Do you often find your scalp hurting whenever you comb your hair or run your fingers through your hair? Do you find it unusual and wonder why this is happening?

If you’re dealing with scalp pain whenever you comb your hair or wash it, you’ll want to know how to relieve scalp pain easily.

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Well, I’m certain that the very fact you’ve clicked on this article is because you have either experienced it before and wondered how to get rid of it or you probably just want to gain some knowledge about this condition.

So without further ado, let’s get into all the details so you can read about everything you need to know about scalp pain, from what it actually is, to its symptoms, its causes, and how to get rid of it!

Causes of Scalp Pain

The skin under the scalp has many blood vessels which sometimes get inflamed due to various reasons like:

• Scalp infections
• Scalp injuries or wounds
• Scalp folliculitis
• Seborrheic dermatitis
• Sunburn
• Psoriasis
• Scalp rashes etc.

When the scalp gets inflamed due to any of these reasons, it begins to hurt, causing the scalp to hurt.

This is just one of the reasons one may experience scalp pain.

Some of the other reasons include scalp pain due to stress, frequent use of hair accessories and hair styling tools, headaches, lice infestation, dandruff, etc,

All of these also lead to scalp sensitivity and scalp tenderness, which in turn leads to scalp pain.

What are the symptoms of scalp pain?

· Inflammation of the scalp

· Scalp skin itchiness and irritation

· Throbbing pain in certain areas of the scalp

· Flaking and peeling off of scalp skin

· Unusual headaches

· Pain while you touch your scalp or comb your hair

How to relieve scalp pain 2021

Use of natural remedies

Home remedies often come in handy and are useful to help provide relief from mild scalp conditions like rash, blisters, scalp redness or soreness and dandruff, at least temporarily, if not permanently.

Here are some of the methods you can use:

Hair oils and essential oils: There are many different types of oils like coconut oil, castor oil, black seed oil, argan oil, jojoba oil, etc. that you can use to relieve scalp pain.

These are easily available and have healing properties that can help reduce scalp pain by soothing the scalp and reducing inflammation by promoting better blood circulation.

Diluting an essential oil with a carrier oil in the right proportion can give you the perfect mix to help reduce scalp pain, as essential oils are highly concentrated and will have quicker effects.

Apply this evenly all over your scalp and gently massage it in for 5 to 10 minutes and let it sit for half an hour before rinsing off.

Homemade scalp scrubs: Using simple homemade scalp scrubs can help reduce scalp pain caused by dandruff or excessive product buildup.

All you need to do is partition your hair and even apply the scrub all over your scalp.

Then using your fingertips, gently massage it using circular motions, while exerting light pressure. This will help enhance the blood circulation in the scalp.

Hair masks: Take some time off to pamper yourself and apply a homemade hair mask and let it sit for around half an hour after application.

These masks will help soothe irritated skin and help reduce inflammation, causing scalp pain.

Scalp massages

Scalp massages can help promote better blood circulation in the scalp while also helping to reduce pain and inflammation.

You can massage your scalp using some warm hair oil of your choice or massage it just using only your fingertips.

Using warm hair oil is recommended, to help soothe the skin if there is any sort of irritation, because the warm oil can penetrate into the hair follicle, while it can also help promote better blood circulation in the scalp.

You can partition your hair and apply the oil evenly all over your scalp. Then use your fingertips to massage the oil into your scalp using circular motions.

If you wish to skip using the oil, you can simply massage your scalp with your fingertips, using circular motions.

Drinking a lot of water

Water is often known as the “elixir of life” and it is evident why! Drinking water and staying hydrated can help prevent and reduce various kinds of ailments, as it helps flush out harmful toxins from the body.

Certain times, scalp pain can be caused by headaches and headaches can be caused by lack of water or lack of proper hydration.

This leads to the body getting dehydrated.

When the body is dehydrated the brain shrinks temporarily as it loses fluids and contracts inside the skull, thereby causing the head to ache. Therefore, drinking lots of water is advisable.

Using a cold compress

We often use cold compression for various external bodily injuries or wounds. External application of cold compresses also helps relieve inflammation in the body caused by internal wounds.

