Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsScalp TraumaDermatitisInfectionsPsoriasisSunburnFibromyalgiaHair AccessoriesHeadacheWhen to See a Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Scalp Trauma
Dermatitis
Infections
Psoriasis
Sunburn
Fibromyalgia
Hair Accessories
Headache
When to See a Provider
In addition to a sore scalp, some of these conditions can also lead to other symptoms, like an itchy scalp, hair loss, irritation, dry skin, and red bumps. Treatment may depend on the specific cause of your scalp pain.
Injury to the scalp is a common cause of scalp tenderness in one spot. It’s possible to have bumped or cut your scalp without realizing it. Scratching a particular area of the scalp could have also caused breaks in the skin.
This may have resulted in a bruise, damage to the skin, and/or scab—all of which may be tender to the touch.
Treatment
Minor bumps and cuts usually go away on their own within a few days. To support the healing process, avoid touching the area and keep it clean.
Reach out to a healthcare provider if you notice any signs of infection including:
Treatment depends on the type of dermatitis. In some cases, it may be as simple as avoiding contact with an irritant or allergen.
In other cases, such asseborrheic dermatitis, treatment may involve over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription shampoos that contain ingredients such as topical corticosteroids (like fluocinoline), selenium sulfide, or tea tree oil.
An infection of the hair follicles can lead to symptoms of pain, itching, and irritation.
Treatment depends on the type of scalp infections. It can include cephalexin, taken orally, or the topical antibiotic cream Bactroban, along with a mild cortisone cream to help relieve symptoms.
If parasites (like lice or ticks) are the cause, your healthcare provider may use dimeticones.Antifungals can come in both oral and topical formulas, such as fluconazole, if the cause is a fungal infection.
Scalp psoriasis can be treated with options that include:
Phototherapyuses ultraviolet light to slow the growth of skin cells, and also can be used to treat scalp psoriasis.
A sunburn can cause skin damage to the scalp, leading to pain and irritation. Other symptoms of a sunburn include:
If the burn is particularly severe, you may also experience weakness, confusion, faintness, dehydration, and shock.
You may want to avoid using certain shampoos or hair products that could cause further irritation. Products that contain benzocaine or similar ingredients ending in “caine,” such as topical pain relievers, should be avoided since they can cause irritation.
Can a Sunburn Cause Hair Loss?Sunburns on the scalp can be serious, but it is unlikely that they will lead to hair loss. If the skin does peel, you may lose some hair. However, once the area heals, those hairs will grow back.
Can a Sunburn Cause Hair Loss?
Sunburns on the scalp can be serious, but it is unlikely that they will lead to hair loss. If the skin does peel, you may lose some hair. However, once the area heals, those hairs will grow back.
Fibromyalgiais a pain disorder affecting the soft tissues. The exact cause is unknown, but contributing factors may include abnormal processing of pain messages within the central nervous system, chemical imbalances, and genetics.
Fibromyalgia causes chronic and widespread pain, including on the scalp, along with digestive issues and other symptoms.
Treatment is focused on improving symptoms and overall quality of life, including treatment of conditions that typically arise alongside fibromyalgia such as:
To help cope with the pain, a variety of medications can be used, such as:
Treatment may also include self-care, like stress management techniques or exercise.
Does Fibromyalgia Affect Your Hair?Fibromyalgia affects the whole body and can cause changes that can lead to hair loss. Typically, the hair loss isn’t permanent and is more prevalent during times when a person with fibromyalgia is under a significant amount of stress.
Does Fibromyalgia Affect Your Hair?
Fibromyalgia affects the whole body and can cause changes that can lead to hair loss. Typically, the hair loss isn’t permanent and is more prevalent during times when a person with fibromyalgia is under a significant amount of stress.
Scalp tenderness or discomfort can also result from wearing certain hair accessories or headgear for long periods of time. This includes headbands, hats, clips, and more.
Wearing tight hairdos, such as braids and high ponytails, can also cause scalp tenderness where the tension is most applied. Hair extensions may also lead to scalp discomfort for a variety of reasons (their weight or related chemical irritation among them) and are linked to headaches and hair loss.
If specific hair accessories are causing scalp pain, avoid using them or limit their use. Look for alternatives you can try. The same goes for uncomfortable hairdos that put increased tension on the scalp.
If hair extensions are the culprit, consider having them removed. There is no other way to relieve the pressure on the scalp than to take them out. It’s possible that trying a different type of hair extension could help, especially for people who experience scalp discomfort due to an allergic reaction.
These can cause localized pain on the scalp.Tension headachesare the most common types ofheadaches. They typically occur behind the eyes and in the neck area.
People who have tension headaches often describe the sensation as feeling like a tight band is wrapped around their heads. Pain that occurs during a tension headache can be a cause of scalp tenderness.
The first course oftreatment for tension headachesis usually OTC pain relievers such as Aleve (naproxen). Many people with this type of headache self-treat at home, but people with recurring tension headaches may need a prescription for the tricyclic antidepressantamitriptyline.
Home remedies to help treat a tension headache include:
When to See a Healthcare Provider
If you experience symptoms such as a severe headache or a rash that appears on other parts of your body as well as your scalp, you should see your healthcare provider.
What Healthcare Provider Specializes in Scalp Soreness?Adermatologistcan treat skin conditions that cause scalp sensitivity. For fibromyalgia, you may meet with arheumatologist. For tension headaches you may be referred to aneurologist.It depends on the cause, so check with your primary care physician about your symptoms first.
