What to do if your head itches, but there are no lice

Itching and a burning sensation of the epidermis in the scalp are familiar to most of the population. Unpleasant sensations cause not only physical discomfort, but also disrupt the previously habitual way of life.

In addition, a person constantly has to be in emotional tension, since others pay attention to such a delicate problem, believing that their opponent has lice on his head.

However, often such suspicions are false and erroneous. Excessive irritation and itching on the scalp does not always indicate that a louse is present.

In most cases, these are other clinical pathologies that are easily corrected and treated. Patients wonder what to do if their head is very itchy and itchy, but there is no lice.

Possible causes of itching

Why can your scalp itch? Why does the head itch if the victim does not have lice? Experts identify a number of main reasons that do not include various diseases:

• ignoring generally accepted hygiene standards. In other words, if a person washes his hair too rarely, it can become very itchy;
• metabolic disorders;
• lack of moisture in the epidermis, increased dryness of the skin;
• excessive secretion of fat from the bulbs;
• dandruff that becomes permanent;
• too active separation of skin fungus, which is present in the body of every person;
• manifestation of an allergic reaction, accompanying symptoms occur that form the clinical picture.

The listed factors are the answer to the question of why the head itches if it is always clean and the person does not have lice. Louse is diagnosed in 25% of the population. In most cases, children suffer from such parasites, as epidemics overtake children's educational and preschool institutions. Reproducing and spreading quickly, the louse can quickly jump from one child to another.

It is important to maintain personal hygiene and ensure that your hair is always clean. The right shampoo plays a special role, because with its help you can saturate the scalp with moisture and provide a soothing or restorative effect. Many shampoos help get rid of dandruff or reduce its severity.

Itching can be a consequence of excessive consumption of sweets; this again applies to children who do not always know when to stop and cannot resist the sight of their favorite treat. Chocolate, sweets, and sweet pastries can lead to changes in the third layer of skin and cause redness, rashes and itching.

The most common cause of itching is a common allergy, which can occur in both children and adults. The reaction can be to anything, but mainly irritants include hair care products.

If you are allergic to cosmetics, shampoos, conditioners, or decorative cosmetics, an adverse reaction may occur in the form of severe “itching.” In addition, symptoms such as nasal congestion, increased body temperature and a deterioration in the patient’s general condition may occur.

Moisture deficiency and disruption of the normal water balance in the epidermis lead to dry skin. After this, severe peeling appears in certain areas of the epidermis of the head, which itch severely and contribute to the formation of redness.

Constant use of hair dye also leads to excessive dryness. This is especially true for blondes, who have to bleach and then tint their roots twice a month. This causes severe trauma to the skin. Even during the dyeing process, girls experience a strong burning sensation, “pinching”, their head begins to itch, and crusts form.

Treatment

When the doctor rules out lice, and the child scratches his head and there are no lice, the most important thing for parents should be proper treatment of the condition. To do this, you need to know exactly the cause of the problem and eliminate it.

If the disease is caused by natural causes, you can get rid of the symptoms simply by eliminating the source of irritation, for example, by changing shampoo or stopping using a hot hairdryer. If there is a disease, both it and its manifestations must be treated.

Diabetes and other endocrine disorders require treatment by an experienced specialist and the prescription of special medications. If the condition is provoked by nutritional disorders, the doctor will select the right menu and, if necessary, conduct a course of vitamins and other health products.

This internal treatment is combined with local treatment of the affected areas. Dry, irritated skin needs moisturizing and softening; seborrhea and lichen are treated with special ointments and shampoos.

If the affected area is caused by specific actions, for example, infection with demodicosis or psoriasis, treatment should be especially thorough and lengthy. The characteristic spot is regularly treated with drugs selected and prescribed by the doctor. Any amateur activity with such diagnoses can aggravate the course of the disease and cause it to spread to other parts of the body.

Seborrheic dermatitis

Seborrheic dermatitis is a disease that cannot be treated without consulting a doctor. Its causative agent is fungi of the yeast group, which are present in every person. If a favorable environment is created for infectious agents, they begin to actively reproduce, which causes unpleasant symptoms:

• Scales form on the skin;
• Acne appears;
• Hair begins to fall out;
• A rash appears;
• The skin is peeling;
• The head is very itchy and itchy.

As a rule, when similar signs appear, a person immediately suspects the appearance of lice. After examination, an accurate diagnosis is established. That is why special attention should be paid to diagnosis. Properly prescribed treatment will help get rid of the disease and restore the normal balance of fungi in the body.

