Persistent Scalp Itching: Hi everyone, I... - My MSAA Community

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Persistent Scalp Itching

Ikeeptrying profile image
48 Replies

Hi everyone, I've had MS since 1998, so far still mobile. This may sound silly but I find that my most aggravating symptom right now is persistent itching especially on my scalp. I've tried everything. Doctor recently took a biopsy but don't have results yet. this drives me mad. Don't know what to do. Do any of you also suffer from this? If so I would be very interested in how you're treating it. Thank you for your thoughts.

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Ikeeptrying
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48 Replies
Juleigh21 profile image
Juleigh21

That was my very first MS symptom. After several months of misery, allergy testing, and several other antihistamines, I started on Atarax- hydroxine. Worked great. Still use it when this issue reoccurs. Good luck Ikeeptrying !

Ikeeptrying profile image
Ikeeptrying in reply to Juleigh21

I use atarax too but maybe not in a high enough dosage. It does help a little except for the scalp.

Juleigh21 profile image
Juleigh21 in reply to Ikeeptrying

I was given a type of foam to use on my scalp. I unfortunately don't remember what it was. 😕

Ikeeptrying profile image
Ikeeptrying in reply to Juleigh21

Well. I can ask my PCP about it.

Maybe she'll know.

jackiesj profile image
jackiesj

Maybe its a change in seasons, winter dryer etc, did you change shampoos, or hair stuff...I had some itching but I made a rinse of baking soda after using my regular routine.I left the baking soda rinse on for evening lightly rinsing it.Got the idea for doing from baking soda on bee sting itching......, just a thought.I am more chemically sensitive because of MS and older...

Ikeeptrying profile image
Ikeeptrying

No change in seasons but I like your idea of the baking soda rinse. I'll try that next. I'm older and sensitive too. So tired of this itching though. Thanks for your idea. This is such a good site.

SometimesCrazy profile image
SometimesCrazy in reply to Ikeeptrying

I believe there is always a change in seasons with our internal clock because we get less sunlight.

Amore55 profile image
Amore55

I have the same problem. I just started using a product called Sugar Shine, it is a rub of granules that you scrub into your scalp before shampooing. There is a shampoo and conditioner with it called the Sugar Shine System. I just got it at a salon. The lady there said to never, ever use head and shoulders. So far I really like it and it seems to be helping a lot. I have very short hair so it is easy to rub into my scalp and rinse. Good luck! Love, Kelly

erash profile image
erash

Ikeeptrying

I have this and/or my nose itch and sometimes its relentless. It's a form of neuropathy, can be treated with neuropathic meds like gabapentin, Lyrica, amyltriptiline but for me, it's not often enough to want the side effects of those meds

Qt314grl profile image
Qt314grl

Are you on a beta blocker? Certain ones of those, like metoprolol, cause creepy crawly scalp for me.

I have used tea tree oil products as well for itchy dandruff scalp.

Ikeeptrying profile image
Ikeeptrying in reply to Qt314grl

No. I'm not on a Beta blocker. Do like the tea tree products.

Iona60 profile image
Iona60

I had a small patch that itched on my scalp for a year. I tried all Rx shampoo and the tea tree oil, and even had a benign biopsy. I finally convinced my neuro that it started right after one of my meds (which also causes dry mouth) had been increased. When I reduced the dosage back, it went away.

Ikeeptrying profile image
Ikeeptrying in reply to Iona60

I got a biopsy on my scalp and am still waiting for the results. Hoping it will show something that can be treated. Not expecting it to be malignant.

SueAB profile image
SueAB

Ikeeptrying , I, too, have itchy scalp and have found that T Gel does the trick. It is a shampoo available OTC that is brown and I believe it is coal tar based. You can even buy it at the 99 cent store for 99 cents. It works for me and I would give it a shot, if I were you.

Ikeeptrying profile image
Ikeeptrying in reply to SueAB

I've tried it, no luck yet.

cheilke profile image
cheilke

I recently had a bout of intense itching (for about 2 months) on my entire torso, crotch, neck and scalp. The only part that didn't drive me completely crazy was the scalp because I could really scratch that. My back was the worst because I couldn't reach it. Of course crotch scratching was limited to non-public places. It happened concurrent to beginning to take Ampyra but that may just be coincidence as I had my only other incident of itching 30 years ago.

Ikeeptrying profile image
Ikeeptrying

Sounds horrible!

Bygonelines profile image
Bygonelines

I have had the same thing. I made a lotion of shea butter, coconut oil, almond oil and peppermint essential oil to use on my body. For my head I add 3 drops of peppermint essential oil to my shampoo each time I wash my hair. Took about 2 weeks but then thehead itching went 97% away. By the end of week 3 my head didn't itch anymore. The lotion and adding the peppermint essential oil to my shampoo has worked wonders!

