Dry, itchy scalp guide: Causes, symptoms and treatment

A dry and itchy scalp is uncomfortable, irritating and can often be a cause of annoyance & discontent. Many people experience skin irregularities on their scalp, and these irregularities have both internal and external causes. In this article, we discuss the causes of itchy scalps and then present our solution to this issue.

When your scalp’s natural moisture balance is disturbed, an itchy head and a dry scalp are often the result. In extreme cases you will find it difficult ignore these uncomfortable sensations, however mild cases could go unnoticed for a while. If you need to scratch your scalp even sporadically, check for other symptoms to ensure there are no underlying scalp disturbances. 

Remember most of our scalps are covered so we can’t always rely on what we see, as we would with our faces. A dry, itchy scalp can be associated with ageing and skin conditions, including atopic dermatitis or psoriasis, and the symptoms range from very mild to extreme. 

 

If your itching isn’t severe, you might not see a reason to look into treatments for it. Our scalps tend to be less understood compared to facial skin, so people often put less effort into optimising our routine and health of this area.

The fact is that poor scalp health can prevent proper hair growth and is associated with hair loss, thinning and breakage.

This can also happen as a result of product buildup from not cleansing our scalps properly. Remember, optimal hair health starts at the root! The scalp is where our hair starts, so a healthy scalp will lead to the best hair growth.

As you will find out by reading on, skin health can be affected by scalp problems, and stubborn skin issues could link back to scalp health. For example, fungal overgrowth on the scalp could cause fungal acne which often gets mistaken for other types of acne which require different treatments.

There are a lot of potential causes for dry itchy scalp, and it is important to figure this out first so you can choose the correct dry scalp treatment and avoid exasperating the problem more.

• Atopic dermatitis - Redness and scaliness on scalp that can often itch and sometimes consist of a burning sensation.
• Scalp Psoriasis - Red patches and flaking of the scalp that can cause an intense itch.
• Dandruff- Flakes of dry scalp that appear in the hair.
• Hives - A rash of itchy red bumps that can appear all over your body.
• Neuropathy - Deep scarring can cause nerve damage and this damage can result in  a severely itchy scalp.
• Skin cancer - You may develop an itch due to skin cancer cells developing on your scalp.
• Excessive histamine build up in the scalp
• Age – the older you get, the dryer your skin becomes
• Physical or emotional stress
• Genetic factors
• Hormonal changes - Higher that usual levels of oestrogen as well as reduced levels of oestrogen during menopause can affect the skin.

• Changes in temperature or seasons
• Lifestyle factors, such as poor diet or smoking
• Reaction to medication
• Environmental pollution
• Allergic reactions to cosmetic shampoos, soaps and hair treatments

Whilst a dry, itchy scalp can be a condition it can also be a symptom of another condition. It is important to distinguish between the two to treat the condition at the root.

• Some people have even reported scratching in their sleep. This can be due to a lack of Diamine Oxidase caused by higher levels of estrogen. This is an enzyme that supports the breakdown of histamine.  If there is a severe build-up of histamine, it can lead to constant itching of the scalp which can result in hair loss. 

• You’ve recently been exposed to one or more of the causes listed above: Especially if your symptoms developed soon afterwards.

• You have white flakes or yellow scales in your scalp and hair: You may have dandruff or seborrhoeic dermatitis.
• You have red, scaly, silvery-looking patches on your scalp: You may have psoriasis.

Seborrhoeic dermatitis, also referred to as dandruff, usually occurs on the scalp, face and chest. It is caused by an overgrowth of yeast called Malassezia. This yeast lives naturally on your skin and feeds off sebum produced by the skin.  

Build-up of these oils can therefore lead to an imbalance of this yeast leading to inflammation, itchiness and flaking. Dandruff usually refers to the less inflamed instances, whilst seborrheic dermatitis usually has more severe inflammation causing the symptoms to be heightened. 

Though the conditions seem completely different from one another rosacea and seborrheic dermatitis can often occur together. They are both inflammatory and cause itchy red patches of skin but have different causes. If you think you might have seborrheic dermatitis, ensure you look out for rosacea symptoms too. 

