Dandruff is not the only cause of itchy scalp. Your anti-dandruff shampoo may not be working because the itchiness is being caused by a more serious condition. While you can look for symptoms in your scalp yourself, it's still best to consult your doctor to be sure what's causing the problem. The following are tips to help you get rid of itchy scalp according to different causes.

Dandruff: Flakes that Itch

Dandruff, also known as seborrhea, is the most common cause of itchy scalp. It is marked by flaking, itching, and sometimes redness of the scalp. Dandruff can be caused by dry or oily scalp, allergic reaction to shampoo, and a fungus called malassezia. You can get rid of your dandruff through the following methods:

• Anti-dandruff shampoo: Using commercial anti-dandruff shampoo is the best way to get rid of dandruff. You may need to consult a haircare or a skincare specialist before choosing which brand of anti-dandruff shampoo to use.
• Balanced diet: Your scalp's health is also affected by the food you eat. Don't take in too much animal fat or unsaturated vegetable oils because they can harm your scalp. You may also need to cut back on your chocolates, nuts, and foods containing iodized salt since these are high in calories. Keep a balanced intake of vitamins A, E, and B complex to make your scalp and hair healthier. Include green leafy vegetables, fish, and chicken in your diet because these foods contain the essential vitamins and minerals that your scalp needs.
• Relax: Stress contributes to the formation of dandruff because it causes interruptions in blood circulation in the scalp. Reduce stress by exercising regularly, doing Yoga therapy, or having a massage (For more information regarding yoga, read The guide to yoga). It's also important to brush your hair gently on a regular basis to keep the blood flowing smoothly in the scalp.

• Home remedies: If you're allergic to commercial anti-dandruff shampoo, consider using herbal shampoos that you can concoct at home (Learn how to make a truly homemade shampoo). The following are excellent alternatives to commercial anti-dandruff shampoo:
• Tea tree oil: It has anti-fungal properties and can be mixed with your regular shampoo, lotions, and oils. Massage tea tree oil into your scalp, then leave it there for 15 minutes before rinsing your hair clean.
• Red clover and coneflower extracts: Some scalp-care formulas contain extracts from plants such as red clover and coneflower. They come with a dropper and are applied directly on the scalp after you take a bath.
• Moisturizing oils: Use moisturizing oils to massage your scalp about an hour before taking a shower. This rejuvenates your scalp and facilitates blood flow in your scalp, making you feel more relaxed.
• Vinegar: Dandruff may also result from a disturbed pH balance in your scalp. Some people say that rinsing your hair with white or apple cider vinegar before taking a bath reduces dandruff. (For other uses of vinegar, see how to make household uses for vinegar)

Hunting Head Lice

White specks on your scalp and hair may not be dandruff, but eggs or nits of head lice. Head lice are microscopic insects that feed on human blood and cause itchiness. Remove head lice from your hair through the following methods:

• Head lice shampoo: The best way to treat head lice is to use head lice shampoo that contains permethrin, a substance that kills parasites. Use the shampoo regularly until all the eggs have disappeared from your hair.
• Wash fabrics: Wash your clothes and bedding once you discover that either you or a family member has head lice. Use very hot water in both washing and rinsing the fabrics, and set the dryer to high heat to kill all the lice.
• Vacuum your home: Head lice can survive for some time in carpets and upholstered furniture, so vacuum all the places in your home where people often rest. Vacuum couches, chairs, carpets, and especially beds. You may also use an agitator on your furniture and carpets to remove stubborn head lice that's stuck on fabric. (Tips on how to vacuum)

• Check for head lice: If you have a child in school, make sure to have him checked for head lice at least once every two weeks. Schools are perfect places for the transmission of head lice because they are confined, and students are in close proximity to each other. Tell your child to report immediately to his teacher if he discovers that one of his classmates has head lice.
• Never share personal items: Personal articles like hats, caps, coats, and hair brushes should never be shared among people. Also, avoid situations where there is intimate contact with a person you don't really know. (For more information on head lice treatments, read how to get rid of head lice)

Psoriasis: Remove Rashes on Your Scalp

Psoriasis manifests as itchy red rashes on your scalp, usually thickened with a slivery scaling. Aside from the scalp, skin on the knees, elbows and genitals may also be affected. Use the following treatments to get rid of psoriasis:

• Topical treatments: You can apply creams and ointments on rashes if your psoriasis is only mild or moderate. For severe cases, the doctor may prescribe a combination of oral medications or phototherapy with creams. Topical treatments for psoriasis could include: corticosteroids, retinoids, vitamin D analogues, anthralin, and moisturizers.

