Chronic Scalp Itch. Not Seb. Dermatitis. Please help

@cb314
Hi, right now, my head itches like crazy and I do use oil on the back of the neck so I don’t get sore and flaking. Then I remembered about my photodermatitis. I started wearing a hat and things on my arms and gloves, and things are slowing down.
In the past, the Clinic has recommended some shampoos and they worked well for a year or two, and then I developed a sensitivity or an allergy to the shampoos. So I was trying for years to find the shampoo that worked. There’s a website at the Clinic gave me called Skinsafe and I don’t know how it works, but I got this notification many many years ago about it and it has been wonderful for me.
I wish you the best. I was just trying to give you some ideas about some of the things that might help you.
I wish you a very best

@minnesota10
My scalp is like 40 miles of bumpy road, what with a few AK patches mixed with SK and seb derm, and the scarred remnants of Mohs surgery. My dermatologist gave me a script for 2% ketoconazole shampoo. I alternate that with Nizoral (1% ketoconazole), Selsun Blue (selenium sulfide) and T/Sal (salicylic acid) every other day. I leave it on for about 6-7 minutes before rinsing it out. This regimen has largely stopped the itching and growth of any new unsightly patches. For the seb derm I also use clobetasol, but no more than 2 weeks on any one spot. The seb derm often will just slide off after those two weeks.

For over two years I’ve had unexplained itchy scalp and ears too. I’ve had multiple dermatologist appointments and a few treatments without relief. In the meantime the chronic itch spread to my upper right arm and upper back.

I finally got in to see a neurologist a few weeks ago. He agrees that it’s neuropathic itch associated with a severe stenosis to C5/C6.

He prescribed cymbalta, an antidepressant as an alternative to Gabapentin. (I refuse to take Gabapentin based on lots of testimonies).

See my comment below about Cymbalta.

@absoloodle I have heard about stenosis causing scalp itch; i'm hoping this isn't the case though. I always figured if it was stenosis then there would be other symptoms such as tingling or numbness in the arms. I will mention this when I see my dermatologist in a few weeks.

Thank you for responding!

@19sfca47 Right about now Im wishing I had this seb derm that everyone seems to have but the the go to treatment doesn't work for me. The steroid spray doesn't work either.

Thank you for responding!

@cb314, I’ve awakened with tingling hands a few times, but I don’t have pain from my stenosis. I have many stenosis, but only my C5/C6 is severe. I also have DDD (advanced arthritis) - especially in my lumbar spine, scoliosis and Kaiphosis ( hunchback). I also have bilateral sciatica. Occasionally I have severe pain in my neck, but my thoracic spine gives me more frequent pain.

You can definitely have stenosis without symptoms.

@absoloodle thank you. I will definitely look into it.

That must be terrible for you to have had an itchy scalp for 4 years! I'm so sorry that you are going through that! I used to have an itchy scalp until one time I used Dawn dishwashing detergent, the blue one, to wash my hair when I ran out of money and shampoo at the same time. My itchiness started to go away! So I continued to use Dawn dishwashing detergent. Finally the itchiness went completely away and has never returned. That was 40 years ago. I am currently 80 and still don't have gray hair. I don't know if that is related to Dawn but it's nice.

Shampoos these days are full of junk and have strong scents. That could cause irritation and itchiness. Dawn is very natural and clean. It's also cheaper than shampoos and it cleans your dishes very well too.

I hope this helps. I wish you the best.
PML

@cb314 I have found that ever since I stopped using conditioner, my scalp itching has reduced considerably. Do you use conditioner or a shampoo and conditioner in one? Downside of not using a conditioner has been “bed head” hair, but I keep my hair very short and a spritz of water in the morning helps tame my hair.