Why does my head itch if it is clean and free of lice?

There are quite a few factors that cause skin itching. Among them are:

• various diseases and disorders of internal organ systems;
• stressful conditions, psychosomatics;
• natural reactions of the body to living conditions.

You can try to figure out the root cause yourself, but it is better to turn to specialists. First, see a therapist who will refer you to the right doctor - an endocrinologist, trichologist, dermatologist or gastroenterologist. A specialized doctor will prescribe tests that will help determine the cause of skin itching and select treatment tactics.

Pathological causes

Itching can occur in the presence of certain painful conditions:

• Lack of vitamins and microelements in the body. With a deficiency of tocopherol, riboflavin, pyridoxine, magnesium, potassium and other substances in the epidermis, blood circulation decreases, which leads to thinning of the hair follicles and itching.
• Activity of pathogenic fungi. When the microflora of the epidermis changes, microorganisms living on human skin are activated. Crusts, plaques, a desire to scratch – this is how seborrheic dermatitis manifests itself.
• Scalp psoriasis or ringworm. When the immune system is malfunctioning, the life cycle of epidermal cells is sharply shortened, and they begin to age quickly. White or red scaly spots appear on the skin, which itch unbearably.
• Gastritis. This disease is characterized by a violation of food processing in the stomach, which is accompanied by processes of rotting, gas formation, and fermentation. This cannot but affect the skin, which begins to itch.
• Eating disorders. Excessive consumption of sweets, flour products and other easily digestible carbohydrates feeds opportunistic fungi on the skin. Their activity and reproduction is accompanied by itching of the scalp.
• Demodecosis. Subcutaneous mites of microscopic size feed on hair follicles, and their movement over the head makes you want to scratch it.

Psychological reasons

With constant stress, nervous exhaustion, depression, and nervousness, a whole chain of reactions is triggered in the body:

• blood vessels dilate;
• their swelling appears;
• the level of production of histamine, a substance responsible for allergic reactions in the body, sharply increases;
• there is a desire to scratch the skin on the head and other parts of the body.

Other reasons

Sometimes the appearance of itching is provoked by incorrectly selected cosmetics, as well as other factors:

• Anti-dandruff shampoos contain aggressive drying ingredients. As a result, the excessively dry scalp begins to itch unbearably.
• Plant extracts, essential oils and flavors are added to various masks, balms, and shampoos. These substances provoke allergies - through itchy skin, the body makes it clear that the product for washing or hair care is not suitable.
• Incorrect determination of skin and hair type leads to inappropriate care. Too frequent, or, conversely, infrequent washing of the hair in the first case irritates the epidermis, and in the second it leaves it dirty, which provokes itching.
• During the cold season, men and women wear hats, often made of synthetic fabrics and threads. The skin sweats, does not breathe, and begins to itch.
• Unpleasant sensations, as well as peculiar plaques on the skin sometimes appear after hair coloring. This picture is observed if the paint contains ammonia, strong brightener and other potent substances.

Ringworm

The patient’s head itches severely and “sores” appear that resemble bites, but it turns out that these are not lice. In most such clinical cases, specialists diagnose ringworm. This is a pathology that also occurs due to fungal microorganisms. You can learn more about ringworm here.

The main signs of ringworm are:

• Severe inflammatory process on the epidermis;
• Increased peeling of the skin;
• Partial baldness. In the area of ​​strong inflammatory zones, hair begins to fall out, from the outside it seems as if “bald spots” have formed on the head. Their size can reach 10 cm;
• The edges of the resulting wounds become covered with small blisters. When they burst and the contents come out, thin crusts begin to form, acquiring a yellow tint.

The disease requires immediate consultation with a doctor. You should not delay contacting a doctor to prevent the development of various complications.

How to get rid of itching

Itchy scalp due to allergies
From the above it is clear that the causes of scabies can be very diverse. Only a doctor can recommend the correct treatment for an itchy head. After all, it is much easier to cope with the task if you know the source of the disease.

• It is necessary to exclude the allergen if the cause of constant itching of the scalp was an allergic reaction. Taking antihistamines in this situation will help reduce the symptoms of the disease.
• When lice and nits appear in the hair, the back of the head and the area behind the ears usually itch very much. If you constantly scratch these places, then over time there is a possibility of wounds appearing on them. Which in turn can cause a secondary infection. You can get rid of lice using special pediculicidal drugs or folk remedies. No less important in this case is the treatment of the apartment, bed linen, and things.
• The presence of a fungal infection requires the use of antifungal shampoos.
• The functioning of the sebaceous glands can be normalized through complex treatment prescribed by an endocrinologist.

