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Does an itchy scalp have you worried that you might be losing your hair? Well, we have some good news for you.
While there are circumstances in which hair thinning and an itchy scalp can overlap, it’s rarely the case that having an itchy scalp will cause or accelerate hair loss.
Some skin conditions that cause you to develop an itchy scalp may also affect your hair follicles and contribute to hair shedding. This can result in temporary thinning or even permanent hair loss.
Keep reading to understand what to look for, what to not worry about, and when you should reach out to a professional if you’re concerned about male pattern baldness.
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Scalp itching, or scalp pruritus, is a common condition that affects everyone occasionally. In many cases, this scalp problem can exist alongside healthy hair.
An itchy scalp is not considered an underlying cause of male pattern baldness or hair loss in general. However, sudden or chronic itching can indicate conditions that can cause permanent or temporary hair loss.
Various skin issues may cause an itchy scalp. Diseases, temporary skin conditions, and allergic reactions to ingredients in styling or hair care products can all cause an itchy sensation.
Fungal infections and some irritants can also cause damage or lead to excessive scratching. Over time, severe itching and vigorous scratching from these conditions can damage the follicles, potentially leading to problems like hair loss.
Scarring due to intense itching may permanently damage scalp tissue and the hair shaft or follicle. This can cause hair follicles to stop growing.
But there's not much of a connection between male pattern baldness and itching. Itching and its associated conditions are neither triggers of androgenic alopecia nor warning signs of this condition.
There are signs beyond itchiness that you can look for if you're concerned that you’re starting to develop a bald scalp. These include:
Thinning hair all over your head
Gradual receding around your hairline
A bald patch around the crown of your head
Hair that’s unusually slow to grow or lacking in coverage
More hairs than usual on your pillowcase or in your hairbrush
Itching may be caused by or related to some of these issues.
Our guide to the early signs of hair loss goes into more detail about these symptoms and the key things to look for if you’re concerned that you might be losing your hair.
Once you identify the cause of your itchy scalp, treating the issue and eliminating the itch often becomes much easier.
Unlike scalp conditions such as eczema, atopic dermatitis, scalp psoriasis, or fungal infections, male pattern baldness generally doesn’t cause your scalp to itch or feel uncomfortable, so you can probably rule out male pattern baldness if you’ve been scratching away recently.
So what could it be?
Below, we’ve listed the most common causes of an itchy, irritated scalp and how these conditions can affect hair follicles and general hair growth.
Fungal infections can cause severe itching, especially when they affect the scalp. Tinea capitis — also known as scalp ringworm or scalp fungus — is a fungal infection that develops on the scalp and inside hair follicles.
Like other fungal infections, tinea capitis can develop when your skin comes into contact with infectious fungi, such as the dermatophyte species Microsporum and Trichophyton.
These fungi are often found in wet, moist areas, such as locker rooms and showers. They usually spread from person to person via combs, hats, and sports clothes. Some pets, such as cats, can also transmit fungal infections like tinea capitis to humans.
Tinea capitis can cause a range of symptoms, including:
Small patches of inflamed and scaly skin on your scalp
Broken strands of hair
Severe itching
When severe, it can even cause pus-filled, inflammatory blisters or nodules called kerions to develop across your scalp.
These itchy bumps can even cause hair to fall out, and patchy hair loss is common with this type of infection.
Generally, this hair loss is temporary. However, severe tinea capitis can cause scarring that might damage your hair follicles and lead to permanent hair loss in some areas of your scalp.
If you have tinea capitis, it's important to talk to your healthcare provider as soon as possible.
You can treat this skin infection with oral antifungal creams and other medications. Your healthcare provider may also suggest a shampoo or topical medication to control fungal growth and reduce itching.
Our complete guide to scalp fungus goes into more detail about tinea capitis, from its common causes to its symptoms and long-term effects, as well as the steps you can take if you think you may be affected by this fungal infection.
Folliculitis is a skin condition in which your hair follicles become infected and inflamed, causing small bumps or pimple-like lesions to develop on your scalp.
Most cases of folliculitis are caused by bacteria that make their way into the surface layers of your hair follicles. However, some cases may be caused by fungal species, viruses, and even mites that inhabit your skin.
You may be more likely to develop folliculitis if you shave your head, wear tight clothing that rubs against your hair, or touch your scalp often.
Some medications, such as lithium and cyclosporine, can also increase your risk of developing folliculitis.
Folliculitis typically clears up on its own as long as your immune system is healthy and you stop the behavior that caused it to develop in the first place.
