Constant scratching can lead to wounds and scabs, further damaging your scalp. The scalp can also become dry as the outer layer of skin becomes weak and lacks moisture.
Your immediate reaction to an itchy scalp might be to give it a good scratch but resist the temptation! Scratching your scalp can damage your hair. While it's a natural reaction to itchiness, scratching your head can cause serious damage to both your hair and scalp. Itch can be a sign that your scalp is unhealthy.
Scratching can disrupt the oil layer and add fungus to the scalp. Both of these are factors in dandruff and can trigger flaking. The skin sheds to get rid of the irritant or foreign object, and scratching just adds more of that.
Scratching your scalp with your nails can cause even MORE flaking and inflammation, and may result in small tears and scabs. Your scalp skin actually has more hair follicles and oil glands than any other part of your body, making it a lot more sensitive and susceptible to skin issues.
When a person scratches an itchy scalp repeatedly or intensely, they can damage their skin and hair follicles. This damage can result in temporary hair loss, bleeding, and scabbing from the scratching. Once the person stops scratching, the hair will usually grow back.
Picking at the scalp can put a person at higher risk of infection, scarring, and discoloration of the skin. A person who compulsively picks at their scalp may have a skin picking disorder. Treatment for a skin picking disorder often involves therapy and medication.
When we scratch our heads, blood flows to our scalp, causing warmth and even a tingly sensation. Mix that with serotonin from the itch, and you have an amazing feeling of satisfaction and happiness from a head scratch. It's not bad to itch your scalp every once in a while.
Although scratching is a natural reaction to an itchy scalp, avoid doing so for optimal scalp and hair health. Obviously, once in a while is okay. But if you're experiencing long-term itchiness, it could be that something else is going on.
Scalp itching and irritation can be painful to deal with, but there are solutions available that will keep your hair and scalp healthy. It's important not to cut or scratch the scalp. Be gentle and use high quality products that will soothe and refresh your scalp without causing additional damage.
An unhealthy scalp is characterized by dryness, flaking, itching or excessive build up. The hair may break easily, fall out or the texture of the hair may change. What steps can a client take to ensure a healthy scalp at home? Clients should cleanse their scalp regularly.
Have you ever scratched your scalp and noticed white, waxy buildup under your nails? That's sebum mixed with dead skin cells. It's hard for shampoo alone to wash away your oily scalp issues. And issues like stress and weather can increase the scalp's sebum production, making you even oilier.
Use a conditioner after a dandruff shampoo. It will protect your hair against dryness. Try not to scratch if flakes itch. You won't end the flaking and you may cause bleeding or hair loss, making the problem worse.
If you're constantly scratching your head because of an itchy scalp, it could be more than just dandruff. Many conditions can cause an itchy scalp ― from dandruff to ringworm or something more serious like a bacterial infection or autoimmune condition.
Dermatillomania is a mental health condition where a person compulsively picks or scratches their skin, causing injuries or scarring. Also known as excoriation disorder or skin-picking disorder, this condition falls under the category of obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCDs).
The truth is that anxiety causes itchy scalp in some people, and likely causes it for different reasons. It's not the most common issue, but it's one that many people report.
Serotonin reacts with neuronal receptors that carry itch signals to the brain, making itching worse. Turns out your mom was right: Scratching an itch only makes it worse. New research indicates that scratching causes the brain to release serotonin, which intensifies the itch sensation.
ADHD. Many ADHDers experience understimulation because dopamine receptors in ADHD brains often struggle to pick up dopamine signals. This leads to issues with impulse control, leading some people to rely on body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs), including skin-picking, as common ways to lead to greater stimulation.
ALLERGIC REACTION
If your whole scalp feels irritated, itchy, and flaky after you wash your hair, it might be time to stop and reassess what shampoo and conditioner you are using.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) list ADHD as “one of the most common” neurodevelopmental conditions among children. People with ADHD may develop skin picking disorder in response to their hyperactivity or low impulse control.
Hormone fluctuations: At night, your level of anti-inflammatory hormones (corticosteroids) naturally falls, which may exacerbate itchiness. Sweating: In the evening, you have more trans-epidermal water loss (water passing through the outermost layer of skin and evaporating).
If you damage your hair follicles after an injury, they can repair themselves and your hair will grow back. It could take up to four years before you see new hair growth out of damaged hair follicles, depending on the severity of your injury.