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Understanding the potential causes behind scalp pain is crucial for identifying effective treatment options. While rare, scalp tenderness can be a sign of more severe health conditions, such as skin cell cancers and melanomas. These conditions normally present themselves as new or changed moles or stubborn sores. Scalp psoriasis can lead to scalp tenderness and flaking or crusting skin. Stress, hormones, dry air, or cold weather can trigger psoriasis. If you’re experiencing any itchiness or have red bumps that may crust or ooze, you should seek immediate medical attention.
When scalp pain is an emergency
If it is left untreated, it can lead to serious health complications that can be life-threatening. Temporal arteritis is considered an emergency because it can lead to vision loss. Scalp tenderness is among the symptoms, which may be vague and vary among individuals. A mild scalp sunburn can usually be treated at home with soothing remedies, and prevented by wearing hats and sunscreen on the scalp. Get medical help if you notice a fever, chills, increasing pain, dizziness, or blistering with your sunburn. Even if hair covers most or much of the area, the sun naturally beats down directly on your scalp—leading to pain, inflammation, and discomfort when a sunburn develops.
Environmental factors
A scalp massage involves movement and pressure to promote blood flow to your scalp. It can also be received from a partner or licensed massage therapist. “Allodynia is not limited to the scalp, but refers to increased sensitivity to pain from a non-painful stimulation like a light tapping or a light touch,” explains Dr. Fusco. Scalp tenderness can last for a few days after a migraine headache. And since you can have recurring episodes of this condition, the scalp symptoms can also reappear regularly.
Preventing Scalp Discomfort and When to See a Dermatologist
These could be signs of temporal arteritis which must be treated quickly. For many people, changing hair products or practices can help reduce scalp discomfort. Trying OTC products can also be useful for scalp pain when the hair moves. Traction alopecia is a type of hair loss that occurs due to wearing the hair pulled tightly back.
Routine care involves gentle washing with suitable shampoos that match hair type (oily, dry), conditioning regularly but focusing on the ends where breakage happens most often. Hairstyles like high ponytails or tight braids can put excessive tension on your scalp, leading to scalp pain, hair loss, or a receding hairline. Minimize making such hairstyles and opt for looser ones that won’t strain your scalp. These conditions require medical diagnosis and treatment, which may involve medications to manage pain or nerve blocks to alleviate symptoms. Resolving more persistent or severe conditions causing scalp tenderness may take a few visits to a doctor.
Living with scalp pain
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Symptoms that may accompany scalp pain include headaches, itchiness, scaly patches, and dandruff. There are a few reasons why your scalp might hurt when you tie your hair up. One possibility is that you might be experiencing tension headaches. When you tie your hair up, you might be pulling on your hair strands too tightly, which can cause tension headaches. If you have an infection, it can cause your scalp to hurt when you move your hair around.
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In some cases, your doctor will need to take a bacterial culture from a pustule to confirm a diagnosis. If your scalp appears to be flaking or peeling, try gently brushing your scalp when it’s dry with a soft-bristled brush. Scalp pain that appears suddenly and doesn’t have any other symptoms might be a result of an allergic reaction, particularly a reaction to a new hair product. Some people describe it as the feeling of having your hair combed or brushed aggressively, like a scraping or pulling feeling. By Anna GiorgiGiorgi is a freelance writer with more than 25 years of experience writing health and wellness-related content.
GRO Revitalizing Scalp Massager
Many of these conditions cause inflammation, pain, tenderness, skin flaking, and peeling, and can even make the scalp pus or bleed. Although some people naturally have a tender scalp, an underlying medical condition may also be causing your symptoms. Certain essential oils, such as lavender or rosemary, can help heal sores that may be causing scalp pain.
But using dry shampoo as a regular replacement for washing your hair can cause residue to cake into follicles. “Most people use way too much and spray it all in the scalp instead of on the strands, too,” says Dr. Jaliman. Bacteria can then thrive, especially if they mix with sweat, potentially causing inflammation, itching, and pain. Having occasional scalp tenderness when moving hair isn’t uncommon. Often it results due to tight hairstyles, scalp conditions, stress, or minor inflammation.
If this is the case, you might notice other symptoms such as itching, scalp odor, or a change in the color or texture of your hair. Another possibility is that you might have a condition called seborrheic dermatitis, which is a form of eczema that affects the scalp. Symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis include red, itchy skin, scaling, and dandruff. If you think you might have seborrheic dermatitis, see a dermatologist for diagnosis and treatment.
Daily cleansing can dry out the scalp and may even induce a flaking condition like seborrheic dermatitis, which is a chronic state of inflammation, explains Dr. Jaliman. If you have to wash your hair daily or if you have a sensitive scalp, she recommends using a gentle baby shampoo, like Mustela 2 in 1 Hair and Body Wash, which contains glycerin and avocado extract. Dry shampoo can cause hair pain when it's overused, says Dr. Jaliman. Using it to extend the life of a blowout or buy an extra wash-free day once in a while is fine.
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