- 1. Irritated skin
- 2. Psoriasis
- 3. Seborrheic dermatitis
- 4. Folliculitis
- 5. Temporal arteritis
- 6. Pediculosis
- 7. Ringworm
The tingling sensation on the scalp is something relatively frequent that, when it appears, usually does not indicate any type of serious problem, being more common that it represents some type of skin irritation.
However, this discomfort can also indicate more serious changes, such as ringworm, dermatitis or psoriasis, for example. But these types of conditions are also often associated with other symptoms such as itching, flaking or burning.
Thus, the ideal is that whenever the tingling is frequent, very intense or lasts for more than 3 days, consult a dermatologist, to try to understand the cause and start the most appropriate treatment. Still, the most common causes include:
1. Irritated skin
Some chemicals present in hair products, such as shampoos, masks or hair styling products, pollution or even the heat from the dryer can irritate the scalp and cause tingling and can be associated with flaking and itching.
What to do: The person must identify what may be the source of the irritation and stop using that product. In addition, you should choose a mild shampoo on the following days, so as not to aggravate the irritation.
2. Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a disease that is characterized by the presence of red and scaly lesions, with white scales, which can appear on any region of the body, even on the scalp, and can cause intense itching, which usually intensifies in stressful situations. Clarify the most common questions about psoriasis.
What to do: Psoriasis symptoms can disappear spontaneously, without treatment, however, they can reappear during periods of stress. In some cases, the doctor may prescribe medications, such as topical corticosteroids, calcipotriol, topical retinoids, salicylic acid or coaltar, for example.
3. Seborrheic dermatitis
Seborrheic dermatitis is a skin problem that mostly affects the scalp and is characterized by the appearance of dandruff, spots with yellowish or whitish crusts, redness and intense itching, which can be aggravated in situations of stress or exposure to cold and heat.
What to do: generally, the treatment is done with the application of creams and antifungal shampoos, solutions or ointments with corticosteroids in the composition and products that help to reduce flaking.
4. Folliculitis
Folliculitis is an inflammation at the root of the hair, which can result from ingrown hair or be caused by an infection by bacteria or fungi, which can cause signs and symptoms such as pellets, burning, tingling, itching and hair loss. Learn more about folliculitis.
What to do: The treatment of folliculitis depends on the causative agent of the disease, and can be carried out with antifungal solutions, if it is a fungus, or antibiotics, if the causative agent is a bacterium.
5. Temporal arteritis
Temporal arteritis, also known as giant cell arteritis, is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of the arteries in the bloodstream, causing symptoms such as headache, fever, stiffness and tingling in the scalp.
What to do: The treatment of temporal arteritis consists of the administration of corticosteroids, analgesics and antiemetics to relieve symptoms. Learn more about the treatment of temporal arteritis.
6. Pediculosis
Pediculosis is characterized by a lice infestation, which usually manifests itself in school-age children, with most cases occurring in the hair, causing symptoms such as intense itching, the appearance of white dots in the region and tingling of the scalp.
What to do: To eliminate lice and nits from the head, use a suitable solution or shampoo, which has a remedy against lice in the composition, leaving it to act for a few minutes, as indicated on the packaging. In addition, there are also adapted combs, which facilitate their elimination and repellents that prevent a recurrence.
7. Ringworm
Ringworm on the scalp, also known as Tinea capitis, is characterized by a fungal infection that causes symptoms such as intense itching and tingling in the scalp and, in some cases, hair loss.
What to do: Generally, the treatment consists of using topical products with antifungals in the composition, such as ketoconazole or selenium sulfide, for example. If topical treatment is not effective, your doctor may recommend taking oral antifungals.
The hormonal changes that are usually associated with the woman's menstrual cycle, pregnancy or menopause can in some cases cause tingling in the scalp. In addition, exposure to cold or heat can also cause these symptoms.
