Should Men Be Worried About An Itchy Scalp?

Many men suffer from an itchy scalp, but is this something to be worried about?

Having an itchy scalp can lead to some slightly embarrassing symptoms, such as lots of white dandruff falling onto your clothes. But, the main reason men seem to be concerned is because of the link between itchy scalps and baldness.

Primarily, some men believe that this is a telltale sign that they’re going bald. While there’s nothing wrong with being bald, it is still something that causes a lot of confidence and mental health issues in men around the world.

So, should you be worried about your itchy scalp or is there no link between it and baldness?

Itchy scalps and hair loss

The good news is that a scalp that’s always itchy is unlikely to cause male pattern baldness. This is the most common cause of baldness in men, and it develops due to genetics. Mainly, you’re looking at the hormone DHT as the primary cause of this type of hair loss. So, there’s absolutely no link between the two at all – fantastic!

However, having an itchy scalp might lead to hair loss in a different sense. When your scalp is itchy, you might want to scratch it over and over again. If you constantly do this, you could break hair follicles and cause them to fall out faster than they normally do. As such, it’s not beyond the realms of comprehension to experience some slight thinning on your scalp because you keep itching it.

Nevertheless, it’s good to know that this hair loss is temporary. Male pattern baldness is caused by genetics, so the impact is permanent. If you are scratching your head and causing hair to fall out, the hair is still going to grow back. It’s just that you keep on scratching, so it can’t grow quick enough, which is why thinning could occur. Stop scratching, use a shampoo that encourages hair growth, and you will see your scalp start to thicken with hair yet again.

So, in summary, men shouldn’t worry too much about an itchy scalp from the baldness perspective. Yes, you could experience temporary hair loss and thinning, but it’s a result of scratching your head and loosening the hair follicles.

What causes an itchy scalp?

If an itchy scalp isn’t a sign of hair loss, should you even care about it at all? Well, it will obviously still bring discomfort, and you also want to avoid scratching to prevent temporary hair thinning.

As such, it helps to understand what causes an itchy scalp before you start treating it:

Dandruff

Dandruff is probably the most well-known cause of itchy scalps. It happens when the oil glands in your scalp are too active. They produce too much oil, which ends up clogging the pores on the top of your head. With the pores clogged, your skin starts to develop a mild infection that causes it to become all dry and flaky.

As a result, you end up with dandruff on your shoulders as it all flakes out from the top of your head. Itchiness is an extremely common sign, and you can definitely treat this problem with relative ease. Another key cause of dandruff is using too much shampoo and not rinsing it out. Again, you get the same pore clogging, which leads to dry and flaky skin.

It’s a smart idea to use an anti-dandruff shampoo when you’re washing your hair – and to wash your hair relatively often so it can’t get too greasy. The special shampoo is designed to even out oil levels on your scalp, slowing down the overproduction of sebum that blocks your pores. Of course, always rinse thoroughly so you don’t leave any suds behind on your scalp.

Allergic reactions

Having allergic reactions to certain hair products might cause an itchy scalp. Funnily enough, this could also lead to hair loss – but the effects won’t be permanent.

You’ll know if this causes your itchy scalp because you suffer from it whenever you use certain products. If you don’t wash your hair today, and you don’t notice itchiness, see how you fare when you wash again tomorrow. If you suddenly get an itchy scalp, something in your shampoo or conditioner is causing a reaction. Especially if it’s accompanied by redness and inflammation – your scalp will feel hot!

You can treat the problem by taking an antihistamine to stop the symptoms of your reaction. Aside from this, shy away from products that are causing your reaction. It could be a smart idea to get an allergy test done to see what ingredient(s) to avoid.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition that affects the skin and causes it to become dry with scales developing. A lot of people suffer from this condition, but it can be found all over the body. Most notably, it affects the face or the arms. However, it is possible to suffer from scalp psoriasis, which causes lots of itchiness.

This will normally be around the hairline area, which is where you really start to panic. You notice the dryness and itchiness, along with an inflamed scalp, and start to worry about hair loss. To make matters worse, you can suffer from hair loss because you keep scratching the area. Don’t worry, if you treat the problem, your hair will grow back.

The biggest problem with this condition is that you can’t prevent it. It happens because of your genetics, though there are plenty of treatment options for scalp psoriasis. You’ll never be able to cure yourself, but you can do things that will ease the symptoms, reduce redness, stop itching, and control the problem.

Dirt

That’s correct, dirt can also be a cause of itchy scalps. Essentially, we are talking about anything that ends up on your head that really shouldn’t be there. Or, more accurately, things that can clog up your pores and lead to itchiness. Hair products – like wax or gel – can cause so many issues for your scalp. They are incredibly irritating when left in for too long, and they really block your pores and lead to issues like dandruff.

At the same time, outside factors can be included in this category. Dirt or dust from the air can get into your hair, find its way to your scalp, and cause so much itchiness. Your scalp becomes irritated by pollutants and dirt, which encourages you to scratch and scratch.

Now, there’s not a great deal you can do to prevent dust or outside debris from getting in your hair. Wearing a hat might help, but there’s no guarantee. Instead, you can make sure you wash your hair if you’ve been somewhere that’s really dirty. For men, you can wash your hair daily because it’s so short – this removes dirt and keeps your scalp fresh.

As for other forms of dirt, just be more conscious of what you’re putting in your hair. Try to avoid using things like hair wax every day. If you are going to use it, use it in moderation too.

Can an itchy scalp be a sign of skin cancer?

Baldness isn’t the only concern for men with itchy scalps. If you do a bit of Googling, you may come across articles talking about itchy scalps and skin cancer.

Don’t worry, there is hardly a link between the two at all.

Yes, an itchy scalp might indicate skin cancer in some cases, but this is usually because you have a mole that’s recently formed or changed. If your scalp is itchy and there’s nothing else wrong with it, you have no need to worry. Remember, lots of different symptoms are needed before you should start concerning yourself with skin cancer. If it’s just an itch, the chances are it’s one of the issues mentioned above.

What should you do if you have an itchy scalp?

Firstly, stop scratching it if you want to avoid causing your hair to fall out. While it will grow back, it can still take some time, which means you have to deal with a thinning hairline for a while.

Clearly, telling you to stop scratching is easier said than done. Thankfully, you can find some relief through home remedies that ease the itching and calm your symptoms.

Then, you need to get a diagnosis for your scalp to see what the problem is. Once this has been identified, you will follow a treatment plan to tackle that specific problem. After, you should be in a position where your scalp no longer itches, and you can prevent it from happening again.

In conclusion, itchy scalps are rarely anything to worry about. Yes, hair loss can occur, but only because you pull out the follicles when scratching. They are going to grow back in due course, just ensure you treat your scalp to stop yourself from scratching any more. The hair and scalp are often neglected elements of men’s health, which is why you should focus on taking better care of this part of your body. Use natural products and avoid heat treatments that can dry out your scalp and damage your hair.

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