Many people are concerned about the question of what to do if their head itches. In order to improve the condition of the skin, you need to:

• review your diet: fatty, unhealthy and sweet foods should be excluded;
• bad habits are another negative that should be abandoned, because it is nicotine that contributes to the formation of free radicals;
• no less important is the correct selection of detergents for hair care; when choosing them, you should take into account your skin type, and not the attractiveness of the label and the aroma of the product;
• to eliminate flaking and treat fungal diseases of the scalp, it is necessary to use hair wash products containing birch tar and Ketoconazole;
• To relieve the inflammatory process, it is better to rinse your hair with a soothing herbal decoction.

Ways to improve scalp condition

You can also treat scalp itching with folk remedies.

1. Apple cider vinegar relieves discomfort well. It is diluted with boiled, cooled water in a ratio of 1:3. Treat the scalp with the resulting solution and rinse with running water after 10 minutes. This procedure is carried out daily for a week.
2. An apple mask will help relieve itchy symptoms. The apple should be pureed with a blender. Then apply the resulting mass to the scalp, rinse off for 30 minutes using shampoo for daily hair care. Such treatments should be carried out for seven days.
3. A mixture of olive and almond oils has excellent anti-inflammatory properties. It is enough to mix 5 ml of each component with 200 ml of hot water. After the solution has cooled, it is applied to the scalp for 20 minutes. Finish the procedure by washing your hair.

If you feel like scratching your head all the time, then don’t hesitate to consult a doctor. After all, in the early stages the disease is much easier to defeat than when it is in an advanced form.

Pathologies of the nervous system

It also happens that a person complains that his head is constantly itching, but skin diseases are not diagnosed, there are no lice. Few people pay attention to the emotional state of the patient. And in vain. Mental disorders often cause symptoms such as:

• Lethargy.
• Drowsiness.
• Peeling of the skin.
• Redness of individual areas of the epidermis.
• Development of psoriasis.
• Severe itching on the head.

It is important to remain calm, avoid nervous tension and avoid breakdowns. Constant depression greatly burdens the body with additional work, which it cannot always cope with, and as a result, side effects appear, which include itching.

Video: what disease can cause an itchy head?

An itchy head can be a symptom of various diseases, a side effect of general disorders in the body, or a reaction to many external factors. To determine what exactly causes these sensations, you need to contact a specialist who will approach the problem comprehensively and comprehensively. However, it is always better to understand the mechanism of development of a particular disease in order to promote recovery and prevent relapse in the future. What causes itching, dandruff, seborrhea, what causes and catalyzes these processes, find out from the video below.

Itchy scalp is not a separate disease - it is a symptom of one of several possible pathologies. Isolated cases of itching should not be a cause for concern. But if your head is constantly itching, wounds and microcracks appear on the skin from frequent scratching, and hair begins to fall out profusely, then you should not hesitate to visit a doctor. You can get rid of severe itching of the head only after the cause of the condition has been correctly established.

The scalp begins to itch and itch due to increased dryness of the epidermis, when the sebaceous glands stop producing sebum in the required amount or, conversely, begin to produce too much of it. In medicine, this condition is usually called dry seborrhea or seborrheic dermatitis.

All known causes of itchy scalp can be divided into several categories:

• Dietary errors. An incorrectly designed menu, abuse of carbohydrate and sweet foods, insufficient amounts of vegetables, fruits and protein products in the diet lead to a deficiency of vitamins, microelements, fatty acids and other nutrients in the body.
• Internal pathologies. The cause of the disease can be diseases of the digestive tract, metabolic disorders, diabetes mellitus, and infectious diseases of the respiratory tract.
• Parasites. Common lice, nits, ticks or fleas are also a source of increased dryness, painful itching of the scalp and hair loss. You can verify the presence or absence of parasites yourself by asking your loved ones to examine the skin under the hair.
• Yeast-like fungi. They can only be identified in a skin and venous dispensary by submitting a skin scraping for analysis.
• Lichen. If there are lesions on the scalp with broken hair or completely bald areas, you need to urgently begin treatment for lichen, otherwise you will not be able to get rid of the itching.
• Psoriasis, eczema, atopic dermatitis. A consultation with a dermatologist is necessary - self-medication of these skin diseases will only worsen the situation.
• Psychological factors. Mental and physical overstrain, psychological pressure, stress, psychosis, neuroses, depression, emotional instability, a series of tragic events - all this can cause debilitating skin itching.

