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Original poster

FFS! What could this insane itching in the back of my head be??

70 replies

Jacksmania · 27/07/2012 07:49

It's been driving me mental. My scalp in the back of my head itches insanely, but only in the back of my head. It's in that dip right below the bump of the occipital bone, above the hairline, only there. No itching in the rest of my head. I can't feel any bumps or bites or anything. And this has been going on forever, seriously - probably a few years now, but has gotten much worse in the last few weeks. I mentioned it to DH and he said he's been noticing it for a long time and says that I start scratching like a dog in the evening, when I first wake up in the morning, or when I wake up in the middle of the night.

It does not itch during the day - usually, anyway, but during the last few weeks, it has occasionally done. Once I start scratching, it's game over, I have to sit on my hands to force myself to stop. Thank goodness I can't have long nails for my job or I'd have no scalp left.

I don't have dandruff. No flakes, sparkly clean scalp. I had DH part my hair and try to see if there was any redness or anything, he said he couldn't see anything but made noises like a chimp grooming its young, the big idiot :o

I have good skin otherwise, no eczema or psoriasis.

I tried smearing 1% hydrocortisone cream on every night for a few nights, and it helped, but once I stopped, it came back. This morning I stumbled upon my stepdad's medicated shampoo for dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis, and tried that... not sure if it's done anything. Went out and bought dandruff shampoo today, just in case.

Aaaaaaaaarrrrrgghhhhhhhh! HELP!!!

(Will book GP app't next week...)

Oh and I don't know how relevant it is but I should ring the "not in UK" bell.

OP posts:
Northernlurker · 27/07/2012 08:10

Have you checked for headlice?

Original poster
Jacksmania · 27/07/2012 08:19
Shock

No I haven't

But could they congregate in only one part of my scalp? And wouldn't DH and DS have them too? Well, maybe not DH, he shaves his head...

OP posts:
Original poster
Jacksmania · 27/07/2012 08:20

Can you have head lice for years and not know?

Oh god, I want to hide this thread and pretend I never asked

OP posts:
Chictactoe · 27/07/2012 08:21

Could it be the heat? Do you have long hair that you perhaps tie up?

changeforthebetter · 27/07/2012 08:22

When I caught headlice courtesy of DD Hmm it was the back of my head that got itchy. If you find them then treat everyone. Hie thee to the chemist for a nit comb and some cheap conditioner

Pagwatch · 27/07/2012 08:24

Yep, I got head lice from DS and it was exactly in the area you describe.

ThisWeekonFancyPuffin · 27/07/2012 08:24

When dd had The Bastard Nits? she scratched only the back of her head.

I had managed to make till nearly 30 without ever having them and I caught the evil little fuckers

I killed them good, using chemicals, water and death by burning

MrsDmitriTippensKrushnic · 27/07/2012 08:25

I get an insanely itchy scalp like this with either headlice or with certain shampoos

And yes, it's generally just the back. I wonder if it gets slightly more sweaty there and that makes it react and itch more?

Original poster
Jacksmania · 27/07/2012 08:28

Oh fuck. I am now going to drink lots cry.

I've had this for several years. Seriously, nits can live on someone's head that long and I wouldn't know?

Fuck.

Chictactoe, I have lots and lots of hair, but it's not long, I was planning to grow it but may now shave it off completely and it's almost to my shoulders but not quite there yet.

Heat... hmmm... I don't live anywhere where it's especially warm most of the time. It's gorgeous and sunny right now. I mean, not right this minute - it's 12:30 am here...

OP posts:
Original poster
Jacksmania · 27/07/2012 08:29

MrsD - it is worse when I'm sweaty. When I've sweated my cellulite-ridden arse off at yoga, and my hair is sweaty, I want to scratch myself bloody.

OP posts:
Pagwatch · 27/07/2012 08:29

Honestly, don't cry.
The idea of it is grim but you just treat it and it goes.

Chictactoe · 27/07/2012 08:30

Oh hell then I suspect it may be nits as well.