SometimesCrazy profile image
SometimesCrazy

I have this too. Thank you for bringing this up so I can see all the responses. I have longer hair so it can be a pain to do the (hair) do. With all the dry shampoos, and getting stressed about getting in and out of my soaker tub, I found I wasn't washing my hair as much as I used to. But I did find Epson salt which seems to be good for a lot of things. I put it in my shower/bath and I believe it helps remove that first layer of skin that is already starting to slough off. When I wash my hair with Epsom water it helps a lot. It makes skin super soft without the water being slippery. That's a win/win. It's wicked cheap too.

Kath55 profile image
Kath55

I like these other ideas. I use Apple cider vinegar as a rinse when my scalp itches. Seems to work .

agapepilgrim profile image
agapepilgrim

Ikeeptrying o had that a few years ago. So bad it looked like cradle fro! Doctor prescribed a steroid shampoo. After about a month or so it went away. Still extremely dry but I use almond oil or coconut oil sometimes and it stops the cradle cap from coming back. It was horrible. Maybe your doc will prescribe the steroid shampoo. I also wash once a month with baking soda added to my all natural shampoo with no sterates in them or alcohol.

Ikeeptrying profile image
Ikeeptrying in reply to agapepilgrim

Doctor hadn't mentioned steroid shampoo. Still took a month-Wow, This is stubborn stuff! I'll mention it to my PCP. Sounds like this is a last resort. Thank you for replying. If you don't mind my asking, what is your all natural shampoo?

agapepilgrim profile image
agapepilgrim in reply to Ikeeptrying

Ikeeptrying

agapepilgrim profile image
agapepilgrim in reply to agapepilgrim

Ikeeptrying It is "Nature'sGATE." I found it in the 'burts bee procudta. ITS not completely free of chemicals, but its godd ingredidngs outweign the chemcals.

Miriade profile image
Miriade

Hi,Ihave this felling also.what Ido to neutralize since our immune system does not work well, is using natural shampoo with eucalyptus and tea tree oil and sulphate free. And dry the hair in medium temperature, not let dry naturally because can cause fragile to scalp. Besides that I order some oil from India with Rosemary and henna that helps to get better nutrition to the scalp. And on top of all that I found a special hair dryer with UV or infra red light together that helps to heal the scalp and reduce loosing hair and less frizzing hair too. My hair is growing now silk and almost not itching. If Ifell something I get the oil and spread with a brush to protect the scalp and hair. It has been working well for me. And Ido not repeat towel after shower, get another clean to reduce any contamination from air and mold,etc. And wash my comb and hair brush regularly.

Ikeeptrying profile image
Ikeeptrying in reply to Miriade

Where do you buy the natural shampoo and tea tree oil? And oil from india with rosemary and henna? I think this is going to be a long term problem and I'll have to change the way I wash my hair. I hope you don't mind my questions. I guess I could go online to find this but would love to know where you find your products. Thank you for all the suggestions. Much appreciated by me and probably many others who have posted here.

Miriade profile image
Miriade in reply to Ikeeptrying

Hi, I was thinking to send to you another message with the information, you got faster than me. My conclusion about general itching is not the only neurologic predisposition Our skin became much dryer with age and for us much more dry than others due to neuroinflammation. Our entire skin has more microbes( including scalp) than anything else. The reason Tea tree oil works and apple vinegar and baking soda are all the same factor: fungus and bacterias in our skin that need to be under control. Do not use steroids.

I buy my shampoo with is higher quality than any fancy shampoo in general market at Trade'sJoe: I use a combination of Tea Tree body wash(first ingredient), with peppermint and eucalyptus. They sell specific tea tree oil shampoo, but I make rotation in my shampoo products. Together with the very good Teatree oil body wash I use Argan oil shampoo.

The other oils I use to treat my itch that works immediately are Rosemary&Henna, the best ingredients to heal scalp and fortified hair, being antibacterial and antifungus also. I buy from brand Khadi Natural-Ayurvedic Hair Oil, so good smell also. I order from Amazon.

About my hair drier, I looked the box and its Far-infrared Ceramic Heating, Ionic,etc. Brand Xtava. - xtava.com. I did not paid high price either because I ordered from Amazon.

Amazon gets lower price after 10pm and all night long the price change going down, just search and close and go back again that your product will be shown lower price. For all of us Owl its wonderful time to save money.

One more product you can order that made my hair very fluff and no itch: Sulphor shampoo, as the same its antibacterial and antifungus and clean and shy very well your hair.

