Itchy scalp

Could it be caused by your heating? Perhaps it’s making your scalp drier than usual?

I'd say there must have been something different in your diet, toiletries or laundry products -- or you've maybe been in contact with something that you haven't before (woodsmoke, for example, or even something in the snow/rain if you've got your hair wet outside). Wait and see seems like a good idea, as does seeing a pharmacist.

My DH had similar and was given a prescription for a low % topical steroid cream.
I would seek a medical opinion.

I don't have any suggestions but are you rinsing your conditioner out thoroughly? My scalp drives me nuts of I get conditioner on my skin - so I always tip my head forward after shampooing and only put conditioner on the hair strands.

How do you know it isn’t an infestation
I didn’t know mine was until I saw a Trichologist who used a super magnifying camera on my scalp.

Not the heating, it's been on since October.
Could be a dry scalp just because I'm getting old I suppose.

My diet has changed though, so that could be a factor and I need to get back on track with this after Christmas.

I have hardly been out and always wear a faux fur hood- could it be that? It's a fairly new coat so that's a possibility as it is also affecting the back of my neck.

Maybe it is my coat? I love it though, it is so warm! I hope it isn't my coat- but it could be.

It isn't my conditioner- I use very little and on the ends, not my scalp.

I don't know how you would apply cream on your scalp and also hope it isn't an infestation- unless it has come from my coat! I shall get out a magnifying glass!

What sort of infestation Petra …apart from head lice🙀

I used to get betnovate scalp lotion from my doctor. I get an itchy scalp, but then I itch everywhere anyway. Have you tried using TGel shampoo or Nizoral?

I haven't tried anything yet but will look these up. I am still puzzled as to how you put cream on your scalp, but if it is lotion maybe it isn't messy? I'm averse to using steroids unless I have no other option.

I had a very itchy scalp a few weeks ago. I used coal tar shampoo for a few washes and all is fine now. I do colour my hair and I wonder if they'd changed the product slightly as I've been using the same one for years. I ensure I rinse my hair well after shampooing.

I had that a few months ago. It must have been caused by dandruff, because what cured it was a bottle of anti-dandruff shampoo from Tesco. I had first tried coal-tar shampoo, which is the recommended answer, but that was too strong and made my hair go stringy and dull. The shampoo from Tesco isn't highly medicated and doesn't smell medicated. There is conditioner in it, which leaves the hair soft.

At the same time, I had developed itchy patches under my breasts, where skin was against skin. Reasoning that they might be from the same source, I used the shampoo as a shower soap for the itchy areas (I wash my fairly short hair in the shower, so rinsing it off well in all areas was no trouble) It took about four or five daily showers to get rid of it completely, but it all stopped itching after the first wash. I now keep the bottle of anti-dandruff shampoo in the shower, ready for any future attack.

I have dermatitis on my scalp and have tried every over the counter AND prescription shampoos and lotions over the course of about 20 years.

A Dermatologist recommended The Body Shop ginger shampoo to me and it changed my life.

Coal tar and anti-dandruff shampoos treat dandruff and topical "itch" type temporary conditions on the scalp. If it isn't dandruff then you don't want to irritate your scalp with chemicals you don't need.

If you find it's more than just a temporary condition then I would urge you to give it a try. You can buy a travel size bottle to see if it makes any difference before committing to the larger sizes.

Apparently there is an epidemic of scabies mites, they are microscopic so you can't see them. From what I read (GC got them at a music festival last summer and I now know more about them they I ever wanted to) although younger adults don't get them on the scalp the elderly do. You can get a cream or lotion to treat them.

Hope it isn't that.

I swear by T gel as did Paw who reacted badly to many other products even the unscented, “pure” kind.

I found E45 shampoo very helpful

If your coat is pretty new and you have been wearing the hood up while it's been cold, perhaps it is something the faux fur has been treated with or dare I say something from someone's head who tried the coat on before you....unless you bought it on line and hopefully the first owner.
Maybe a trip to the pharmacist who can have a close look at your scalp. Before you start buying new shampoos etc.

My GP prescribed TGel after diagnosing folliculitis.
I now use it all the time.

This is suggestive, now my scalp is itching. This sounds really irritating. Do you wear a woolly hat when going out, I find that wool causes itching and can last some time. I have a fleecy head band I wear in this weather for that reason. If you have GCs at nursery or school you could have head lice, put conditioner on your hair then pull a fine tooth comb through your hair, if there are any lice you should see some caught on the comb. Special combs are available in chemists.
Btw lice won't be on your coat, only infested heads can pass the critters on.

Wearing hats in the winter gives me an itchy scalp .
Vosine- (nearly out of it and I hope that it's still available) seems to fix it .
But a few days ago after I went to the sales on a crowded bus and I came home with fleas . It's not the first time .
I'm only glad that I no longer come up in huge itchy welts as I did before .

Vosene is still available at £2 at Tesco's.
I've also used Neutrogena to cleanse my hair of product build up .

Lots of food for thought here!

It isn't dandruff so that's eliminated.
The Body Shop ginger shampoo is intriguing but no Body Shop nearby so that's a no.

Scabies? I have some scabies treatment in a drawer from when I was working- so...also hope not.

E45 contains parabens and lanolin so not using that.

I don't think it is the coat- I just haven't been wearing it enough and the itch is pretty constant in fact it is beginning to get me down and I find it hard to focus on anything.

It could be folliculitis- infact I'm hoping that's what it is though I've never had it before.

I do have a GD who is at nursery- I also have a nit comb somewhere so may just run that through.

I do use public transport so really hope it isn't fleas!

Thankyou for all your suggestions. I think a visit to the pharmacy may be in order tomorrow. I'm low on shampoo too so may just try out a few of your suggestions.

I can't carry on like this for sure- with this and raging tinnitus I'm at my wits end!

You can buy Body Shop products online.

I had flu for three weeks through December and my scalp nearly drove me mad. My skin dried up and flaked and my scalp did the same thing. I've started oiling my scalp before washing it and it's slowly returning to normal. Only seems to start itching again after a day or so.