My Scalp Hurts When I Move My Hair: All About Scalp Tenderness
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An accurate diagnosis is pivotal in managing scalp sensitivity effectively, highlighting the importance of understanding the various triggers and treatment options available. If you’re dealing with symptoms like flaking, itching, and scalp pain, it’s crucial to resist the urge to scratch your scalp. Although scratching may temporarily relieve the itch, it can worsen inflammation and intensify your scalp pain in the long run. Don’t be alarmed if your doctor mentions anticonvulsant medications as a potential treatment for your scalp pain. While scalp pain usually does not result from seizures, certain anticonvulsants can also help alleviate nerve pain.
My Scalp Hurts When I Move My Hair: All About Scalp Tenderness
It can include Keflex (cephalexin), taken orally, or the topical antibiotic cream Bactroban, along with a mild cortisone cream to help relieve symptoms. Dermatitis can cause dry skin, redness, and itchiness, including on the scalp. It can be caused by genetics, an overactive immune system, allergies, and irritating substances. Scalp pain is sometimes experienced with different types of hair loss.
Why is my scalp itchy?
Hormonal changes during pregnancy cause dermatological changes to the scalp, ranging from dry, itchy skin to greasy, acne-prone skin. These changes can lead to new development or worsening of existing skin conditions like eczema or seborrheic dermatitis, which can cause you to have a tender scalp. Furthermore, headaches and migraines can contribute to scalp pain. Maybe your strands have started to feel sore lately due to the hairstyles you wear, like cornrows and braids or tight, slick back buns. Or maybe you have a particularly oil scalp or a condition like dandruff, and the seemingly endless scratching have caused discomfort. Strange as it may sound, headaches aren’t the only type of pain you can experience on your head.
What causes scalp pain?
Bending the hair stimulates these nerve endings, allowing you to feel that your hair has been moved. Putting up your hair into a ponytail stimulates the nerve fibers. The tighter or heavier your ponytail, the more pressure that is placed on the nerve fibers, which will transmit signals to your brain that will be interpreted as a painful and uncomfortable sensation. Seek medical attention immediately if you experience sudden onset scalp pain accompanied by fever or visual symptoms.
Skin conditions
Most states require that massage therapists complete an approved educational program and pass an examination to earn a license before practicing massage. The risk of harmful effects from any type of massage therapy appears to be minimal. Scalp massage may be worth trying if you are interested in a natural treatment to relax and improve scalp health.
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Anything that activates the pain receptors in a person’s scalp or head can trigger scalp pain. The causes of scalp pain differentiated by origin include headache disorders, vascular disorders like temporal arteritis, skin inflammation and infections, and environmental and lifestyle factors. Some behaviors can contribute to scalp sensitivity, such as wearing tight hairstyles or using hair products that irritate the skin. Your scalp may feel sore due to different causes, including skin disorders, tension headaches, and some infections.
In some cases, “your skin’s receptors are reacting to a release from a prolonged positioning, as a result of a tight hairstyle or hair position like ‘extreme bedhead,’” says Yates. However, traction alopecia can also cause other symptoms besides hair loss, such as tingling, itching and tenderness at the points where most tension is applied [10]. So if you often wear a tight hairdo which pulls more on a particular area of your head, it may be more tender to the touch due to this condition. What exactly is happening when your hair feels like it's hurting? Hair pain starts in the scalp, so it might feel like your hair hurts right at the root.
Reasons Why Your Hair Hurts, According to a Dermatologist
Why Does My Scalp Hurt After Wearing A Ponytail? - YourTango
Why Does My Scalp Hurt After Wearing A Ponytail?.
Posted: Fri, 02 Jun 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
“I’ll go to these gorgeous apartments, with marble bathroom floors, and clients are using some cheap brush that’s a dollar from the drugstore,” says Josh, laughing. A brush made of boar's hair and nylon can help you to distribute oils from scalp to ends, all while increasing scalp circulation and loosening any existing scalp dryness. Traction alopecia is a condition which develops from frequently wearing tight hairdos, such as braids, top knots or ponytails. The repeated pull on the hair strands damages the follicle and causes your hair to fall out in the areas where the most tension is sustained, such as your hairline and temple areas. Heavy hair extensions can cause hair loss as well, as they also pull at your roots. Although sometimes there can be no visible symptoms of friction from headgear, you might notice redness or irritation on the tender area of your scalp.
Wearing Tight Hairstyles
Your achy scalp may be attributed to allodynia, a type of nerve pain that makes people extremely sensitive to touch, according to the Cleveland Clinic. "Folliculitis is a condition where bacteria invade the hair follicles, leading to pus pimples," Dr. Zeichner says. This skin-related ailment can also be caused by viruses, fungi and even irritated ingrown hairs, according to the Mayo Clinic. If an over-the-counter shampoo is not helpful, a dermatologist may be able to prescribe a shampoo or other treatment for persistent dandruff.
Skin conditions including dermatitis, infections, and psoriasis can affect the scalp and cause tenderness. Other diseases that affect the head or blood vessels in the area such as tension headaches and temporal arteritis can also lead to scalp tenderness. Scalp pain and tenderness can be caused by dermatitis, scalp and hair follicle infections, or psoriasis.
Some types of scalp pain may resolve on their own or with the help of OTC treatments. However, if you notice scalp pain that's long-lasting or moderately painful, it's best to visit a healthcare provider. High ponytails, updos, buns, braids, or any hairstyle that pulls tightly on the hair can damage the follicle and lead to pain as well as hair loss or damage. This type of hair loss is known as traction alopecia, which is essentially gradual hair thinning in areas where hairstyles have been tugging. Many people experience scalp tenderness at some point in their lives. There can be a variety of reasons why your scalp might be tender, from a minor injury to a more serious condition.
“Scalp psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated condition characterized by red, scaly patches on the scalp,” Dr. Gherghina says. In worse scenarios, scalp psoriasis may lead to hair loss, especially if the affected person is always scratching the plaques. “Treatment often involves topical medications, medicated shampoos, and, in some cases, systemic therapy. Management requires ongoing care but can effectively control the condition for many patients,” says Dr. Gherghina.
Fibromyalgia affects the whole body and can cause changes that can lead to hair loss. Typically, the hair loss isn't permanent and is more prevalent during times when a person with fibromyalgia is under a significant amount of stress. Use of this website and any information contained herein is governed by the Healthgrades User Agreement. Fungal infections on the scalp like ringworm (or tinea capitis) will lead to one or more scaly, uncomfortable balding patches that may be painful—and are contagious. Avoid sharing combs or towels with other people to prevent getting or sharing ringworm. "Pulling the hair back tightly can put pressure on the hair follicles themselves, leading to inflammation," Dr. Zeichner says.
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