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10 Causes Of Itchy Scalp And How To Relieve It

An itchy, irritated, flaky scalp is often at the top of the list when it comes to common scalp concerns. Anyone who has ever dealt with this condition knows that it’s often accompanied by flakes, dryness, pain and irritation that can be a challenge to treat because it’s difficult to pinpoint the cause of the incessant itchiness. Sometimes we think we’re treating one issue when we should be focusing on another method to cure our itchiness. It can be a frustrating cycle that can damage our hair and our self-esteem- especially when incessant itching comes with sores, bumps, scabs and hair loss. How can you tell if your itchy scalp is caused by an allergic reaction, the products that you’re using, the environment or dandruff? How can you be sure that you’re treating your scalp with the right methods to soothe an itchy, irritated scalp? 


We believe that a healthy scalp starts with powerful natural ingredients that are tailored to your specific scalp and hair care needs. We’ve formulated our Scalp Revival™ collection with the best ingredients for optimal relief from itchiness, redness, flakes and irritation- let’s learn how to calm and soothe your itchy scalp!

 

Getting to the root of scalp itch

 

When an itchy scalp shows up, it’s not always easy to pinpoint the exact reason. The condition can be extremely frustrating and with so many products and quick-fix remedies to alleviate itching, it can be tempting to reach for the first treatment available. A strong understanding of the main reasons why our scalps itch can help you choose the optimal ingredients and products that can treat and nourish your scalp. Let’s take a look at some of the most common causes of an itchy scalp: 


1. Dandruff: A type of dermatitis (seborrheic dermatitis) that is extremely common and develops from the overgrowth of yeast, seasonal changes, stress and hormonal imbalances. It appears in areas like our face and scalp where sebaceous glands become inflamed and produce: 
Flaking
White or yellow scales
Itchiness
Reddened skin

2. Seborrheic Dermatitis: A very common skin disease (that is similar to eczema) that produces redness and inflammation due to an overgrowth of sebum and fungus that leads to abnormal yeast. 

3. Atopic Dermatitis: Commonly known as eczema, this chronic skin condition is triggered by your immune system, and makes your skin red, cracked, dry and itchy. The inflammation from eczema can’t be cured but there are ways to treat the symptoms with the help of a dermatologist.

4. Scalp Psoriasis: A common skin condition that creates inflamed scaly and flaky, red patches. In some instances the patches can extend to the neck and forehead. 

5. Allergic Reaction: Check the ingredients on your scalp and hair care products - your itchy scalp may be due to an allergic reaction for everyday ingredients that you’re using in your daily routine. 

6. Hair Dyes: Dyes containing chemicals can cause an allergic contact dermatitis reaction. If your scalp tends to get itchy and dry after dyeing your hair, you may want to visit your doctor to get tested.

7. Hives: These small itchy, red bumps are the result of an allergic reaction. Typically they subside over time but when they return often it becomes a chronic condition that can be treated by a dermatologist.

8. Scalp Ringworm: An extremely itchy, uncomfortable and highly contagious skin condition (also known as tinea capitis) caused by a fungal bacterial infection that targets your scalp and hair shaft. If left untreated this infection can also lead to bald patches. 

9. Scabies: When tiny mites called the human itch mite burrow into the scalp skin and lay their eggs the result is painful, constant itching, sores, blisters and red rashes. Scabies can be spread through skin-to-skin contact, sharing personal items (towels, combs, brushes, hats) and tends to spread among families or people living in close quarters.

10. Lice: Commonly confused for dry scalp or dandruff, this infestation of tiny, parasitic insects can be found on your head, body and scalp. Lice is typically spread from close contact and usually more prevalent among school age children. When lice are present on the scalp it causes: 

Intense itching

Eggs (nits) and lice on the hair shaft

Sores on the scalp, neck and shoulders

Tickling sensations 

Identifying the source of your itching, irritation, flakes or other symptoms can significantly affect how quickly you can find relief for your scalp. Itchiness on your scalp isn’t a one-size-fits-all condition, which is why it’s so important to find the reason before you start to treat the issue with the right products and ingredients. 