The following factors require the intervention of specialists:

• It is recommended to visit your local physician first;
• if you have problems with the digestive tract, you need to be examined by a gastroenterologist;
• if diabetes mellitus or metabolic disorders are suspected, see an endocrinologist;
• if lichen or fungal infection is detected, see a dermatologist or trichologist;
• in case of unstable psychological state – see a neurologist or psychotherapist.

Separately, it is worth highlighting a group of factors that lead to itching of the head, but do not require the intervention of doctors. These are hair care mistakes that both women and men often make:

• disdain for hats, the refusal of which leads to overheating of the epidermis in the hot season and hypothermia in winter;
• washing your hair too often or infrequently;
• regular use of brighteners, chemical dyes and thermal devices (curling irons, hot rollers, curling irons, straighteners and hair dryers);
• using shampoos and conditioners that are not suitable for your specific hair type;
• the use of low-quality care products that contain hazardous substances (propylene glycol, triclosan, phthalates, sulfates, dyes and fragrances);
• low-quality tap water, which is oversaturated with mineral salts, chlorine and other harmful impurities.

All these reasons can be eliminated on your own, just switch to better detergents and cosmetics for hair care, choose shampoo, lotion and conditioner according to your hair type, wear a hat during the cold season, do not dry your hair often, do not overuse coloring and curling . In all other cases, the treatment regimen will depend on the identified cause.

What to do if your head itches, but there are no lice?

If you feel an itchy scalp, you should pay attention to the irritated epidermis and soothe the inflamed skin. This can be done both with the help of folk remedies and with the combined use of pharmaceutical drugs

Mix 1 glass of warm water with 1 teaspoon of olive and almond oil. Gently rub into scalp and leave for half an hour. Remove the oil mixture while washing your hair. This composition can be used every other day for two weeks.

Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 2 filter bags of chamomile flowers and leave until cool. Rub into scalp as a lotion after each hair wash.

Puree 1 soft apple and about the same amount of pumpkin in a blender. Apply to your head, put on a shower cap and wrap a towel on top. After 10-15 minutes, the mask can be washed off with shampoo. Apply within 10 days.

Mix 1 teaspoon each of nettle leaves and oak bark, pour 1 liter of boiling water and leave to infuse. Strain the resulting broth and rinse your hair after washing. There is no need to wash off this infusion, but can be used over a course of several weeks.

Remove the skins from 1 kilogram of onion, add water and bring to a boil. After cooling, use as a rinse aid for about a month.

Add 2 tablespoons of wine or apple cider vinegar to a glass of warm water and rinse your hair after washing your hair instead of applying conditioner. Dry without a hairdryer. This procedure can be done once every 3 days for several weeks.

Enriched shampoo. Add 10 drops of eucalyptus or tea tree essential oil to a mild hair wash and mix. Wash your hair as usual.

If an allergic reaction occurs, you should take antihistamines that can soothe the skin. These include:

Local exposure may be needed; there are many antihistamine shampoos, ointments, and creams for these purposes.

If unpleasant sensations on the skin occur due to the appearance of dandruff or due to a fungal infection, products containing sulsena - paste, various shampoos, for example, Sebozol, Nizoral, Sulsena, can help.

Psychosomatic, psychological itching of the skin can be relieved by using sedatives. Safe herbal preparations include:

• valerian tincture;
• motherwort in tablets;
• passionflower in Edas-306 syrup;
• Persen;
• Tenoten.

If your head itches due to a malfunction of the internal organs, only a doctor can prescribe medications. Self-determination of the problem is unacceptable, as it can lead to an advanced stage of any disease.

If demodicosis is diagnosed, the doctor will prescribe antiparasitic drugs that have a depressing effect on the subcutaneous mite.

If there is a lack of vitamins and minerals, a course of multivitamin complexes will help, such as:

• Supradin;
• Complivit;
• Brewer's yeast;
• Vitrum and others.

Why does my head itch if there are no lice? The explanation may be allergic reactions to shampoos, disturbances in the functioning of internal organ systems, neurological problems, and various skin diseases. For each cause, there are certain methods of treatment and elimination of unpleasant symptoms. You should consult a doctor, as pathologies are easier to treat in the early stages.

When, at first glance, your head begins to itch for no reason, there is cause for concern. Often the worst comes to mind, but the reasons may be completely harmless. Or, conversely, itching can be a symptom of serious diseases. Why does my head itch and what can I do about it? Everyone should know the answers to these questions in order to react in time and help themselves.