Ikeeptrying profile image
Ikeeptrying in reply to Miriade

Well, I just ordered a load of this stuff from Amazon. I'll have to refer back to your reply to see how to use it all. Thank you so mush for taking the time to provide all this information. Looking forward to a clean, dandruff free head of hair.

Miriade profile image
Miriade in reply to Ikeeptrying

You will be clean of all with products made from the Earth, they are the ones that really fix our body also made from the Earth, what a coincidence, not from us the Humanoids. Our body accepts better what is not artificial, like the parabens and others the humanoids added for us to use. They forgot to announce to the physical body that it won't work properly because it's not made for the body.kkkkk

Your hair will grow but take time for you full view, 3 months are the cycle of the hair. One time when I went to cut my hair I was full of new hair "sprouts" all over, the hairdresser mentioned to me.

Miriade profile image
Miriade in reply to Ikeeptrying

Hi, did you received already what you ordered? What you did you found at Amazon?Reply to me if you vot some of them

I receive all my products very fast because I changed my delivery adress to UPS Store and I did not know that doing that speed up all my already fast delivery, some from far away comes in one week instead 2months.

Ikeeptrying profile image
Ikeeptrying in reply to Miriade

I have not received any thing yet. Frustrating. Next time I'll change my delivery to UPS store. Did not know this either.

Miriade profile image
Miriade in reply to Ikeeptrying

I receive products from China, Thailand, Japan in less than one week. I order eye drops from Japan better than what is sold in here from the same brand Rotho, with vitamins and minerals for the eyes, etc

Since I have the address(a few months ago)at UPS Store mail ,they started to give to me the priority in my delivery without I ask or knowing about. I love it.

Ikeeptrying profile image
Ikeeptrying in reply to Miriade

How do you do this miriade? Or is it myriad, haha jk.

Miriade profile image
Miriade in reply to Ikeeptrying

Hi, about my name in English is myriad, but in Portuguese is Miriade, that I use as an abbreviation of my full name and I registered as the domain, not complete because someone took my name partially. MiriamD Exel...

About what I do is related to delivery? Everything I have ordered the last few months is coming in 2 days, or one day and the products from far away are coming now by air mail instead whatever another way. I went to UPS Store because I receive Aubagio by FedEx delivery and I do not want to get hot in from of the house I live in Florida, cost a lot, even if I have PAP for me. Then I went to UPS Store because USPS does not accept FedEx or UPS delivery, and signed for a mailbox for one year. it cost more than USPS but I do not want medications to get destroyed under high temperature and some of my orders like probiotics come in ice gel, as example. Then my orders from Amazon started to changed and coming faster than I expected, including order from India, China, Thailand, Australia, Israel, London, and all the other countries I have been shopping. I guess does not miss any, only USA,kkkk, more expensive. What I figure out is night time open the market on the other side of the globe and I have access to the products that do not show during the day in here I guess. Plus I do not have money to spend on regular shopping in here and I pay like the almost original price overseas, not the $$$$$ USA. And at UPS and Amazon together they send track all the time and coming now in 2 days even now during holidays.I see in the label written priority.

SometimesCrazy profile image
SometimesCrazy in reply to Miriade

I want to like this three times please!

TonyiaR7 profile image
TonyiaR7

I️ have the same problem on the nape of my neck and some times my neck. Need to try the tea green oil or the apple vinegar. Thanks for the post and suggestions. My friend who doesn’t have MS has the same problem told me to use the apple vinegar; maybe old age or the shampoo is causing it. My sweating in the summer time makes it worse.

Thank you

Miriade profile image
Miriade in reply to TonyiaR7

Hi TonyaRobison7, I treat myself against fungus and recently my mother who had chronic lesions all over her upper legs and butt where the doctors only prescribed to her Gentamicin with cortisone. (She lives in Brasil) . Never heals of course. When she came here for a quick visit the first think I did is going to pharmacy and bought Tea Tree Oil(Melaleuca is the correct name), and Coconut oil and found a travel container where she need to mix both oils to apply on her skin

Its like 1/3 or less of tea tree oil and complete with coconut oil. In less than one week her full lesions were cured, already getting better immediately with application of the combination oils. Tea tree oil is very strong and cannot be used alone, has to be diluted. Coconut oil is also antiseptic and helps skin heal you need to look for where you get more contamination, ,change your hair brush to be washable and comb

And do not repeat towel that you dry your hair that is a source of fungus also and change your pillow cover frequently, and add a little baking soda in every laundry load to kill all kind of bugs special fungus. .

Ikeeptrying profile image
Ikeeptrying in reply to Miriade

Thanks! I'm going to try this. Been using Tea tree

shampoo which is very strong and a very strong steroid but hasn't healed the lesions yet.

