For many people, the scalp has little to now impact on their day to day life. For others, it is far more complex. The scalp is a complex layer of skin. It is just that – skin, but it also is home to your hair follicles producing thicker hair than on other parts of the body. It is not uncommon, then, for people to experience some level of discomfort and even pain related to the scalp. For some individuals, this is a chronic condition while for others it comes and goes. What causes scalp pain, including a tight feeling or tenderness? It’s worth exploring a bit further.

What Symptoms Do You Have?

A good place to start is with the types of symptoms you have. Scalp pain symptoms range widely. The most common symptoms include a prickling sensation. Sometimes the scalp can feel as though it is burning. And others feel a tingling sensation. For others tightness and downright pain are present. It’s important to classify the type of pain you have since that can ultimately be a key signal in what is causing the underlying problem.

You Could Have a Skin Disorder

A number of skin disorders impact the scalp. Most of these stem from underlying inflammation of the skin. Some people suffer from these disorders long term and even lifelong. For others, they come from exposure to toxins or allergens. The most common types of skin disorders that can impact the scalp include the following:

  • Pollution
  • Poison ivy
  • Allergens related to laundry detergents or hair products
  • Some types of metals
  • Certain soaps
  • Cosmetics
  • Water

In these instances, the best treatment is to remove the allergen or other inflaming product from exposure. It’s important to consider what this may mean for your skin. Individuals who have pain that seems to come and go may need to track down the types of exposures they have related to symptoms.

Infections Can Cause Tightness and Pain

There are a number of infections that can cause pain, tightness, and tingling of the scalp. The most common include furunculous, folliculitis, and carbunculosis. These inflame the hair follicles themselves. Infections range in severity but they can be very painful in some cases. In most cases, the skin feels warm to the touch, indicating the presence of an infection. In some cases, the inflammation from the infection can spread down the neck and into the armpit.
In addition to this, fungal infections can impact the scalp. For those who have pain and redness, this can be a type of fungal infection. The most common fungal infections to impact the scalp include tinea capitis and tinea versicolor. Both of these conditions require treatment from your doctor. It is possible to bring these types of infections under control with the right type of medication and ongoing care to the hair follicles and the scalp as a whole. Talk to your doctor about this condition and to get a formal diagnosis of the condition.

Headaches and Temporal Arteritis

There are additional conditions that can impact the scalp. For example, tension headaches can cause scalp pain. This may be brought on by depression or stress. Anxiety can trigger them as well. The most common symptom here is the feeling of tightness, especially a muscle tensing feeling.

Temporal arteritis is a condition in which the blood vessel that runs along the side of the head becomes inflamed and painful to touch. This can cause scalp pain along with headaches and jaw pain.

What else could be behind the pain you feel? Many factors can cause scalp pain and discomfort. This includes damage to the skin from sunburns. Extreme temperature changes, including very hot or very cold conditions, can impact the condition of the scalp leading to a tingling pain. Even the wind can cause changes in the scalp. A lack of moisture and dehydration can do the same thing. Read this article to learn about the importance of scalp treatments.

What can you do if you are struggling with this type of condition? First speak with your doctor or dermatologist. Allow them to conduct an examination to provide you with better insight into what is occurring and what treatment is available. Once the condition is diagnosed you will be on the road to treatment and feeling better. If your scalp feels tight due to dryness or dehydration of the scalp, meet with a hair professional and discuss treatment options. Contact our team for more information.