, crawling, or tingling sensations.
Bed bugs are small insects that feed on blood, similar to lice. They typically bite while you are asleep, leaving red, patchy, and extremely itchy welts on your skin.
An itchy, dry, and flaky scalp could be telling you that you need to do a better job of rinsing the shampoo from your hair. Leaving some shampoo on your scalp can irritate it. If you have an itchy scalp and a rash, you may have a condition called allergic contact dermatitis.
Head lice are tiny insects that feed on human blood, most often from the scalp. These insects are found worldwide.
Lice bites are tiny red bumps on the shoulders, neck, scalp, and other areas from small parasitic insects called head lice, body lice, or pubic lice that can live on your clothes or in your bedding.
Scabies of the scalp
Scabies infestation produces diagnostic burrows; the tunnel dug by the female Sarcoptes mite, in the host's epidermis, to lay her eggs.
An intensely itchy scalp is often the first sign of a fungal infection. The constant urge to scratch can be overwhelming as fungi colonise the skin. White, flaky scales typically develop and may shed from the scalp, resembling severe dandruff.
But some people have the sensation of bugs crawling on or under their skin constantly. This is a tactile hallucination known as formication. People with this condition are convinced the bugs are real, even with reassurance from others that they're a hallucination.
Treatment for dandruff and itching scalp
Regular washing of the scalp with a medicated shampoo may be all that is required to relieve itching scalp. The most common anti-dandruff shampoos contain one or more of: zinc pyrithione or zinc omadine. selenium sulphide.
Contrary to popular belief, bed bugs do not actually live in hair—though they may bite at your scalp. They prefer to live in dark, secluded spaces, such as behind your bed, between furniture and walls, or within cracks on your floorboard.
To tell what bit you, look at the pattern, location, and appearance of the bites: mosquitoes leave random itchy bumps on exposed skin; bed bugs bite in lines or clusters ("breakfast, lunch, dinner") on covered skin; fleas cluster on ankles and lower legs; spider bites are often single, painful, sometimes with two fang marks; while ant bites (especially fire ants) cause burning, itchy bumps that can blister. Note if you see the insect, and see a doctor if symptoms are severe, as patterns offer clues but aren't definitive.
The parasite Pediculus capitis causes head lice. Head lice symptoms include an itchy scalp and the presence of the parasite on the scalp, and its eggs on the hair shaft. An itchy, red bumpy rash can occur on the scalp and nape of the neck. Frequent scratching can cause the skin to break and infection to set in.
Identifying What Insects Are Biting You As You Sleep. There are very few insects that bite at night. This means that it will be easier to identify which insects are biting you at night. The main insects that may be biting you as you sleep are bed bugs, mosquitos, fleas, gnats and midges.
Ensure your diet includes vitamins and minerals essential for scalp health. Deficiencies, particularly in vitamins A and E, can lead to an itchy scalp.
Scalp bumps can arise from various conditions, such as folliculitis, acne, allergic reactions, seborrheic dermatitis, hives, psoriasis, eczema, cysts, and skin cancer. They can also be due to infections, including ringworm and head lice.
Your scalp could be trying to tell you it doesn't like what you're putting on it. The itchiness may be an allergic condition called contact dermatitis, which is often caused by hair dyes, especially those that include para-phenylenediamine (PPD). It could also be a reaction to a certain shampoo or conditioner.
Morgellons disease is a form of delusional parasitosis. Delusional parasitosis is a condition in which people firmly believe that they're infested by parasites, mites, worms or other organisms even though a physical examination by a healthcare professional doesn't support this idea.
Getting head lice isn't a sign of poor hygiene or unclean surroundings. Head lice prefer clean hair to attach and lay their eggs. Another common misconception is that head lice can jump or fly from one person to another. Head lice only crawl, most often leading to transmission through direct head-to-head contact.
Antifungal shampoos from Kaya and topical treatments can effectively manage scalp fungi. Look for products containing active ingredients like ketoconazole, selenium sulfide, or zinc pyrithione. Follow the usage instructions carefully, and be consistent in your application.
Your provider may be able to confirm you have a yeast infection by looking at your scalp. Red or purple patches on your scalp could indicate a yeast infection. Your healthcare provider may need to test a sample of the infected area.
Common black bugs found in hair besides lice include fleas, bed bugs, gnats, and other small flying insects. Each has distinct characteristics and requires different treatment approaches.
(The infection caused by cysts is called cysticercosis or, when the cysts form in the brain, neurocysticercosis.) These cysts cause few symptoms until the cysts degenerate and the larvae die, triggering inflammation, swelling, and symptoms such as headaches, seizures, personality changes, and mental impairment.
Symptoms of Demodex folliculorum infection
Some common symptoms of D. folliculorum infection are: Rough skin. Scaly, flaky, or itchy skin.
Traumatic myiasis is a rare presentation in a healthy human being. It is caused by parasitic infestation on a neglected open wound by dipteran larvae, which is also known as maggot. The necrotic tissues and pus serve as a good source of nutrition.