| There are many definitions and symptoms commonly | | | | worsen scalp itching as it plays havoc with our immune |
| described as "scalp infections". There are in fact quite | | | | system and hormones which have an effect on |
| a few quite different reasons why your scalp may be | | | | production of sebum from your sebaceous glands. |
| sore, itchy, inflamed burning red or infected. If you are | | | | Although it can contribute to the problem it is still |
| like many people with chronic scalp issues - it may be | | | | somewhat of a myth. It may appear that you have |
| driving you completely up the wall and not knowing | | | | a"stress rash", but it is more likely that the problem |
| what it is or how to treat the problem effectively after | | | | was already there in a less noticeable way, then |
| many unsuccessful attempts to eliminate it can make it | | | | aggravated by increased stress levels making it harder |
| seem far worse - like you are never going to get to | | | | for your body to deal with the problem on its own and |
| the bottom of the problem. Well that need no longer | | | | eliminate the problem. Many of the treatments below |
| be so! It can be simple to diagnose and treat it now | | | | include stress relieving properties - like Lavender oil for |
| and for good. | | | | example which calms the mind and soothes the body. |
| So if you are dealing with any of these symptoms lets | | | | Solutions - what YOU can do about it |
| first identify the problem and then some of the | | | | Going to your doctor may be the best way to get an |
| underlying causes. | | | | accurate answer to diagnosing your problem, but I |
| Firstly, if you want to get to the root of your problems, | | | | understand that many of you may have already done |
| so to speak, you need to be able to identify what your | | | | this, been prescribed some form of medication of |
| problem actually is. Of course, many scalp infections | | | | cream (even "heavy duty" cortisone based ones |
| & conditions look alike, so here is a brief | | | | where the cortisone potency may need to be |
| description of some of the most common scalp | | | | increased after time). |
| conditions: | | | | Often the problem either doesn't go away from the |
| Red Burning Itchy Scalp | | | | start - or seems to subside but comes back with full a |
| Dandruff | | | | vengeance later leaving you wondering with more |
| Ringworm | | | | unanswered questions and a VERY unhappy scalp! |
| Dry Scalp | | | | Well the good news is if you don't like using these |
| Scalp Dermatitis | | | | expensive and often impotent products- or even want |
| Eczema of the Scalp | | | | to help them along you can use natural remedies and |
| Scalp Psoriasis | | | | essential oils known to be super effective anti-bacterial |
| Folliculitis | | | | busters such as tea tree oil for instance to inhibit or |
| Stress Related Itching | | | | stop the growth of the infection and assist healing/re |
| Red burning itchy scalp can be characterized as any | | | | balancing of the scalp. |
| tingling,burning, prickly, and sensitive to the touch or a | | | | Something that is also important to understand in curing |
| fiery hot sensation. Often associated with an allergy, | | | | scalp conditions and scalp infections - a factor that is |
| sunburn, chemical burn (sensitization of the scalp),or | | | | missed by so many doctors, and something not |
| fungal infection. | | | | disclosed by companies who sell hair products and |
| Dandruff as most of us know is the process of | | | | treatments is the number of people who are allergic or |
| continual shedding of skin cells on our scalps. Often the | | | | sensitive to commonly used ingredients in shampoos, |
| cause of dandruff is simply the result of toxins, | | | | dandruff treatments and other hair products. In fact |
| pollutants and products that have built up on the scalp | | | | MOST hair products (as many as 90%) contain at |
| particularly products like silicone- a cheap commonly | | | | least one ingredient that is used in engine degreasers, |
| used artificial shine enhancer in conditioners sold in | | | | another is a common ingredient in antifreeze. |
| supermarkets. | | | | These ingredients are cheap to produce foaming |
| When the natural balance of our scalps is disturbed, | | | | agents that make shampoo foam up, and do a |
| this creates the perfect environment for the yeast | | | | fantastic job of stripping dirt and oily build up from hair. |
| fungus Melassezia Globbosa to move in and thrive. | | | | Problem is that they sometimes do SUCH a good job |
| This is when the natural process of shedding our cells | | | | that they remove all of the natural oils and sebum |
