Health

Help me cure my itchy scalp!

I suffer from a flaky, itchy scalp. It seems to get worse in winter and disappear in summer. How can I stop it coming back this winter?
Adam Bell, by email

Dr Rob Hicks, GP replies:
Cold weather can be responsible for the skin becoming dry and consequently itchy and flaky. This is either as a direct result of cold weather on the skin or because in winter the effect of being indoors with windows closed and heating on dries out the skin, making flaking more likely. In wintertime, people’s lifestyles tend to be less healthy than in the summer, and this will also affect the skin.

In the summer most of us feel better in ourselves and more able to manage stress than in winter and stress makes flaking and itching worse, which is why people often find that their flaking scalp gets better while they are on holiday. An Indian head and neck massage might be the ideal solution to relieve your stress and help your scalp.

If the flaking is severe and the scalp is red and inflamed, you may have a condition called seborrhoeic eczema or seborrhoeic dermatitis. Another cause of a dry and itchy scalp is psoriasis. Both these conditions can get worse in cold weather and need specific treatment from your doctor.

It’s now believed that fungal infection often causes flaking so try an anti-fungal shampoo instead of your usual shampoo a few times each week. These are available from the pharmacist. Tea-tree oil also has anti-fungal properties and is available in shampoo or as a scalp application.