Therefore, similarly, if your scalp pain is due to any sort of inflammation or has become swollen, or is causing the skin to be irritated and itchy, using a cold compress can be your go-to solution.

Gently press the cold compress all over your head, holding it in place for a few minutes until you’ve got relief.

Tip: For those who do not have a ready-to-use cold compress, you can also wrap up a few cubes of ice into a handkerchief and use it as your homemade cold compress. If you have neither of these options, you can also soothe the pain and irritation by pouring cold water on your head.

Over-the-counter pain relief medicines

Well, to be honest, I would not recommend this as your go-to solution, because this option should be used only when the pain is unbearable and the other methods haven’t seemed to have worked.

Taking an over-the-counter painkiller will help temporarily reduce the pain and inflammation and provide you with relief.

This being said, it is always advisable to consult a doctor or a professional medical practitioner before taking any medication.

Use of special scalp care products

Dandruff, head lice, sunburns, etc. can also cause scalp pain because dandruff can get flaky and make the scalp itch.

Over itching can make the skin sore or get bruised. Lice infestation is another reason that can lead to scalp itchiness causing the skin to become sore.

Sunburns are yet another reason for scalp pain as this can also cause skin peeling in severe conditions.

Therefore, using special shampoos designed to reduce and treat dandruff, get rid of head lice, and soothe sunburns is recommended.

Ointments and antiseptic creams

There are times when certain scalp conditions like scalp infections, folliculitis, seborrheic dermatitis, rash, blisters, etc. scalp be the cause of scalp pain.

Therefore, using medicinal ointments or antiseptic creams on the recommendation of a doctor can help reduce the severity of the condition and relieve the pain.

Proper hair and scalp care

Proper hair care and scalp care are very important as the hair strands emerge from the hair follicles in the scalp.

When the follicles get damaged, the scalp gets inflamed causing pain.

Washing your hair from time to time and using a good scalp scrub can help reduce dandruff and prevent the formation of scalp infections.

It is also important to note that the regular usage of heat treatment from hair styling tools like hair dryers, flat iron, curling irons, etc, can cause the hair to get pulled, causing damage to the hair follicles in the scalp.

So avoiding the overuse of hair styling tools and fancy hairstyles till the pain reduces would be advisable.

How to prevent scalp pain?

So I've told you how to relieve scalp pain. But won't it be better if the pain was avoided altogether? Given below are a few ways you can prevent scalp pain from happening.

Reduce exposure to sunlight: I get it, vitamin D is essential, but since your head is the part of the body that is always exposed.

Overexposure to direct sunlight can cause sunburns or can aggravate the already existing scalp conditions, making it worse.

For those who have sensitive skin, this one is an important point to keep in mind.

Therefore, if you are going to be exposed for long hours in the sun, wearing a cap or a scarf will be ideal.

Have an exercise routine: Having a good workout is very important. You may be wondering what exercise has to do with scalp pain.

Well, when we exercise the blood circulation in our bodies increases causing smooth blood flow to all parts of the body, including the scalp.

Proper blood circulation will oxygenate the body and reduce pain and inflammation.

Avoid the overuse of hair styling tools and hair care products as they can cause damage to the hair follicles emerging from the scalp.

Cut down on hairstyling: It is also essential to reduce hairstyling that involves tugging or pulling of the hair strands, which will become a cause for pain in the long run.

There are times when the body gets too stressed out, causing the head to ache and the scalp to pain as the muscles of the head get tensed up.

Therefore, reducing your stress levels by practicing yoga or meditation is recommended.

The final takeaway

While these were some general tips on how to help relieve scalp pain, it is important to note that if the scalp pain persists over a long period of time, consulting a doctor is advisable.

There are times when the scalp pain can be due to some other underlying chronic health problems like brain damage, cancer, paralysis, brain tumors, central nervous system conditions.

These often include symptoms like an unusual runny nose, sudden blindness, or change in vision) migraines, etc., and can come to light only after a professional diagnosis.

It is important not to neglect any sort of recurring symptoms and visit a doctor immediately.

Also Read:

How to get rid of dandruff

How to use coconut oil for hair growth

Best shampoo for dry, itchy scalp

Best hair care tips for men