| gets a little out of hand resulting in an unsightly condition | | | | from the scalp thus removing the scalps natural |
| known as "Seborrhoeic Dermatitis" (fancy name for | | | | against bacteria etc. Another little known fact is that |
| dandruff) and we see the highly visible tell-tale signs of | | | | the most common ingredient (Sodium laureth sulphate) |
| flaking and crusting. | | | | is used to induce skin irritation in test patients by drug |
| The accompanying itch and urge to scratch are often | | | | companies to test the effectiveness of their itch relief |
| made worse by the multiplication of the fungal yeast | | | | skin creams. When first produced and for year's |
| pityrosporum-ovale (having one big party on your | | | | afterwards manufacturers did not know that skin was |
| scalp). Another follow on effect of this is that the | | | | not a barrier but an absorber of ingredients & that |
| relentless scratching by the sufferer can cause small | | | | they caused skin irritation in so many people. |
| lesions which weep and ooze or become infected | | | | So sometimes the beginning of a scalp condition can |
| resulting in scalp infections. | | | | have originated from something as simple as an |
| Lumps bumps and sores are also common when the | | | | imbalance to the skins (scalps) sebum or an allergy to |
| scalp is highly irritated or sensitivity has been | | | | an ingredient that can easily be rectified. |
| aggravated. Candida can be an underlying cause of | | | | Like your immune system, if your skin has an |
| yeast infections of the scalp. | | | | opportunity to rebalance itself and not be subjected to |
| Ringworm of the scalp (tinea capitols) is a superficial | | | | "incoming foreign matter" and the daily stripping of its |
| fungal infection of the scalp. Scalp ringworm is caused | | | | natural oils that further aggravates the problem you |
| by mold-like fungi called dermatophytes. Ringworm | | | | can allow your body to re balance and heal itself. |
| infection occurs when a particular type of fungus | | | | Obviously buying products that do not strip your hair |
| grows and multiplies anywhere on your skin, scalp, or | | | | and scalp is an obvious step in the right direction. |
| nails. It is far more common in children and symptoms | | | | Fortunately there are a lot of manufacturers such as |
| include red, itchy patches on the scalp, leaving bald | | | | Aveda and Akin (Purist Company) who know what |
| areas. The skin might itch and be red and peel or be | | | | consumers are suffering from these issues so have |
| scaly, have swollen blisters or a rash (that can spread) | | | | addressed this problem. They have applied this |
| and looks like black dots. The rash is highly contagious. | | | | knowledge to produce some amazing products with all |
| It is normally treated with over the counter products | | | | of the benefits of natural ingredients, with none of the |
| containing miconazole, clotrimazole, or similar. | | | | side effects at a price we can afford (Akin especially). |
| Sometimes prescription anti fungal skin medications, | | | | It need not be difficult, nor expensive to make these |
| such as ketoconazole are needed to clear it up. There | | | | choices and a move to healthy hair and scalp long |
| are also products direct from nature's factories that | | | | term. |
| can aid the healing process and act as natural | | | | So yes you can eliminate harsh shampoos containing |
| antibiotics, although it must be said that ringworm is an | | | | sodium sulphates and go for natural Sulphate and |
| aggressive fungus which needs to be monitored | | | | paraben free shampoos that contain ingredients such |
| closely and treated accordingly. | | | | as macadamia, wheat germ or jojoba oils. These oils |
| Dry scalp can feel "tight", a sensation that is | | | | mimic our natural sebum to some extent to help to re |
| sometimes accompanied by flakiness. It is often the | | | | moisturize and nourish our scalp. |
| result of natural oils being stripped from our scalps by | | | | Then there are lavender, rosemary and tea tree oils |
| the frequent use of shampoos, hair dyes and or other | | | | which contain antibacterial, healing properties. Neem oil |
| hair products. | | | | great for its antiquing and stops itching. You can apply |
| Dermatitis of the scalp (Seborrheic dermatitis) is an | | | | these topically to your skin for fast relief, to assist |
| inflammatory disorder affecting areas of the head and | | | | healing as well as looking out for shampoos with these |
| body where sebaceous glands are most prominent. It | | | | natural ingredients in them. |
| can vary from mild dandruff to dense flakey and | | | | Lavender calms the skin (as does chamomile tea |
