Itchy scalp

[Mamabug]

For the past two weeks, I've had an itchy scalp. It tends to bother me more at night, but, sometimes during the day.

It's one of those symptoms that makes me wonder if it's MS related, or not. Could go either way.

I don't think it would be an allergy to anything; I don't have a lot of problems with allergies and I haven't changed my diet or other habits recently. I googled it and it doesn't seem anything like eczema or scalp psoriasis or anything.

I talked to my acupuncturist about it and she suggested rinsing my hair with ACV (vinegar), so I've tried that. It helps temporarily, and usually gets me through the night. But, I don't want to rinse my hair with vinegar every night for the rest of my life.

Any other suggestions about home remedies, or what I should do about this?

[Carolinemf]

Hi Mamabug,

Yes I had a lot of problems with scalp itching and it took years and lots of trial and error to sort out.

In my case it was basically dry scalp due to sebaceous glands not working efficiently. this wasn't especially noticeable to docs, hairdressers etc although one hairdresser mentioned that my scalp had gone very red after she had coloured my hair (very sensitive re- dryness). It used to itch so much that i would scratch till my scalp bled. Around and in my ears would also itch sometimes.I have long hair.

I don't think the vinegar helped because it was VINEGAR but because it was moisture. Almost as soon as I wet my head the itching would ease. And the more often i wash and condition my hair the better.

I tried all types of products etc ($$) but this is what i have found most effective: Wash my hair every second day until it eases then stick to about twice a week even in winter. If I sweat in summer I need to wash more often. I have also found that soaking in a bath and lying down (with a book)with my hair under the water the best way to do this . a shower just doesn't get down to the scalp properly and it also helps to soak . Thoroughly shampoo and massage your hair three times and leave conditioner on for an extended period AND MAKE SURE YOU MASSAGE INTO THE SCALP! Then thoroughly rinse with clean water - make sure no chemical is left on the scalp.

It also helped when i began using Redken shampoo and conditioner.

If I stick to this routine and use Redken I don't even notice any annoying itch but if for some reason I break my routine it comes back. There is one treatment that i found i could use if i was unable to shampoo properly and patches of itch are beginning to annoy and that is Tricho natural scalp therapy, it comes in a tube and a very small amount on the finger tip rubbed into the annoying spot helps ease it straight away. Unfortunately its moisturising properties don't last indefinitely. Essentials Lanolin is quite good for this as well and a lot cheaper.

I had always taken pride in my hair (at times i could sit on it) but I didn't realise how much dead skin cells and build up there was against my scalp until i installed a bath and started soaking this way and really got my scalp clean and moisturised and it doesnt cost $$.

Just my experience, hope it helps.

[Carolinemf]

Oh ans PS:
My arms and lower back absolutely kill me if i wash my hair under the shower
But lying flat in the bath is so much easier, I just sometimes need help getting out

[Thinkimjob]

Can't get in a bath, let alone lie in one. 🙃.

Having a shower scares me to death. Have to psyche myself up.

I actually cry sometimes. I mean how grotty can I be?

Shave legs; yep keep living that dream. Hair washing, aaarrgggh.

[msgijo]

When my scalp starts itching I reach for 'scalpicin' (sp?). You can find it at walmart, cvs or walgreens. The walgreens brand is simply labeled "Scalp Relief", and works as well as the more expensive brand name stuff .

[Seasha]

What an annoyance! I had this a few years ago and felt like bugs were crawling all over my head which made me itch. And no - it wasn't lice or bedbugs! It finally went away after a few weeks.

But, to answer your question about a natural or home remedies, look up Dr Axe itchy scalp causes and symptoms. Hope this helps!

[Mamabug]

I'll have to try some of these suggestions. Thanks.

So . . . , do you think it's MS-related?

[REG53]

I can relate. My scalp never itch very much until I was dx and started progressing. My scalp itches really bad sometimes especially on the crown. I tried scalpicin and hydrating shampoos and conditioners, nothing helped. When I read itching was an ms sx I figured that was the reason. It made sense.

[Carolinemf]

Hi again Mambug,
It could be from ms - as always there's that befuddling is it? or isn't it?

Unfortunately if it is ms there is very little you can do about it.
In your photo you have lovely curly hair and shoulder length. And it looks quite thick?

As i said it's painful for me to wash my hair under the shower and because of this i found i was doing it quicker and less often. My hair wasn't dirty as such but there was a build up against my scalp especially under the fall of my hair where it required more effort to thoroughly get squeaky clean and treated. So i don't know how you get by with how you wash your hair so all I can do is share my experience. Mine seems to worsen with increased stress as well. I had no real dandruff etc but my scalp (like my other skin) was quite dry and sensitive. I even tried canesten (antifungal) and this did help but i haven't needed any of these things since I have worked out the difference between my scalp being "truly" clean and moisturised and not. Now i just maintain things and i don't have to put all the effort into getting my scalp healthy again like i did at the start.

Do you feel the itch is nerve related or skin related? Is it only on your scalp or in ears ,down neck or forehead? How long has it been bothering you?
Have you ran it past your doc?

I am fortunate that i can still enjoy a soak in a bath about once a week still.
Hope you can too.

[Mamabug]

Caroline -- My photo was taken about two years ago. My hair has a shorter cut now. Maybe it's called asymmetric? I don't know; it's a little shorter in the back than in the front. And, still some waves but less curly.

I don't know if it's skin related or nerve related? How would they feel different? I'm guessing skin.

