It’s Not Lice, but I’m Still Itchy!
Your head has been itchy, you’ve checked yourself for head lice and your screening came back negative. What else could it be??
There are many other scalp conditions that may cause itching and can mimic the symptoms and some of the physical findings experienced with a head lice infestation. Below, we’ll get into what else could cause an itchy head!
Tinea Capitis
Tinea Capitis is a common fungal infection that causes irritation and inflammation of the scalp. It is more common in children than adults but may affect anyone.
Seborrheic Scalp Dermatitis
Seborrheic Scalp Dermatitis is a common scalp condition affecting infants, adolescents, and adults. It causes irritation and inflammation of the scalp. In infants, it is usually called “Cradle Cap”. This skin condition causes redness and scaly patches. Milder forms may result in stubborn dandruff. More severe cases cause thick, scaly areas and scalp irritation.
Atopic Dermatitis
Atopic Dermatitis is the most common type of eczema. It is most frequent in children but can occur at any age. It causes the skin to be red and itchy. Sometimes the itchiness can be severe.
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a chronic, autoimmune disease affecting skin cells. It can involve the scalp. Psoriasis causes redness, irritation, and thick scaly areas of the skin. It tends to go through cycles. It may flare up for weeks or months and then subside for a time before flaring up again.
Allergic Contact Dermatitis
Allergic Contact Dermatitis is the result of an allergy or sensitivity to something. It can cause redness, flaking, and itchiness. In more severe cases, it may cause blisters. The most common cause of allergic contact dermatitis on the scalp is a hair product.
As you can see, there are many different conditions, skin disorders, and infestations that can affect the scalp and may mimic some of the symptoms of a head lice infestation. We have only listed a few of the most common ones. There are many more.
Lice Clinics of America – Northwest is a member of the world’s largest network of lice clinics and all technicians have been trained and certified to operate our exclusive AirAllé device. This revolutionary FDA-cleared medical device kills head lice and over 99% of lice eggs using specially controlled heated air.
Lice Clinics of America has successfully treated more than 800,000 cases of head lice. The company has more than 265 clinics in 20 countries, making it the world’s largest network of professional lice treatment centers. Lice Clinics of America – Northwest has five locations – Bend, Portland, Clackamas, Salem, OR and Vancouver, WA. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, visit http://liceclinicsnorthwest.com, email info@liceclinicsnorthwests.com or call Portland (503) 404-0475, Clackamas (503) 714-7722, Vancouver (360) 334-6360, Salem (971) 273-5900 or Bend (541) 640-5335.