 

How to relieve an itchy, dry scalp using our Scalp Revival™ collection

 

 

There’s good news when it comes to scalp itch: there’s a solution for just about any scalp concern you’re struggling with! Many scalp conditions that cause itchiness, flakiness, pain and irritation can be treated by visiting a dermatologist. A trip to the doctor can help you resolve the cause of your itchy scalp, however there are also naturally-powerful remedies available at your fingertips that you can use to soothe and find instant relief from an itchy scalp. Conditions like dandruff, atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, scalp psoriasis, and lice, respond very well to these natural ingredients


Binchotan charcoal: Absorbs impurities, decongests and detoxifies the scalp pores 
Peppermint oil and tea tree oil: Stimulates blood flow, treats dandruff, and provides a cooling effect to the scalp and reduces itchiness, irritation, and flakes
Witch hazel: Helps to balance oil production to prevent an overproduction of oil on the scalp
Biotin: Supports the hair shaft for overall hair health


We’ve harnessed the power of these naturally-derived ingredients to create our 6-Free™, Scalp Revival™ collection- a scalp-healthy lineup that’s clinically proven to provide relief to an itchy, irritated, flaky scalp. We’ve tapped into the benefits of natural ingredients that soothe, calm and treat your scalp without the use of harsh chemicals or additives that may harm your scalp health to support your healthy hair and scalp journey. 

 

Meet your scalp relief routine

If your itchy scalp is due to a skin condition that you can treat at home, we recommend starting a scalp-healthy routine that will deliver long-lasting health and comfort to your scalp. Here are a few pro tips to keep in mind to make the most of your exfoliation routine:


For optimal results choose a scalp exfoliator that harnesses the benefits of naturally-powerful, nutrient-rich ingredients like Binchotan charcoal, coconut oil, tea tree and peppermint oils that are sought after for their scalp-healthy benefits. We’ve packed our award-winning, Scalp Revival™ Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-exfoliating Shampoo with these ingredients to give you the best ingredients for your scalp care journey. 


Be sure to exfoliate your scalp gently- especially if you’re experiencing lots of pain and tenderness. Many scalp exfoliators use harsh abrasives like finely ground seeds and nuts to scrub away impurities, but those can often be too abrasive on our scalps. Look for scalp exfoliators like our award-winning, Scalp Revival™ Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-exfoliating Shampoo that harnesses the power of plantbased, eco-friendly, tiny granules or micro-exfoliators to gently scrub your scalp. 


Always choose an exfoliation method that is gentle on your scalp and use your fingertips (never your nails) or a scalp massaging tool like our Scalp Revival™ Stimulating Therapy Massager to boost circulation and promote cellular turnover on damp or wet hair, in short circular motions to prevent tangling. 
Now that you’ve got the essentials down, let’s dive into an exfoliation routine that will transform your scalp health: 

Step 1 
Wet your hair and apply Scalp Revival™ Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-exfoliating Shampoo to your scalp avoiding the mid-lengths and tips of your hair. 

Step 2 
Vigorously massage the shampoo with your fingertips or use our Scalp Revival™ Stimulating Therapy Massager for a soothing spa-like experience. 

Step 3 
Rinse your hair with cool water and follow up with your favorite Briogeo conditioner to target your specific hair care concerns. 

Pro tips:
Pop the jar in the fridge to prevent separation of our naturally-derived ingredients and for an instant cooling effect.


Give our  Scalp Revival™ Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-exfoliating Shampoo a stir to thoroughly mix ingredients before you apply it to your scalp. 
Use our Scalp Revival™ Charcoal + Tea Tree Cooling Hydration Scalp Mask whenever you need to refresh, detoxify and deep-condition your scalp.