I went to the doctor today. He said there was no inflammation and no sign of anything like dandruff, eczema or psoriasis. He just recommended a therapeutic shampoo called "T-Gel". I bought some at Walmart today, and I'll try it this evening. I tried to find the "Scalp Relief" (scalpicin) that msgijo and REG53 mentioned too, but couldn't find it today. If this shampoo doesn't work, I may look for it again. Doc also suggested an anti-histamine, but I suspect that relief would be shorter term than some of this scalp stuff.

Since I have some wheat allergy and gluten intolerance, my acupuncturist also suggested avoiding wheat for 4 days (that's how long she said it takes a food to get our of your system) and see if that makes a difference. I already eat less wheat and gluten than I used to, but if I don't eat a lot and especially don't eat much that also contains yeast, I can get by with eating it. So, I tried to do that and managed for 3 days (no difference) and completely spaced it out today when I went out to eat Italian food. Hard to avoid wheat in an Italian restaurant. Oops. I'll try again next week sometime. I don't miss bread and rolls much. But, it's hard for me to avoid all wheat products.

[Carolinemf]

Hi, I tried T gel and lots of others too and they didn't work for me. I hope you have more success.

I think the best way for you to tell if it's a skin issue is to try rubbing something that would normally sooth itchy scalp ,if you do believe you have gained relief,even if briefly, then it would be fair to assume that our scalp is the problem not the nerves underneath.

I actually washed my hair yesterday, the way i described to you, because my head was beginning to annoy me again- a result of not washing hair for about two weeks.
When I shampooed my scalp felt a little inflamed and this eased after i applied the conditioner and let it soak in for about 10 minutes.
I have concluded as i have before that for me its the quality of the conditioner and making sure i massage it in and leave it for a bit after really getting my scalp clean that helps rather than if the shampoo is medicated or not. Most conditioners say not to massage into scalp only hair but a good shampoo actually strips our natural oils away and they have to be replaced in the scalp as well as the hair.

My mother once told me that an old remedy for things like cradlecap on babies and as well she used to use this on my fathers sisters scalp after she became bed ridden- was to massage in a mixture of lemon juice and olive oil, rap in a warm towel, wait, then shampoo and condition out.
I tried this as well and it does feel great on the scalp but even if i shampoo out my hair feels as though it needs washing earlier than normal.

Best of luck with finding a solution. It's bad enough to muddle through sometimes with out also having a multitude of assorted small hindrances to deal with as well as the bigger ones.

[Canary54]

Mamabug.....I have exactly the same issue. Started about 6 months ago. If you Google MS and pruritus, you'll find many articles addressing this issue.

I thought I had lice or fleas I kept asking my husband to check my scalp. No bugs and no dry flakes. But my scalp itched like crazy...and it was worse at night...even waking me from a sound sleep. I did a little research and found the following information:

MS itching is not due to skin irritation, it is a neuropathic itch. It's nothing that Benadryl or cortisone cream can help. MS itching is caused by demyelination of the nerves. It is thought that MS itching is probably due to a transmission of nerve impulses across sites where they do not normally occur and where there has been previous damage.

One website I read and while there is no "proof" that these medications can help the itch, Lyrica, Elavil, Tegratol, Paxil and a few other meds have been reported as giving some relief. I've not tried any medications, but I have tried apple cider vinegar rins, and it does help............sometimes. And the itching just continues.

[hopeandhelping]

Scalp issues

Hello all,
Sorry to hear about this. One of my friends also had this in a minor way and cut out all shampoo and conditioner products that contained sulfates and it took about a week to go away for him. Most of the "leading" brands all have alcohol and sulfates which are irritants and since MS is directly related to the Immune System this may help some of you. I understand you can also buy organic shampoo or even Hemp shampoo which is natural and known to fortify the immune system. Hope this helps.

Be well everyone.

[Mamabug]

Hello all,
Sorry to hear about this. One of my friends also had this in a minor way and cut out all shampoo and conditioner products that contained sulfates and it took about a week to go away for him. Most of the "leading" brands all have alcohol and sulfates which are irritants and since MS is directly related to the Immune System this may help some of you. I understand you can also buy organic shampoo or even Hemp shampoo which is natural and known to fortify the immune system. Hope this helps.

Be well everyone.

I can't read the ingredients on my shampoo. Font is way too small. But, I purchase both my regular shampoo and conditioner from a business that sells natural products. Lately, though, I've been using the T-Gel shampoo that my doctor recommended that is therapeutic.

[Mamabug]

This is maybe weird that it works, but, sometimes, when my scalp begins to itch, I visualize God giving it a gentle massage with His fingers. While He's doing that, the myelin in my brain is repairing itself, and the neurons are connecting correctly where they are intended to.

It actually sometimes works and the itching stops. The power of positive thinking?

If this symptom is related to MS, then it is a "new symptom" and lasting more than 24 hours. That's the definition of an MS flare, right? If this is a flare, it sure is different than any flare I've ever had. I'm watching closely for other possible symptoms of a flare. I had a weird mobility issue at the Y after a water exercise class this week. That's the only other thing I can think of. Usually, my flares include manic-like mental health symptoms. There's nothing like that yet. My husband is helping me watch for those.

If it's just a weird minor MS flare, then it will likely clear up on its own with time without steroids, I hope. I can certainly put up with the inconvenience until then.

I might wait another few weeks and see if it hangs on. If it does, I might contact my MS Specialist's office and she what she recommends. My primary care provider didn't think it was likely that it was related to MS, but he's no expert.