Rosacea can manifest in many ways and whilst some people experience hot flushed patches of skin others might have acne-resembling pustules. Whichever rosacea type you have, be careful to only use the gentlest products on these areas. Though it can be tempting to treat pustules like acne they are highly sensitive and harsh skincare ingredients can cause further flareups. 

Since dandruff and seborrheic is due to a yeast overgrowth, this can extend to symptoms on the face, like fungal acne. Fungal acne shares many similarities with other types of acne however its treatment is very different. If you try and address fungal acne with common acne treatments like antibiotics, it could exasperate the problem. Anti-fungal medication can be prescribed by your doctor to help alleviate the problem.

• Once your scalp’s natural moisture is lost, its protective layer can become compromised. This allows harmful substances to penetrate the skin, leading to microinflammation of the scalp. These microinflammations can cause your scalp to become even more irritated, leading to itching, redness and a sensation of tautness. This can usually result in the thinning of your hair or in more severe cases, substantial loss of hair.

• Microinflammations are mild inflammations of the skin. They’re so mild, in fact, that even clinical testing won’t pick them up. But if we study skin tissue that has been affected by microinflammations, we can detect the presence of inflammatory immune cells – in other words, the skin is responding to irritation with inflammation and thereby attempting to repair itself. If these skin cells are then subjected to further irritation, the skin can flip into a 'true' inflammatory response.

• There’s growing evidence that microinflammations of the scalp are involved in most common scalp disorders, from thinning hair and dandruff to scalp dryness, itchiness and sensitivity.

• If you experience sudden hair loss or brittle hair, you may have an underlying health problem, such as thyroid disease, iron deficiency or an autoimmune disease. Some medications can also cause hair loss. Contact a dermatologist in all instances to get further information.

There are many shampoos available for an itchy scalp. First, identify what may be causing the symptoms and then find a specialist shampoo to help relieve the dryness and itching. Our medicated itchy scalp shampoo and dry, flaky scalp treatment can help relieve your itchy head. 

Eucerin DermoCapillaire Calming Urea Shampoo. Dermatological and clinical studies prove very good efficacy and tolerability of this product on dry skin, atopic dermatitis and even on psoriasis. Eucerin DermoCapillaire Calming Urea Shampoo is suitable for daily use.

Dermatological and clinical studies prove efficacy and very good tolerability on very sensitive, dry & itchy scalp after using the Eucerin DermoCapillaire Calming Urea Scalp  Treatment, whilst also making your hair softer and giving it a healthy shine.

Once your itchy scalp is successfully treated you will want to pick up good scalp care habits to prevent the problem from coming back. Seborrheic Dermatitis and dandruff are both reoccurring conditions and neglecting your scalp health can trigger it to come back. Here are some tips to keeping your scalp happy and healthy.  

• Check your haircare ingredients: Harsh haircare ingredients could aggravate or dry out the scalp, causing a sebum imbalance leading to either dry scalp or yeast overgrowth.  
• Use anti-dandruff shampoo: though it might not be necessary with every wash, anti-dandruff shampoo can be great for targeting the Malassezia yeast which causes the itchiness. It can also help alleviate facial skin symptoms as the yeast lives both on the scalp and skin.  
• Wash hair more (or less): if you don’t wash your hair regularly, you’ll likely experience product and sebum build up on your scalp. Malassezia yeast will feed off this and grow causing you more issues. On the other hand, washing hair too often with harsh products could strip the scalp and cause your body to compensate by overproducing sebum. 
• Shampoo twice: ensure you aren’t skipping the second round of shampooing when you wash your hair as this is important for getting scalp and hair thoroughly cleaned. The first wash lifts dirt, product and sebum build up whilst the second shampoo washes it from the hair.  
• Exfoliate scalp: using a bamboo or shampoo brush or a gentle chemical scalp exfoliant is a great way to prevent clogged hair follicles and keeping your scalp clean and flake free. 
• Get a hard water filter: if you live in an area with hard water, the extra minerals can build up on your scalp and irritate it leading to itching and flaking. These filters will remove some of the minerals and help skin and hair stay soft and hydrated.  

Dry scalp and seborrheic dermatitis in babies is common and often referred to as cradle cap. It usually improves on its own within a year. If the problem persists doctors might prescribe mild steroid creams or antifungal treatment. It appears as dry scaly patches and is essentially dandruff for infants.