Head itching

[racerCP]

Does anyone out there notice head itching?  I don't have dandruff but head itches.  Odd?

[laglag]

YES!   I just mentioned that to my husband a couple of weeks ago.   I wonder if it has anything to do with PD or meds or ?

[racerCP in reply to laglag]

I have read that PD people have a propensity for dandruff but never heard itchy scalp.

[Beckey]

It drives me INSANE. I couldn't figure it out because my scalp certainly looks healthy. It's especially bad at night. Is there a PD tie? It's been a real mystery to me.

[park_bear in reply to Beckey]

Hmm, all this is very interesting. I never attributed mine to PD.  *But*, we know that PD dries out the GI tract from one end to the other.  So perhaps it dries out the skin, or affects skin chemistry in some other adverse way... a way that invites fungal colonization.

I say this because mine started out as an itchy scalp - dry, no odor, no obvious dandruff - and ended up months later as a severe dry asthma.  On the way to my lungs it caused sinus and larynx symptoms. The cure for me was itraconazole, 100 mg 2x/day. I tried all manner of anti-fungal preparations and this was the only thing that was both effective and well-tolerated in my case.  Of course I was most interested in breathing.  It takes a long time, months, to penetrate to the outer layers of the skin to remedy an itchy scalp.  For someone who has suffered this type of fungal asthma standard of care is keep taking it and don't stop. Has been over a year, happy with it - no adverse effects.

[racerCP in reply to park_bear]

What I have read is that people with Parkinsons tend to have oily skin with tendencies towards dandruff and a greatly increased incidents of melanoma.   I never heard any sequel events such as you describe.  I am very happy to hear they have all resolved and you are well  again.

[Beckey in reply to park_bear]

Wow. Who's right? Speaking just for myself, I'm as dry as a bone, which is a relatively new thing. I'm surprised to hear PD has been linked to oily skin, oily scalp or anything on that order.

[park_bear in reply to Beckey]

Yea, now that I think about it, before PD I had an oily scalp and felt obliged to wash my furs daily.  I still do, usually, out of habit, but the times I have skipped can't say I have noticed any difference lately.

[Jeansm in reply to Beckey]

I'm also dried out like a prune. Before diagnosis my GP noticed dry skin at my finger tips. 18 months later (on Sinemet) it's so much worse, peeling at the finger tips and cracking at joints and sides of fingers. I don't know if it's the disease or the meds (or aging). I can't find any cream that really helps. I'm currently trying foot cream because it seems to be stronger than handcream but think I'm fighting a losing battle. And yes, itchy head also drives me nuts. I've also upped my water consumption but since I suffer from urgency it's a tricky balance.

[PatrickW in reply to Beckey]

Night is when it gets me too. I don't have dandruff. My whole body starts to itch at night so now I'm just trying to use moisturizers instead of itching. Seems as if taking a cold shower works too. When I'm done my shower I turn it cold and and stay in another 30 seconds or so and it helps a little 

[Beckey in reply to PatrickW]

What a shocking remedy!

[Peter49]

Yes. My scalp started itching as soon as I started ldopa tabs. It lasted about a month then went away. My neurologist said he hadn't heard of itchy scalp as a reaction to PD melds.

[Martink58]

it's stress!

[Sheila32]

or an allergic reaction....

[cabbagecottage]

Do try using head and shoulders , the go told us to try it . I thought it would be too strong for sensitive skin but it certainly works for John . Let it run over ears eyebrows et . Beards in men .   

My husband would often just  ask me If  I would wash his face for him . He cannot use his hands v well .. 

[racerCP]

Cabbagecottage 

Even if he has difficulty with a task,see if he can accomplish it with enough time and patience.  So important to not give up.

[12stargate]

racerCP  My scalp itches about once a day.The dermatologist mention I use head and shoulder.

I never did.I guess my symptom are not bad enough.

What I do when my scalp itches, is to give myself a good and rough scalp massage.

That helps me.

Peace, Eva G.

[racerCP in reply to 12stargate]

Me too

[ronn]

Yes,  I have an itchy scalp and also have dandruff' like flakes on my scalp.  They are not actually dandruff, according to my doctor but partially the result of poor circulation of blood to the scalp area, ( PD?) and to much exposure to sunlight.  I also have  some Actinic Kerotoses, which resemble dandruff, the result of too much sun on the head.  These have now become basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas and require frequent treatment and removal.  

[JohnPepper]

Hi Racer. Yes it has been with me for over 20 years. I spoke about it in my book but nobody has ever come back to me to say tey also have it. Yu are the first one.

John

[racerCP in reply to JohnPepper]

Interesting because among the non-movement conditions with PD are dandruff, oily skin and a greater propensity to melanoma.  I do not have dandruff but the itchy scalp might be related.

[BUZZ1397]

got it also. Told it is due to not enough exposure to sun and fresh air, a common thing among elderly disabled. Really doubt it is from PD. Useful to rub scalp to stimulate and cleanse with astringent such as Sea Breeze before shower and shampoo and when outside do try and not wear a head cover all the time.

[racerCP in reply to BUZZ1397]

I don't consider myself "elderly" and I walk about five miles a day outside besides walking for shopping and chores.  It is related to PD or meds which I started about two months ago, low dose and one a day. I have had about fifteen responses on this post with similar experiences.

[laglag]

My itching started about 2-4 months ago.   It doesn't happen every day but is annoying when it does.  Could it be from not hydrating properly?  I'm guilty of that quite often but I've never figured out a way to make myself drink enough water. 

[Sane1]

Yes. Frequently. Even my husband commented on how I was always scratching my head. Don't know about the sun connection...just getting over winter here., but will try to correlate. No dandruff.

[racerCP]

As I have said before I get plenty of sun.  I might consider wearing a hat.

[racerCP]

Pretty sure it's PD and//or meds which I started two or three months ago, very limited, 1 a day 5mg selegilin and 1 a day 2mg neupro patch.

[PatrickW]

me too!

[PatrickW]

same here!

[PatrickW]

It's not just my head it's my whole body but it started with my head

[racerCP in reply to PatrickW]

it is PD but could be meds as well.  Today I will skip meds and see.  Dandruff shampoo for us both.

[glenandgerry]

My husband has an itchy scalp but no dandruff. Funnily enough his head seems to leave an oily mark upon the headboard; so his scalp seems to be both oily and dry at the same time! We've tried all sorts of different shampoos but baby shampoo seems to be the best at alleviating the problem.

[racerCP in reply to glenandgerry]

I'll try it.

[lark13]

Me too. I mentioned this to my other Neuro, who's treating me for low blood pressure. He finally told me it was a side effect of Midodrine, which I take in fairly large daily doses for the orthostatic hypotension.

[racerCP]

My dermatologist tells me that it is a common thing for people with Parkinson's and other brain/neurological conditions.

[SiouxS]

Yes I have a itchy scalp that drives me insane. I'm on sifrol at the moment