Scalp pain can be caused by various factors, including medical problems, hairstyles, infections, and neurological conditions. Diagnosis may involve a scalp examination, blood tests, and medical imaging. Treatment options include changing hairstyles, pain management medications, and complementary medical options.
Scalp pain can be associated with a number of causes, ranging from localized problems such as damage to the nerves that supply the scalp to more distant medical problems, such as thyroid disease. People experiencing persistent scalp pain may want to consider contacting a doctor for an evaluation to learn more about what is causing this symptom and explore possible treatment options. Sometimes there is no satisfactory explanation and pain cannot be accurately diagnosed or treated.
Medical problems in and around the skull are a common source of scalp pain. Scalp tumors, along with some types of brain tumors, blood vessel inflammation, contact dermatitis, and simple injuries such as head injuries can cause pain in this area. Some people experience pain because of their hairstyles; if the hair is pulled and held in the same position for long periods of time, it can cause irritation. Lice and other parasites can also cause scalp pain, as can infections such as cellulitis and fungal infections.
Some rheumatoid arthritis patients experience a complication known as Felty’s syndrome, and scalp pain can be a symptom. Fibromyalgia patients also commonly experience scalp pain, as do people with thyroid problems such as Grave’s disease. Neurological conditions in which nerves send pain signals when no actual pain is occurring can also lead to sensations of warmth, tingling, or shooting pain in the scalp. Also, headaches can be linked to symptoms such as pain around the scalp and forehead.
Sometimes known as trichodynia, scalp pain can be frustrating for patients. It can be accompanied by hair loss in some people. Options for diagnosing the cause may include a thorough examination of the scalp, blood tests to check for telltale signs of disease, and medical imaging of the skull. Patients should report any other symptoms they have, even if they don’t appear to be related to the scalp, as symptoms together can lead the doctor to a diagnosis of disease.
If an underlying cause can be determined, treating it should resolve the condition, as well as other symptoms. When no cause can be found, treatment options may include changing hair styles to relieve pressure on the scalp, pain management medications to block or reduce pain signals, scalp stimulation to promote blood flow and complementary medical options such as acupuncture to address pain. Patients experiencing pain with an unknown cause should make note of new symptoms, as these could eventually lead to a diagnosis.
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