Why does my scalp itch after applying oil?”, and what are how we can avoid this itch. I remember those good old days when I would sit in front of my mother and she would massage my hair till dandruff, dryness, and headache in my head and hair all disappeared. Those were the days when I and my hair were both young, healthy, and strong. And then, life happened that affected my scalp, my health, and of course, my hair.
I would say that my scalp took a larger hit than I did, because now whenever I try to oil it (at least once a month), I experience weird itchiness and irritation. The once relaxing hobby turned into a fearful act of pain for me.
Fortunately, I figured out the reason why my scalp felt that way along with a few others. In this article, I will tell you “Why does my scalp itch after applying oil?”, and what are how we can avoid this itch.
The anatomy of our scalp
Our scalp has sensitive anatomy. It consists of a cranium which is covered by layers of soft tissues. It extends from the superior nuchal lines and occipital turbulences to the supraorbital foramen. Our scalp consists of five different layers, namely
- Skin
- Connective tissue layer
- Galea aponeurotica
- Loose areolar connective tissue
- Pericranium
Made up of these layers, the main function of the scalp is to serve as a platform for hair to grow in, as well as act as a barrier from foreign harmful bacteria that irritates. Even so, we experience scabs and sores on our scalps every now and then, which is also caused by some of the reasons we will talk about in this article.
Is oiling the scalp for everyone?
Oiling is a healthy habit that is beneficial for the scalp as well as hair growth. The oil improves the blood circulation of your scalp and moisturizes your hair, giving it a shiny effect. The vitamins oils provide are beneficial for your hair and also serve as a protective coat against external harmful particles. Also, you will experience that your hair health drastically improves after regularly applying oil to it.
Why does my scalp itch after applying oil?
There is no one answer to this question, so we will go through each one separately.
If your scalp is dry and dirty, it will cause itching
Just like you are exhausted and full of pollutants at the end of a long and tiring day of work, so is your hair. Your scalp accumulates all the dust and dirt particles it comes in contact with during the day and as soon as you apply oil to it, an inflammation reaction takes place.
Similarly, in winter, your scalp gets dry and hard to the touch. This may either be due to the weather, washing your scalp with hot water, or using heat stylers that cause dryness in the scalp. When the liquid oil comes in contact with this dried scalp, it causes an itch.
The best way to cure a dry and dirty scalp is to wash it frequently, and avoid taking hot showers. It is also best to apply a good conditioner for the smoothness of hair.
Dandruff
According to many people, oil is the first and foremost treatment of dandruff. However, there is a slight misconception here.
If dandruff forms due to dryness of the scalp, oil can help remove it. However, there is another theory behind dandruff.
Malassezia is a yeast present on our scalp. Along with this, certain bacteria function to maintain a PH balance in our scalp, which may be disturbed after applying oil to it. This disturbance causes another type of dandruff to form, which will irritate your scalp if you apply oil to it.
There hasn’t been devised a permanent cure for dandruff yet. some remedies work temporarily, but dandruff will remain with you for your entire life.
Contact Dermatitis
Different hair products contain different chemicals and allergens that might not suit your scalp. These products include shampoos, conditioners, hair gels, hair masks, and even hair oils. They cause itchiness and irritation as soon as they come in contact with your scalp and using oils on top of that only worsens the itch.
The best way to treat Contact Dermatitis is to talk to a dermatologist before using a hair product to get an idea of what will suit your scalp and what will not.
Sebaceous Dermatitis
This is a condition where your scalp itches uncontrollably, causing red sores and scabs to form. Consider these sores and scabs open wounds on which you are about to apply soap. It will only irritate the wound to an unbearable extent and you might need to rush to the hospital. So it is best to avoid hair oiling in this condition.
Sebaceous dermatitis produces an oily scalp and applying more to it will only trap dust particles in your scalp. It is better not to apply any hair product on it to avoid infection.
Conclusion
These are only a few of the many reasons that cause itching on the scalp after applying oil. Even though it is a healthy habit and should be done often, try not to go overboard while attempting to grow your hair overnight.
