Inflammation of the skin on top of your head may produce scalp itch. Seborrheic dermatitis, dandruff, psoriasis and other diseases are potential causeperpetrators of an itchy scalp. Biotin, which plays a key role in hair conditions, may alleviate the itchy sensations resulting from some scalp conditions, but most reports are anecdotal.
Biotin
Your intestines produce biotin, a water-soluble vitamin and member of the B-complex family. Biotin plays an important role in fatty acid and glucose synthesis and amino acid metabolism. Deficiency of biotin may cause hair loss and skin rashes, explains the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon University. About 50 percent of pregnant women have a marginal biotin deficiency, says D.M. Mock, lead author of a February 2002 study published in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition." Fish, eggs, milk, whole grains, nuts, brewers yeast and organ meats are nutritional sources of biotin.
Scalp Itch
While some people take biotin supplements or apply topical head treatments to alleviate scalp itch, there are no peer-reviewed studies proving that biotin deficiency causes scalp itch. Treating scalp itch with topical or ingested biotin may not produce the desired results. In most cases, scalp itch results from bacteria and yeast infections in the hair follicles. The infection leads to itch/scratch cycles, and the condition worsens. Head lice and contact dermatitis may also cause scalp itch, but biotin is not a treatment for these conditions.
Cradle Cap
Cradle cap is a type of scalp itch specific to infants. Researchers at the Department of Pediatrics, UCLA Center for the Health Sciences, found that breast milk, in comparison to cow's milk, is biotin deficient. Infant diarrhea may exacerbate the baby's biotin deficiency. Lead author Aaron Nisenson reports that biotin injections given to nursing mothers improved cradle cap conditions in their infants, but this is the only study linking biotin deficiency to scalp itch. The Linus Pauling Institutes recommends that nursing mothers get 35 mcg of biotin each day.
Topical Biotin Treatments
The makers of certain biotin shampoos, conditioners and over-the-counter salves claim that their products alleviate scalp itch conditions and promote hair growth. These products, however, often have other common itch-relieving ingredients, such as aloe, zinc, eucalyptus oil, mint oil, tee tree oil and salicylic acid, making it difficult to determine whether biotin was the heroic ingredient.