If you’re looking for faster relief, applying a hot compress to the area may help drain the affected follicles and prevent itching. Some antibiotics and antifungal medication may also help to clear this type of infection and improve recovery.
Seborrheic dermatitis is an inflammatory skin disease that can affect the scalp and other areas of the skin with many sebaceous (oil-producing) glands.
This type of skin issue is most common in infants — in whom it’s called cradle cap — and middle-aged adults. It can cause itching, inflammation, swelling, dandruff, and greasy white scales on affected areas of your body, including your scalp.
You may be more likely to develop seborrheic dermatitis if you’re male, have an immune system disorder, use immunosuppressant medication, live in a region with low humidity, or have a health condition such as Parkinson’s disease, depression, or dementia.
While there’s no direct link between seborrheic dermatitis and hair loss, scratching your scalp often or aggressively may damage your hair follicles and cause you to shed hair.
Like most scalp conditions, seborrheic dermatitis is treatable. If you have seborrheic dermatitis, your healthcare provider may suggest washing your hair with a shampoo that contains coal tar, pyrithione zinc, ketoconazole, or selenium sulfide to control itching and relieve your symptoms.
If you have recurrent seborrheic dermatitis, they may also recommend using medication to stop breakouts from returning.
Lichen planopilaris, or LPP, is an inflammatory condition that can affect your scalp and hair. It’s a form of lichen planus, a common disease that can cause swelling and inflammation in your mucous membranes.
If you have lichen planopilaris, you may spot small bumps developing around clusters of your hair. As lichen planopilaris becomes more severe, it can cause pain, burning, and itching on your scalp.
Lichen planopilaris can also cause scaly skin, red patches on your scalp, and patches with little to no hair growth.
When untreated, it can damage your hair follicles and lead to permanent hair loss.
If you have lichen planopilaris, you’ll need to limit damage to your hair by avoiding colors and other artificial substances. You can also control symptoms with topical and systemic medications such as corticosteroids, tacrolimus, and hydroxychloroquine.
Some shampoos contain harsh ingredients that can irritate your scalp and cause itching, sometimes called contact dermatitis.
One common shampoo ingredient often linked to itching is propylene glycol, a solvent that can cause eczematous dermatitis.
Some fragrances that give shampoos a distinctive scent can cause scalp itching and/or irritation. As such, paying attention to what you see on the label is important if you've got sensitive skin.
If you often get an itchy scalp after washing your hair, you may benefit from switching to a milder shampoo that doesn’t contain irritating ingredients.
These shampoos are often labeled “hypoallergenic” or “for sensitive skin” and can usually be found in your local supermarket or drugstore.
Your scalp health is important. If you don’t regularly clean your scalp, you can experience side effects of that neglect. Dirt, dust, and other irritants found in the environment can become stuck in your hair and cause your scalp to become irritated, itchy and uncomfortable. They can also cause contact dermatitis.
If your scalp is dirty, it may start to itch.
Make sure to wash your hair frequently to remove dirt, dust, and other pollutants that can become trapped against your skin, as well as the natural oils that can build up on your scalp over time.
Certain skin diseases, such as psoriasis, can cause you to develop a rash that affects your skin and causes itching.
Psoriasis is a type of autoimmune disease in which your skin produces new cells at a faster rate than usual. It can cause thick, red patches of skin with flaky scales to develop on your body, including on your scalp.
Although psoriasis doesn’t directly cause hair loss, scratching your head frequently or pulling at areas of skin affected by psoriasis may cause hair shedding.
If you have psoriasis, it’s important to talk to your healthcare provider. They may suggest using a medicated shampoo, topical treatment, or light therapy to control your symptoms and make your psoriasis more manageable.
Other autoimmune diseases like alopecia areata do not respond well to supplements and at-home remedies. If you experience itchy skin, scabs, a dry scalp, or other signs of irritation without an apparent cause, a diagnosis will be essential to finding the proper treatment.
A variety of skin conditions can cause dandruff, which are small flakes of skin that can break off from your scalp and land on your shoulders and clothing.
Although dandruff doesn’t directly cause itchiness, it’s a common symptom of skin conditions that cause dryness, irritation, and itchiness.
You can usually treat dandruff using an anti-dandruff shampoo. Our guide to getting rid of dandruff provides several techniques for washing away dandruff and stopping it from returning.
In addition to shampoos, certain chemicals used in other skin and hair care products can cause an allergic reaction on your scalp. This can lead to irritation and itching, among other uncomfortable symptoms.
One chemical often linked to allergic reactions is para-phenylenediamine (PPD), commonly used in black hair dyes.