• Oral medications: Severe psoriasis resistant to other forms of treatment is usually treated with oral medications or injected drugs. These medications have severe side effects, so some of them are only used for brief periods of time. Drugs used to treat severe psoriasis include: retinoids, methotrexate, azathioprine, cyclosporine, and hydroxyurea. Ask your doctor about the effects of these drugs before using them.
• Light therapy or phototherapy: The simplest form of light therapy involves exposing your skin to controlled amounts of sunlight. Other forms may use ultraviolet A (UVA) or ultraviolet B (UVB) light either alone or in combination with drugs. T cells in the skin die when they are exposed to UV rays in sunlight or artificial light, reducing inflammation and scaling. Small amounts of sunlight improve psoriasis, but too much can worsen symptoms and result in skin damage.

Acne Keloidalis Nuchae (AKN): Itchy and Unsightly Bumps

Does the back of your head always itch, and do you see small bumps near the back of your neck when looking into a mirror? You may have the condition known as acne keloidalis nuchae or AKN. It occurs when the strands of hair on the back of your head grow into the skin, causing it to become inflamed and form scar tissue. Treat AKN through the following methods:

• Topical creams, lotions or gels: These can include retinoid creams such as adapalene, tazarotene, and tretinoin; steroid or cortisone solutions, and antibiotics like clindamycin. Clindamycin is best for cases of AKN where pustules, drainage, and crust formation are present.
• Oral medications: Your doctor may prescribe antibiotic pills and steroids like prednisone if your AKN is severe. You may be required to take prednisone for seven to 10 days if you have large abscesses on the back of your head.
• Scar removal procedures: AKN oftentimes leaves noticeable scars on your scalp, so you may need to have them removed for cosmetic reasons. Large scars and bumps can be removed surgically with a hair transplant punch. Laser therapy and cryotherapy are also used to remove bumps and scars.

Ringworm: Prevent Itchiness and Hair Loss

Ringworm is a common fungal infection that often manifests a brownish or reddish bumpy patch on the skin. Contrary to its name, it is not caused by a worm, but by a parasitic fungi. On the scalp, ringworm appears as round or oval patches covered with gray scale, often causing hair loss. Patches may also be inflamed and have pus-filled bumps. Ringworm can be extremely itchy and painful, so it has to be treated immediately through the following methods:

• Have your scalp checked first: Ringworm symptoms on the scalp look similar to other skin conditions, so have them examined first by your doctor to be sure. Your doctor may scrape some samples off your scalp and examine them under a microscope to look for signs of fungal infection. He may also perform a fungal culture to determine the particular organism that causes the ringworm. The laboratory should have results within two to three weeks; then, you can begin treatment according to findings.
• Topical and oral antifungal medicines: Mild cases of scalp ring worm are usually treated with topical creams and lotions. In some cases, however, the fungus invades deep into the hair follicle where topical treatments can't penetrate, so oral antifungal medicines have to be used. Your doctor may require you to take six to eight weeks of oral antifungal medicines, such as: griseofulvin, terbinafine, itraconazole, fluconazole, and ketoconazole.
• Anti-fungal shampoo: Doctors typically prescribe anti-fungal shampoo to treat ringworm to prevent its transmission to other people. Your doctor may prescribe either a selenium sulfide or a ketoconazole shampoo. In addition, ringworm sometimes leaves hairless scars on your scalp. Talk to your doctor about possible means to remove these scars. (For ringworm treatments, see how to get rid of ringworm)

Itchy scalp can also be caused by other conditions aside from the ones discussed. Consult your doctor immediately if the itchiness interferes with your daily tasks. It may be a symptom of a more serious skin condition that requires immediate treatment. For more information regarding this article, read how to treat dandruff.