Having an itchy scalp has to be one of the most irritating things that can happen to you. And it’s quite common too. A recent study done in 2020 by Medical News Today even showed that 25% of participants were victims of the condition.
Having an itchy scalp means enduring a number of uncomfortable hair concerns like flaking, constant itching, and a sore scalp. There’s also the excessive patting of your head when you have a protective style and don’t want to scratch your scalp in public.
To help our tribe deal with this, we’ve decided to gather tips on how to treat an itchy scalp quickly and easily with the right products, particularly if you can figure out what's causing the itching. But before that, let's see what might be causing you to have an itchy scalp.
Causes of an Itchy Scalp
There are several reasons why you may have an itchy scalp. The most common cause is an inflammatory skin disease, known as seborrheic dermatitis or dandruff.
Dandruff is referred to as flaky, dead skin cells that fall off your scalp. It’s not ideal, but it’s quite common. Our skin regularly sheds dead cells, so why should the scalp be different? Things like irritated skin, dry skin, hormones, an overgrowth of yeast on the skin, or reactions to hair products can cause dandruff to appear.
Other factors that contribute to an itchy scalp include:
- stress or anxiety
- eczema
- atopic dermatitis
- diabetes
- autoimmune disorders
- head lice
Top 5 Itchy Scalp Remedies
Itching is generally caused by inflammation, so the ideal solution is to use anti-inflammatory ingredients to treat your scalp. Below are some recommendations:
Baobab Oil
This oil contains anti-inflammatory properties that soothe an itchy scalp. Baobab oil also consists of essential ingredients, like palmitic acid, sterol, vitamins A, C, D, E, and F, which are good for your hair and skin.
Shampoo Regularly
This tip is the most advised treatment for a wide range of hair concerns. And it’s the same for an itchy scalp. Regular washing of your hair can help to prevent and treat a number of hair issues.
To see effective results, you should be using a sulfate-free shampoo that can help you retain moisture, so it doesn’t dry up and start to get flaky and irritated.
Vitamin E
In their article “How Vitamin E Can Benefit Your Hair,” Healthline lets us know that Vitamin E helps to lock in moisture for the scalp, so a deficiency or lack of it could cause the scalp to be dryer than it usually would be. This is why most experts recommend incorporating vitamin E into your diet or lifestyle. It can be found in foods like almonds, asparagus, mango, broccoli, papaya, etc.
Vitamin E is also very present in baobab oil, so you should ensure that you use a conditioner that contains baobab oil for keeping your hair soft, and hydrated, as well as maintaining a balanced pH level. We recommend our Conditioner that is specially formulated with coconut and baobab oil to hydrate and seal in your hair's moisture.
Use a Scalp Serum
Scalp serums are known for being a good solution for dry, irritated, or itchy scalp. And ours is no exception. With the presence of aloe vera juice for soothing itchiness, baobab oil to cure irritation, tea tree oil to treat flakiness, and rosemary oil for improving blood circulation, it does wonder in relieving the scalp of dryness and irritation.
Use Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil contains properties that can soothe an itchy scalp. It has anti-fungal properties that can cleanse the bacteria causing the itch, and its anti-microbial properties make it perfect for cleansing.
Having an itchy scalp is no picnic, but if you can use the remedies mentioned above, then you should be able to get some relief and possibly prevent future occurrences. However, not all conditions are the same, so if the issue persists, you might want to visit the dermatologist.