Original poster
Jacksmania · 27/07/2012 08:32

I co-slept with DS for several years. In fact, he's currently asleep in my bed (DH away) and hogging all of my pillow, how is that possible, it's a queen-sized pillow and he's four, how can a four-year-old-sized head take up ALL of an adult's pillow - is there any way I could have lice and neither he nor DH have caught them?

OP posts:
changeforthebetter · 27/07/2012 08:32

If it is any comfort, I got them for the first time at age 41 Shock. I don't remember getting them at all as kids and DM was a nurse and clean freak so would have checked me regularly

I like the Bastard Nits trademark Grin

changeforthebetter · 27/07/2012 08:33

Oh and other DD never gets them when DD and I are crawling. They don't like her blood apparently HmmGrin

Original poster
Jacksmania · 27/07/2012 08:34

Pardon me while I go pour a bucket glass of wine.

Never mind, I'll just drink straight from the bottle.

OP posts:
Pagwatch · 27/07/2012 08:37

Ds2 got them several times and gave them to me and DD.
Dh never got them, nor did DS1 even though we would all get into bed together in the morning etc and we all had the same physical proximity

PurplePidjin · 27/07/2012 08:39

On another note, are you rinsing that part of your head properly when you wash your hair? I have long, thick hair and have to be particularly careful of that area. Itches like buggery if i don't get enough water through Blush

Baby shampoo also helps

Original poster
Jacksmania · 27/07/2012 08:39

Sorry, I'm too drunk to comprehend what you're saying.

That is

Waaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!

OP posts:
Original poster
Jacksmania · 27/07/2012 08:42

That's possible. Going to try that tomorrow.

OP posts:
Original poster
Jacksmania · 27/07/2012 08:43

Also going to ring GP and beg for an appointment tomorrow since DH is away and I doubt DS would be a reliable diagnostician and I'm not letting anyone else see whether I have nits, oh no, no way.

OP posts:
EmilieFloge · 27/07/2012 08:44

I don't know if it is nits but if it is they are easy to kill.

I've just done all of us with Full Marks which is like an oily sort of liquid you put on your hair for ten minutes - I was still finding live ones at this point so left it on for a good half hour.

It is a pain in the arse particularly to wash out afterwards, but it seems to work.

Very very annoyed though as we rarely get them and a 'friend' has just moved round the corner, keeps sending her child to play and suddenly we are infested...you might think this unfair but when I mentioned we had to treat the children yesterday, she said casually 'Oh my kids always have nits'. Angry

Well bloody stop sending them here then.

Good luck - you will know if it is nits because you'll find them on the comb, it's quite interesting.

Lucyellensmum99 · 27/07/2012 08:44

probably exma - i gave up on trying to spell it properly. Although the base of the neck is a gathering point for lice, but to be honest if you had them for that amount of time you probably would have seen them by now they would be the size if tarantulas (joke)

CrikeyOHare · 27/07/2012 08:45

Is this really likely to be nits, given that it's been going on for so long. These fuckers breed very quickly and her whole head would be literally jumping by now, surely?????

Ask your DP to see whether there's any little white, pearly things stuck to your hair. Should be very easy to see if you have dark hair - may need to peer closely if you're blonde. Although, if you're blonde the lice will show up [hmmm].

I doubt it's nits, to be honest. But neither do I have a clue what else it could be. Helpful, aren't I? Grin.

QuickQuickSloe · 27/07/2012 08:49

I am scratching like a squirrel reading this!

Sorry OP, that wasn't very helpful was it?

If hydrocortisone has helped that suggests that it is skin related rather than critter related. Also your DP hasnt spotted anything when checking closely.

I'd go to the GP if I were you, I was prescribed sterid scalp lotion for psoriasis as a teenager and it was amazing stuff. Zapped the itching and didn't leave slime all over my hair.

Polytar shampoo is great for itchy scalps but a bit stinky and you can buy it over the counterif you are reluctant to see the Dr.