DOES WEARING HAT CAUSE ITCHY SCALP?

Your head might itch when you wear a hat, but could it be a sign of dandruff?

Why does my head itch when I wear a hat?

Does wearing a hat cause dandruff?

How to prevent cap itch?

What can you do to stop the itching?

Wearing a hat can be quite helpful, as it protects you from germs, dust, pollutants and excessive sunlight. Harmful UV rays can cause sunburn on your scalp and excessively dry it out.

But this same hat can create a warm moist environment on the covered portion of your head, which is ideal breeding ground for microbes. This is especially true in hot, humid climates. It can eventually lead to conditions like dandruff and inflammation.

The hat increases the temperature on your head and leads to sweating. As the sweat evaporates, it leaves behind the salts which can clog up your pores. This, along with oil, dirt and pollutants, can build up on your scalp and cause inflammation. It can lead to breakouts that eventually cause itching.

Sometimes your cap itch could be because of the fabrics. Certain fabrics might not suit your skin and can lead to a reaction. Even the cleaning detergent that is used to wash the hat can be the reason your head itches when wearing hats. And if you don’t wash your hats, which most people don’t, it can transfer dirt, oils, germs, and other harmful objects onto your hair.

Dandruff is caused by a naturally occurring fungus known as Malassezia Globosa which feeds on any excess oil found on your scalp. It breaks down the oil into fatty acids that you might be sensitive towards, almost half the people in the world are. This can cause your body to break out into severe scalp itching, redness and white-yellow flakes of dead skin cells.

If you already have these issues on your head, wearing a hat can aggravate the dandruff. The combination of sweat, dirt, dust creates an environment which allows microbes to thrive in. And if the head is not clean, it can cause a build-up of oil, which is direct fodder for the dandruff causing fungus. This is made worse if you wear a hat on wet hair.

Ironically when people wash their head too often to keep it clean, they end up stripping away the natural oils from the head. This triggers the body into producing even more oil to protect the hair and scalp, causing more chances of dandruff growth.

There are a few things you can do to prevent this itching.

For hat or head coverings:

• Wash your hats regularly.
• Wear loose fitting head coverings or loose hats. You can also wear a scarf below the hat.
• Change your detergent.

For hair and scalp care:

• Keep your scalp cool and avoid hot showers.
• Reduce the use of heavy chemical products.
• Keep your hair and scalp clean.
• Use a dry shampoo once in a while.
• Use conditioners along with your shampoo to keep the hair open.

If your head has already started itching, you should first identify the cause of the problem. Is it dandruff or inflammation? If the itching is extremely severe and you see other symptoms, you might want to visit a dermatologist to make sure it’s not something more serious like Psoriasis.

If it’s dandruff or even inflammation, you can possibly try the following home remedies:

• Aloe Vera
• Tea Tree oil
• Lemon juice
• Apple Cider Vinegar
• Neem

These might help you calm down the itching, but it all depends on how your body reacts. You’re better off looking at tried and tested products that have a proven track record. Like the Head and Shoulders Neem, which can keep your scalp clean and give you up to 100% dandruff free hair. Or try the Head and Shoulders Smooth and Silky, which will not only take care of the dandruff but also repair your damaged hair strands. Use the right products so that you can wear your hats without any worry of developing an itch.