The scalp sheds dead skin cells as a natural process. This process can sometimes cause noticeable flakes on the hair and itchy symptoms. The problem can also occur from weather changes, allergies or dry skin, and certain skin conditions can cause itching, soreness, scaling and flaking as a reaction. A health care provider can assist in diagnosing and treating individual causes of itchy flaky scalps.
Dandruff
Dandruff forms from an accumulation of dead skin cells that shed off the scalp. This is a natural process that permits new growth, but in dandruff, larger scales of shedding occur at an increased rate. Typically, dandruff occurs with dry and oily skin, not shampooing enough or as a symptom of a skin condition. The Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center reports that the condition likely also occurs from fungus in the hair follicles that cause skin cells to reproduce rapidly. Symptoms of dandruff include white flakes, oily patches and an itchy, scaling scalp. The skin condition tends to increase in adolescence and improve during the summer months.
Contact Dermatitis
An itchy and flaking scalp can develop from the body's reaction to irritants or allergens. Contact dermatitis occurs from delayed hypersensitive responses to allergens or as a direct response to irritants. Strength of irritants, frequency of exposure and the skin's susceptibility to a reaction can factor into contact dermatitis. Typically, when contact dermatitis affects the scalp, it occurs from shampoos, hairstyling products or from a hair dye allergy. Some substances can also cause a photo-contact response in which dermatitis results when substances are exposed to sunlight, notes MayoClinic.com. Symptoms of contact dermatitis include dry, red patches, itching, flaking, tenderness and blisters in severe cases. Treatment usually consists of identifying irritating substances and avoiding them.
Seborrheic Dermatitis
Seborrheic dermatitis is a common skin problem that mainly affects the scalp. Cradle cap refers to seborrheic dermatitis that affects the scalp of infants. It manifests as itchiness, skin flakes, patchy scaling, thick crusts and sometimes redness of the scalp or other oily parts of the skin. The exact cause of the skin condition is unknown, but experts believe irritations from yeast called malessizia and overproduction of skin oils are likely contributors, according to MedlinePlus. Irritation, skin disorders, changes in season, stress and many skin care products can worsen the problem. The condition is not harmful or contagious, but it can be uncomfortable. Treatment usually depends on where seborrheic dermatitis appears on the body and the severity of symptoms.