Other products, such as conditioners and some skin care treatments, may also contain irritating ingredients that can cause allergic reactions.
If you experience allergic reactions to certain products, discontinue use until you speak with a healthcare professional.
Skin cancer often develops on your scalp, as this part of your body is frequently exposed to the sun. Research suggests that as many as 13 percent of malignant cutaneous neoplasms, or cancerous skin tumors, develop on the scalp. This can make your scalp itchy.
While skin cancer won’t affect your hair, it’s important that you talk to your healthcare provider if you notice any flesh-colored, red, or brown spots or bumps on your scalp, especially if they don’t go away over time.
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If you have an itchy scalp that doesn’t improve on its own over a few days, it’s best to talk to your healthcare provider as soon as possible.
Almost all conditions that cause an itchy scalp are treatable, whether with medication, changes to your scalp and hair care habits, or a mix of approaches.
It’s important to talk to your healthcare provider if you feel your scalp becoming more inflamed and itchy, develop sudden hair loss, or have a family history of skin problems that affect the scalp and/or hair.
Your treatment plan options for hair loss are straightforward: protect your hair to encourage regrowth and reduce loss.
Male pattern baldness, or androgenetic alopecia, is by far the most common cause of hair loss in men. It occurs when the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) targets your hair follicles.
Over time, DHT can miniaturize hair follicles, preventing them from growing new hair. This process usually begins around the hairline or the crown of the scalp, resulting in the receding hairline many guys develop in their 20s, 30s, or 40s.
Our guide to DHT and male pattern baldness discusses the relationship between hormones and hair loss in more detail.
Male pattern baldness is treatable, but it’s important to take action as quickly as possible to prevent hair loss from becoming more severe. Other options, like hair transplants, are available if medication doesn't work.
Currently, the medications finasteride and minoxidil are the most effective treatments for male pattern hair loss.
Finasteride is a prescription medication that works by blocking the conversion of testosterone to DHT. When used daily, finasteride can reduce DHT levels by 70 percent and slow down, stop, or even reverse the effects of male pattern baldness.
Minoxidil is a topical medication that you apply directly to your scalp. Although it doesn’t reduce DHT levels, minoxidil improves hair growth by moving your hair follicles into the growth phase of the hair growth cycle and stimulating local blood flow.
Research shows that finasteride and minoxidil are particularly effective when used together. In one study published in Dermatologic Therapy, more than 94 percent of balding men had improved hair growth after using finasteride and minoxidil for 12 months.
We offer finasteride and minoxidil online as part of our range of men’s hair loss treatments. Finasteride is available following an online consultation with a healthcare provider. We also offer them together for a powerful two-in-one hair loss treatment.
An itchy scalp is not a sign of hair loss but may be a sign of a scalp condition that could eventually lead to hair loss. So, if your scalp has been itching up a storm recently, it’s best to talk to a professional, even if your hair isn’t in immediate jeopardy.
Here’s what to keep in mind if you’re hoping the itch just goes away:
An itchy scalp can indicate many things, from oily, dirty hair that needs to be washed thoroughly to skin irritation that may need to be treated using a topical medication.
Although male pattern baldness usually doesn’t cause an itchy scalp, several medical conditions that can affect your hair follicles may involve itching, rashes, and discomfort.
Severe or chronically irritated scalps can shed hair follicles, and the shedding can become permanent if the damage is severe enough.
If you’re concerned about hair loss, it’s important to take action as quickly as possible to prevent it from getting worse. The earlier you act, the better your chances of preventing further hair loss and stimulating new hair growth.
You can get started by talking with your primary care provider, scheduling an appointment with a dermatologist or accessing our range of hair loss medications online.
Hims & Hers has strict sourcing guidelines to ensure our content is accurate and current. We rely on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We strive to use primary sources and refrain from using tertiary references. See a mistake? Let us know at [email protected]!
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment. Learn more about our editorial standards here.
Dr. Knox Beasley is a board certified dermatologist specializing in hair loss. He completed his undergraduate studies at the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY, and subsequently attended medical school at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, LA.
Dr. Beasley first began doing telemedicine during his dermatology residency in 2013 with the military, helping to diagnose dermatologic conditions in soldiers all over the world.
Dr. Beasley is board certified by the American Board of Dermatology, and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Originally from Nashville, TN, Dr. Beasley currently lives in North Carolina and enjoys spending time outdoors (with sunscreen of course) with his wife and two children in his spare time.
Bachelor of Science, Life Sciences. United States Military Academy.
Doctor of Medicine. Tulane University School of Medicine
Dermatology Residency. San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium
Board Certified. American Board of Dermatology
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