Miriade profile image
Miriade in reply to Ikeeptrying

Hi, I don't know what you mean saying strong, it is burning you? or the smell? or it is a concentrated shampoo with too many other ingredients? Try to use together with some other natural shampoo or dilute with filter water. The lesions if you have as I had also taken little more than one week, as long the itching is getting better. I had one in my neck that took a little while to disappear completely but was done. Remember about the rotation of shampoo, with the sulphur shampoo that gets all fungus and bacterias with no resistance also, plus some other come from pets at home. The sulphur shampoo I order from Amazon also it does not sell in any pharmacy. I did all from research online in medical and integrative medicine.

Ikeeptrying profile image
Ikeeptrying in reply to Miriade

I used the brown tea gel, not tea tree oil, sorry for the confusion. Anyway, doctor said to shampoo with T-gel and put the steroid on the lesions, Hurt so bad. Kept waiting for it to go away and it didn't. Finally ended up shampooing again with Selsun Blue to stop the itching and burning which worked. This happened 2 nights in a row.

You have been so helpful. Appreciate all your information and the time you take to tell us about it. Thank you.

Miriade profile image
Miriade in reply to Ikeeptrying

Selsun blue is also for fungus and mites, works okay, I have tried all of these products before, all possible in the market here. But if you bought a brown gel tea tree oil you got a lot of other ingredients not only tea tree oil. Its very good to use Selsun Blue, but have to keep using anyway, but you could make in a little container 1/3 of tea tree oil and complete with coconut oil and spread all over scalp with the good brush of fine comb. then you wash your hair next day for a dont look so oil. it works well., and nothing hurts. It is hurting you have open skin from scratching. Try to do massage with your fingers and do not use strong artificial shelve shampoo, keep Selsun and T-gel with has medication for fungus also. Coconut oil heal skin. with a little tea tree oil, it won't burn. I had worse skin than everybody before if I show my face pictures and my scalp, and neck was terrible just 3 years ago. I was a monster full of inflammation and pimples and rosacea, etc. this is why I started to do research online because products from dermatologists were not working and some of them not covered by insurance. I did also laser, did not worked because fungus comes back. I did 5 sessions of the laser in one clinic and almost a year later I went to another dermatologist Center to use another laser treatment, that I had to repeat because was not effective as expected. Only when I decided to use products efficient for centuries than I got results. I follow regular Medicine obviously but I added some help to my body too.

mrsmike9 profile image
mrsmike9

I have had bouts of itching. Thank God it wasn't constant because it would drive me crazy! I woke up the other night with my foot itchy. Even though I didn't want to get out of bed (I was cozy) I did because the only thing I have found to get rid of it is ICE. I have to freeze it away. Good luck!

SWEETCAT profile image
SWEETCAT

Oh my I have the worst ever case of the itches. All over and rash or bumps too. In the bend of arm face and neck. But whole body forsure has the feeling like something is biting me or it did and it itches.I have long hair and I try to remember to put it up at bed time. Lo e this site I was not thinking my itching could be from MS.. Meds I think cause it to but along with just having it.UGH... I will be trying some of these ideals.

Thank U Again

Miriade profile image
Miriade in reply to SWEETCAT

Hi,Sweetcat, Try to use sulfur soap 5% order at Amazon. It will clean your skin and also try to use a little baking soda on you during the shower to scrub your skin. it will be so soft, amazing, I do in my face and take all black spots. Our skin gets much more dry than other people and with medication for auto immune disease our skin gets tinner. This is what I understand of more susceptibility to itch and less resistance to fight natural bugs on our skin layer.

Kenu profile image
Kenu

I went to Dermatologist and he prescribed “Ketoconazole 2 percent “ Shampoo to use every other day. He advised getting older and the medication I am on it will be an ongoing condition. Great another problem to deal with 🤷🏼‍♂️🤪🙏

Miriade profile image
Miriade in reply to Kenu

Hi Kenu, Ketoconazole is specific for fungus as I am doing with natural products that get wide range of action above what ketoconazole gets from fungus variety. Sulphor soap is wonderful, you can order online sulphor 5% soap to use entire body or even 10%. Suggest 5%. I use 10% locally in lotion for specific points of redness and itch, works great. All from Amazon. Some of the soap comes from Germany and others from Enzymatic Therapy and so on. Over the skin I ordered

Mite.B.Gone 10% sulfur. It has many components to calm the skin and fro dry skin, etc, works even in my nose. and some pimpes that show up, and points of itching goes away.

Kenu profile image
Kenu in reply to Miriade

Thanks for the info and I will give it a try 👍🙏❤️

Ikeeptrying profile image
Ikeeptrying in reply to Kenu

Isn't that wonderful...Know how you feel.

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