Itchy Scalp. How to Give the Skin some Relief?

Even around 75% of people are bothered by tiresome scalp itchiness. There are two ways to deal with the problem - you can either ignore it or turn to the right skin care. Here are the best remedies for itchy scalp.

It happens that the scalp feels itchy and you can't help scratching it. The feeling is really irritating and it seems inappropriate to do it in public places, right? Besides, scratching gives just a temporary relief. Shockingly, the problem affects every other person. If you also have sensitive scalp, this article is made for you!

Sensitive, dry scalp - symptoms

When do you know you deal with this unpleasant condition? The feeling of tight skin crying for a scratch is the obvious symptom. It is often accompanied by slightly painful hair roots and oversensitivity to a variety of factors (products, hot air flow of a dryer, stress, even touching the skin). The high level of scalp sensitivity usually appears through itching. The skin is extremely dry, tight, flaky and red, even though it's hard to tell because of scalp covered by hair. All of these elements may trigger dandruff and hair loss.

Itchy scalp is a signal

Scalp itchiness isn't just a problem you must get rid of. It is a signal from your body. Similarly to dry tight-feeling face skin, it lets you know that the protective barrier is weak. Few people know that the scalp (together with face and hand skin) is the most exposed to the occurence of oversensitivity.

How to read from your scalp? Irritated skin on the head means it lacks enough moisture and natural lipid protection (which is actually easy to restore by doing a hair oil treatment). It is a sign for you to start acting - it is high time you devoted your scalp more time and care.

How to get round to the anti-itchiness scalp care?

Identifying the cause of itchy scalp is the key task. Dryness, feeling of tight skin and flaking belong to the unwanted consequences of our daily habits (often unconscious ones). It might be connected with some ailment, triggered by outside factors yet it is often the result of our carelessness or ignorance in daily hair care.

If you manage to track down the cause of your itchy scalp, it will be easier to choose the right path in hair care. Finding the direct source of the problem is always more effective than following some random tips and recommendations.

The most common causes of itchy scalp

There are lots of causes of scalp itchiness. There are some that we can't do much about e.g. UV radiation (the sunlight), toxins (environmental pollution), freezing cold, heat, rain (weather conditions). On the other hand, we can protect ourselves from them.

Moreover, there are also the causes of over sensitive scalp that we can fight e.g. by changing eating habits (balanced and healthy meals), trying to avoid stressful situations. Few people know that wearing tight hats or helmets may cause scalp itchiness as well. Still, most scalp-related problems result from wrong hair care routine.

Here are the most popular mistakes causing scalp itchiness:

• overwashing and using wrong products e.g. harsh shampoos ripping off the natural protective coat on the scalp
• heat styling, blow drying with too hot air flow which lead to scalp irritation
• overusing (especially styling) products which build up on the scalp, triggering irritations
• washing with hard chlorinated and hot water, not rinsing all shampoo residue

Obviously, itchiness may be the symptom of scalp diseases such as psoriasis and eczema. They are hard to eliminate without the assistance of a specialist so visiting a dermatologist or trichologist is the best idea.

The key rule: NO SCRATCHING!

The major and direct cause of itchy scalp is chronic irritation which makes us wanna get some relief through touching and scratching the skin. Sorry, you mustn't do it! Scratching the scalp brings a temporary feeling of relief and then causes even stronger irritations. Then, the scalp itches more... and it's the vicious circle situation. That is why you must do your best to abstain from touching the skin. How else to bring some relief then?

10 tips to care for itchy scalp

At first, you should apply these essential rules for itchy scalp care to reduce dryness, feeling of tight skin and irritations.

1. Replace your shampoo with the one containing natural gentle ingredients.
2. Try not to overwash your hair and always use lukewarm water.
3. Let your hair dry naturally without a dryer.
4. Cut down on heat-styling, mousses, hairsprays, etc.
5. Enrich your diet with oils and vegetables.
6. Use oils in your hair care too.
7. Precisely rinse the hair, even twice.
8. Shield the scalp from the sunlight, toxins, heat.
9. Let your hair breathe (tight hats and updos - nope).
10. Don't treat your brush like a scratching tool, comb your hair gently.

Remedies for itchy scalp

How to reduce scalp itchiness using home remedies and quickly bring relief? Take a look at the best methods.

1. Olive and baking soda paste - mix 2 spoons of baking soda with a teaspoon of olive oil and enough water to make a paste. Rub the mixture in the scalp (it's easier to apply it after dampening the hair) and leave in for 10-15 minutes. Rinse well.
2. Avocado and banana mask - your scalp adores nutrients and fats rich in both fruits. Mix 2 bananas and 1 avocado, apply to hair roots and leave in for around 30 minutes. Then, rinse well.
3. Apple cider vinegar rinse - vinegar is an excellent itchiness fighter. Mix a half cup of vinegar with the same amount of water, use it to rinse the hair and massage in the scalp. After 15 minutes rinse again, using clean water this time.
4. American witch-hazel - use natural witch-hazel hydrosol and distilled water; mix in a 1:2 ratio and rub in the scalp. Massage for a few minutes, leave in for a while and rinse precisely.
5. Tea tree oil treatment - mix a gentle base oil e.g. olive, argan, almond or jojoba oil with 15 drops of tea tree essential oil. Apply the mixture to the scalp, leaving it in for around an hour. Finally, wash the hair well.
6. Aloe vera gel on hair - buy it in a pharmacy but the best one is extracted from fresh Aloe leaves. Rub the gel in the scalp and leave in for at least 30 minutes. Rinse well using lukewarm water.