Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to be driven mad by itchy head?!

56 replies

wordywitch · 17/09/2022 14:36

My DD (16) and I went on a trip abroad together two weeks ago, for 3 nights. On the last day of the trip and ever since we got back, we’ve both had itchy heads. My first thought of horror is that we’d somehow got nits but we’ve checked each other’s heads and there are no signs at all that that’s the case, plus we’ve both had nits before and this doesn’t feel like that kind of itch, where it’s a creepy crawly feeling or intensely itchy like a bite. The itch isn’t super intense but it seems to be aggravated when I wash my hair, I suppose because I’m irritating the area with my fingers. Mostly it just feels like my scalp is very dry and irritated.

Initially, we thought it must have been the cheap travel sized shampoo we bought at the airport and that once we’d washed our hair a couple times with our usual shampoo it would be gone but it’s still persisted. My hair also feels a bit greasier than normal, needing a wash every two days instead of every three, though that could be because I’m touching it more while scratching.

Could it somehow be that we were allergic to something on the hotel pillows, or that god forbid it’s some other kind of infestation besides nits (bedbugs maybe??). If that was the case surely we’d be itchy on the rest of our bodies too, not just our heads though.

I’ve done an apple cider vinegar rinse on my hair plus a deep conditioning mask to try to help strip out whatever is in there and help moisturise my head but nothing has changed.

AIBU to be driven mad by both the itch and not knowing why? Open to any and all suggestions!

OP posts:
gatehouseoffleet · 17/09/2022 14:37

When I've had an itchy head it has been down to the water (but I think you can rule that out as you were away two weeks ago) or nits. Are you SURE you haven't got them? Please check again - just in case! Sorry if you've checked a million times already.

2ndrockinthepond · 17/09/2022 14:41

when I had this I drank loads of water and massaged coconut oil into my scalp. Never did work out what caused it. Try not to scratch as it will create a graze like effect that will make it worse

Discovereads · 17/09/2022 14:42

Where did you go? If it was a hot & humid place like Florida, Caribbean, Central America, India, SE Asia you may have picked up a bit of “jungle rot”…essentially a fungal skin infection only on your scalp. Especially if you have long thick hair. You may need to get a course of anti-fungal tablets from the GP.

Ladybyrd · 17/09/2022 14:52

I would go to the gp, if you can get in.

Luredbyapomegranate · 17/09/2022 15:12

Probably was the cheap shampoo, it always sets me off.

You can buy some none steroid treatments in boots, but you’d be better at this stage to get a steroid lotion from you GP - you put it on morning and night, will be gone in a few days

OrigamiOwls · 17/09/2022 15:16

I swear by head & shoulders scalp relief treatment

Hoardasurass · 17/09/2022 15:19

Tgel coal tar shampoo is a god sent for dry itchy scalp and most of the conditions that cause it

Pixiedust1234 · 17/09/2022 15:24

Try a coal tar shampoo. TELL or neutrogena? Also try massaging a thick creamy conditioner onto your scalp. Cheap asda jojoba conditioner is perfect for me.

Could also try an anti histimine, dont bother with the loratine active ingredient one, go for the one with certrizine(?)

Pixiedust1234 · 17/09/2022 15:25

*TGel stupid autocorrect

Mol1628 · 17/09/2022 15:27

Sunburn? I get this on my scalp if I forget my hat.

Maytodecember · 17/09/2022 15:31

I was going to say sunburn too. I have rosacea ( aggravated by the sun if I forget to wear the factor 50) and it can spread to my scalp, itches like mad.
As you both have it it’s more likely to be the hotel shampoo, probably harsher than you usually use.

nachoavocado · 17/09/2022 15:52

Are there flakes?

ForestofD · 17/09/2022 16:12

Another one for TGel. I cannot use any hotel or cheaper shampoo because my scalp then drives me mad.

Vosene can also help but it's a little harsh for me to use it all the time. I developed a sensitive scalp after I'd had my 1st child.

jgjgjgjgjg · 17/09/2022 16:37

It's very hard to spot headline in long hair until the eggs have hatched and there are quite a lot of large adult lice. I'm afraid that would be my guess.

stuntbubbles · 17/09/2022 16:41

Headlice don’t start itching straight away; you need to build up quite a multigenerational community before the itch begins. It’s why they’re such bastards: by the time the itch alerts you, they’re well established.

Bed bugs would bite you all over.

You might have given yourself an infection from scratching: the cheap shampoo made you itch, then all the clawing at your scalp has damaged it. My friend did this when her kid had nits; itched herself into needing antibiotics.

OnTheRunWithMannyMontana · 17/09/2022 16:43

Definitely give the T Gel a try. I currently have psoriasis on my scalp and the T Gel is blessed blessed relief from the incessant itch.

Ecci · 17/09/2022 17:01

Could be a fungal infection. I had an itchy head for about 18 months after being in hospital. I tried pretty much everything that's been suggested, but nothing worked. Finally found something that did. Try Nizoral anti dandruff shampoo. It contains a fungicide. It fixed my itchy head.

SausagePourHomme · 17/09/2022 17:09

Take an antihistamine

ThreeRingCircus · 17/09/2022 17:36

I agree with T Gel shampoo and I use a silicone scalp brush with the shampoo to really clean my scalp thoroughly with the T gel....you can get the scalp brushes online.

Works wonders for me if I'm ever itchy or have dandruff.

nachoavocado · 17/09/2022 17:38

Ecci · 17/09/2022 17:01

Could be a fungal infection. I had an itchy head for about 18 months after being in hospital. I tried pretty much everything that's been suggested, but nothing worked. Finally found something that did. Try Nizoral anti dandruff shampoo. It contains a fungicide. It fixed my itchy head.

Yes I'm thinking something like that or Selsun shampoo if you can find it.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 17/09/2022 17:40

The Body Shop ginger
shampoo

gatehouseoffleet · 17/09/2022 17:43

OnTheRunWithMannyMontana · 17/09/2022 16:43

Definitely give the T Gel a try. I currently have psoriasis on my scalp and the T Gel is blessed blessed relief from the incessant itch.

Yes my DH used to use T-gel. I used a shampoo by Klorane but I don't think they make it anymore. It was peony.

gatehouseoffleet · 17/09/2022 17:45

Oh they do! www.klorane.com/uk-en/p/soothing-shampoo-with-organic-peony

wordywitch · 17/09/2022 17:46

We only went to Berlin so definitely not that

OP posts:
Lovetogarden2022 · 17/09/2022 20:35

Allergies! Take anti histamines every morning for a week or so and it should clear up. Something will have irritated your scalp (possibly the shampoo) and then everything you're doing now is aggravating the problem thus why it hasn't gone away yet.