If your scalp is feeling extremely itchy, dry, irritated or recovering from a painful skin condition, you’ll know it’s time to reach for a hydrating and nutrient-rich scalp mask. Here’s how to get started: 


Step 1: Using our Scalp Revival™ Charcoal + Tea Tree Cooling Hydration Scalp Mask, on damp hair, after you exfoliate with our Scalp Revival™ Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo


Step 2: Massage your scalp with your fingertips and let the mask work its magic (and enjoy the instant cooling sensation)! Pro tip: Use our Scalp Revival™ Stimulating Therapy Massager to massage your scalp for a spa-like experience that boosts circulation. 


Step 3: Allow the mask to sit for up to 10 minutes 


Step 4: Rinse thoroughly and follow up with your favorite Briogeo conditioner or nourishing hair mask


Step 5: Section your hair and add a few drops of our Scalp Revival™ Charcoal + Tea Tree Treatment  directly to your scalp. Massage the treatment gently into your scalp without rinsing. 


Pro tip: Apply the drops before bedtime as a pre-shampoo treatment when your scalp needs extra TLC. 


Incorporate multi-masking into your healthy hair regimen—after you cleanse your hair with your favorite Briogeo shampoo on “mask day,” get ready to reap the ultra calming and nourisning benefits of multi-masking;

 

SHOP CHARCOAL + TEA TREE COOLING HYDRATION SCALP MASK 


Step 1: Treat your scalp to our Scalp Revival™ Charcoal + Tea Tree Cooling Hydration Scalp Mask, which works to detoxify, soothe, and replenish vital hydration to the scalp with a cooling effect.


Step 2: While the scalp mask works its magic, choose a Briogeo hair mask that best targets what your hair is craving to treat your hair at the same time:


Thirsty hair: Give your hair a boost of moisture, nourishment, and shine with our protein-free Superfoods Avocado + Kiwi Mega Moisture Hair Mask. Packed with phytonutrients like avocado, kiwi, cocoa seed butter, and chia seeds, our award-winning hair mask is scientifically proven to boost moisture for softer, smoother and more manageable strands after two uses. 


Dry, damaged hair: If you’re struggling with breakage and/or damaged hair, our number one, best-selling Don’t Despair, Repair!™ Deep Conditioning Mask will strengthen your hair with the power of B5 vitamins and plant based proteins. Scientifically proven to decrease hair breakage after two uses, our Don’t Despair, Repair!™ Deep Conditioning Mask helps restore elasticity while maintaining the optimal balance of protein and moisture. 


Curly hair: Try our Curl Charisma™ Rice Amino + Avocado Hydrating + Defining Mask to enhance your natural curl pattern and hydrate your curls. Our newest protein-free hair mask is scientifically proven to boost curl moisture up to 3.5 times in waves, curls, and coils. This lightweight hair mask is infused with our signature Curl Complex™ of Avocado, Tomato Ferment, Rice Extract, and Amino acids, that seals and smoothes your hair cuticle to help lock in moisture and lock out frizz.  


Apply your hair mask of choice from mid-lengths to ends, distributing the treatment evenly throughout your strands using our wide tooth comb. Leave both your scalp and hair masks on for 10 minutes, then rinse. 


Pro tip: Add heat to any of our masks to help your hair and scalp absorb all the nourishing benefits of our masks. 


The itch stop here. Shop our entire Scalp Revival™ lineup and get everything you need to rejuvenate, hydrate and nourish your scalp. An itchy scalp doesn’t have to impede your hair health. We’ve designed a powerful collection that provides the complete comfort that your scalp craves. Ready to banish scalp itch for good? Bring home our Scalp Revival™ collection today and experience a calm, cool and confident scalp today!

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Scalp Revival™ Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo | Scalp Scrub
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Scalp Revival Stimulating Therapy Massager
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Scalp Revival Charcoal + Tea Tree Cooling Hydration Scalp Mask
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