| greasy scale. Once again it is often an accumulation of | | | | cooled and used as hair rinse). |
| toxins and products built up on our scalps that our | | | | As well as buying quality shampoos containing these |
| body is trying to rid itself of. | | | | ingredients, you cancreate your own combinations of |
| Eczema of the scalp similar in appearance to | | | | remedy or remedies to soothe your scalp. |
| Seborrheic dermatitis but instead has the name Atopic | | | | You can also help it along by using natural remedies to |
| dermatitis. | | | | treat your scalp such as this scalp treatment containing |
| Scalp Psoriasis commonly occurs on the back of the | | | | natural oils to assist healing, detoxify and stimulate hair |
| head however multiple areas of the scalp or the whole | | | | growth: (Add towater (4 parts water 1part oil) and |
| scalp may be affected. Scalp psoriasis is | | | | spray onto scalp and you can add to your shampoo |
| characterized by thick silvery white scales on patches | | | | and conditioners also). |
| of very red skin and can extend slightly beyond the | | | | Oils To Relieve Itching: Lavender, German Chamomile |
| hairline. Scalp psoriasis, despite being partially hidden by | | | | and Eucalyptus Oils |
| the hair is often a source of social embarrassment | | | | (Mixed together and dabbed locally on effected areas |
| due to flaking of the scale and severe 'dandruff'. Scalp | | | | has a soothing effect). |
| psoriasis may be extremely itchy or on occasion have | | | | Neem oil is also a very good dandruff preventative |
| no itch symptoms. It can also cause temporary | | | | which can be added to any of the formulas detailed |
| baldness on the affected areas. It is a common, | | | | below and is excellent for psoriasis and eczema |
| chronic, inflammatory skin disease and is associated | | | | & scalp infections. |
| with increased risk of melanoma, squamous cell | | | | Scalp massage with lavender oil (not scented - the |
| carcinoma, and basal cell carcinoma. | | | | real oil) is anotherwonderful way to relieve the tension |
| Folliculitis of the scalp is a superficial bacterial infection | | | | from a sore scalp as well as treat theissue. It also |
| of the hair follicles. It is characterized by pustules | | | | helps to re grow hair and repair the damage done to |
| around the hair follicles and symptoms include painful | | | | yourfollicles by chemicals in shampoos causing thinning |
| brushing of hair and tenderness when rubbing your | | | | hair. (Lavender is known to stimulate hair growth too). |
| scalp around the hair follicle sites. Treating with | | | | There are many more powerful scalp remedies you |
| antibiotics for the particular bacteria is the usual course | | | | can use to treat your scalp as well as many |
| of action but can eventually cause resistance to the | | | | shampoos that are excellent value, contain no nasties |
| antibiotic used. Options include applying Evoclin Foam | | | | to aggravate your scalp and hair follicles. It can be |
| which is topical. Folliculitis is commonly caused by staph | | | | really simple to treat scalp problems by treating |
| bacteria which also reside inside the nose and sinus | | | | yourself to your own pampering session using natural |
| cavity. Natural oils such as tea tree and lavender have | | | | oils to help heal your scalp infection. And then be kind |
| good antibacterial properties and can also be used to | | | | to your hair and scalp by using only products that |
| treat this condition. | | | | nourish your hair and scalp such as Aveda or Akin |
| If you have a bump or lump under the skin (commonly | | | | brand shampoos. You can assist the healing process |
| a lump behind the ears with no broken skin or rash | | | | and help restore balance back to your scalp and you |
| developing, then this could be a cyst. Cysts are liquid | | | | hair will appreciate and reward you for it too by |
| filled pustules which can be painful when they become | | | | becoming less brittle, stronger and shinier. |
| infected. If you have such symptoms I recommend | | | | As with all natural remedies please patch test first. It is |
| seeing a doctor to be safe. Doctors can also treat | | | | not intended for this information to replace a doctors |
| cysts with antibiotics if they have become infected or | | | | medical advice, so please see your doctor for |
| incise them as a further but uncommon procedure if | | | | diagnosis and treatment. The responsibility of obtaining |
| the antibiotics are not sufficient. | | | | doctors diagnosis and using remedies is yours. |
| Stress Related Itching Stress can contribute to or | | | | |