What should you know about greasy and itchy scalp?

Oil can make loose flakes cling to the scalp and hair. Dandruff commonly causes visible flakes with itch, while seborrheic dermatitis may add redness, soreness, or greasy scale around the hairline, eyebrows, ears, or nose. Scratching can irritate follicles and create small tender bumps. Lice are more suggestive when itching is persistent and you notice nits attached firmly near the roots. Thick, sharply defined scale may fit scalp psoriasis. These clues overlap, so the appearance of the scalp matters more than oiliness alone.

Wash the scalp regularly with lukewarm water and a gentle cleanser, concentrating shampoo on the scalp rather than the hair lengths. Avoid picking flakes, vigorous scratching, heavy oils, and newly introduced fragranced products. A pharmacist or clinician can help you choose a medicated shampoo and explain how long to leave it on before rinsing. If lice are suspected, avoid sharing combs, hats, or pillows and seek advice about appropriate treatment. Keep a note of triggers, products, and whether the itch improves after washing.

Arrange a dermatology review if symptoms persist despite careful scalp care, keep returning, or interfere with sleep. Seek prompt care for pus, spreading redness, marked swelling, fever, painful crusts, or areas of broken skin. Hair loss in patches, thick plaques, or a child with scaling and broken hairs also deserves assessment because treatment depends on the cause.

Could this be dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, folliculitis, or lice? Which shampoo or scalp medicine suits my symptoms? Should I stop any hair products, and what signs mean I should return sooner?