What Healthcare Provider Specializes in Scalp Soreness?
Adermatologistcan treat skin conditions that cause scalp sensitivity. For fibromyalgia, you may meet with arheumatologist. For tension headaches you may be referred to aneurologist.It depends on the cause, so check with your primary care physician about your symptoms first.
Summary
Skin conditions including dermatitis, infections, and psoriasis can affect the scalp and cause tenderness. Other diseases that affect the head or blood vessels in the area, such as tension headaches, can also lead to scalp tenderness.
Systemic conditions like fibromyalgia can cause scalp pain. Sometimes sunburns and hair accessories that are too tight or heavy can irritate the scalp as well.
Treatment to reduce scalp pain depends on the cause. Prevention can include taking good care of your scalp, like brushing your hair gently, changing shampoos if you suspect that your current one is irritating your skin, and ensuring that all hair products are completely rinsed from your hair.
18 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cedars Sinai.Head injury.Lugović-Mihić L, Barisić F, Bulat V, Buljan M, Situm M, Bradić L,et al.Differential diagnosis of the scalp hair folliculitis.Acta Clin Croat.Tamagawa-Mineoka R, Katoh N.Atopic Dermatitis: Identification and Management of Complicating Factors.Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Apr 11;21(8):2671. doi:10.3390/ijms21082671.Dall’Oglio F, Nasca MR, Gerbino C, Micali G.An Overview of the Diagnosis and Management of Seborrheic Dermatitis.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2022 Aug 6;15:1537-1548. doi:10.2147/CCID.S284671.American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Folliculitis.Feldmeier H.Treatment of parasitic skin diseases with dimeticones a new family of compounds with a purely physical mode of action.Trop Med Health.2014 Jun;42(2 Suppl):15-20. doi:10.2149/tmh.2014-S02Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treatment for ringworm.Rendon A, Schäkel K.Psoriasis Pathogenesis and Treatment.Int J Mol Sci.2019 Mar 23;20(6):1475. doi:10.3390/ijms20061475Wang TS, Tsai TF.Managing Scalp Psoriasis: An Evidence-Based Review.Am J Clin Dermatol.2017 Feb;18(1):17-43. doi:10.1007/s40257-016-0222-4Blakely K, Gooderham M.Management of scalp psoriasis: current perspectives.Psoriasis (Auckl).2016 Mar 29;6:33-40. doi:10.2147/PTT.S85330National Psoriasis Foundation.Scalp psoriasis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Sunburn.American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to treat sunburn.Kwiatek R.Treatment of fibromyalgia.Aust Prescr.2017 Oct;40(5):179-183. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2017.056Arthritis Foundation.Medications for treating fibromyalgia.Billero V, Miteva M.Traction alopecia: the root of the problem.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol.2018 Apr 6;11:149-159. doi:10.2147/CCID.S137296MedlinePlus.Tension headache.Bhoi SK, Jha M, Chowdhury D.Advances in the Understanding of Pathophysiology of TTH and its Management.Neurol India. 2021;S116-S123. doi:10.4103/0028-3886.315986
18 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cedars Sinai.Head injury.Lugović-Mihić L, Barisić F, Bulat V, Buljan M, Situm M, Bradić L,et al.Differential diagnosis of the scalp hair folliculitis.Acta Clin Croat.Tamagawa-Mineoka R, Katoh N.Atopic Dermatitis: Identification and Management of Complicating Factors.Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Apr 11;21(8):2671. doi:10.3390/ijms21082671.Dall’Oglio F, Nasca MR, Gerbino C, Micali G.An Overview of the Diagnosis and Management of Seborrheic Dermatitis.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2022 Aug 6;15:1537-1548. doi:10.2147/CCID.S284671.American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Folliculitis.Feldmeier H.Treatment of parasitic skin diseases with dimeticones a new family of compounds with a purely physical mode of action.Trop Med Health.2014 Jun;42(2 Suppl):15-20. doi:10.2149/tmh.2014-S02Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treatment for ringworm.Rendon A, Schäkel K.Psoriasis Pathogenesis and Treatment.Int J Mol Sci.2019 Mar 23;20(6):1475. doi:10.3390/ijms20061475Wang TS, Tsai TF.Managing Scalp Psoriasis: An Evidence-Based Review.Am J Clin Dermatol.2017 Feb;18(1):17-43. doi:10.1007/s40257-016-0222-4Blakely K, Gooderham M.Management of scalp psoriasis: current perspectives.Psoriasis (Auckl).2016 Mar 29;6:33-40. doi:10.2147/PTT.S85330National Psoriasis Foundation.Scalp psoriasis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Sunburn.American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to treat sunburn.Kwiatek R.Treatment of fibromyalgia.Aust Prescr.2017 Oct;40(5):179-183. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2017.056Arthritis Foundation.Medications for treating fibromyalgia.Billero V, Miteva M.Traction alopecia: the root of the problem.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol.2018 Apr 6;11:149-159. doi:10.2147/CCID.S137296MedlinePlus.Tension headache.Bhoi SK, Jha M, Chowdhury D.Advances in the Understanding of Pathophysiology of TTH and its Management.Neurol India. 2021;S116-S123. doi:10.4103/0028-3886.315986
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Cedars Sinai.Head injury.Lugović-Mihić L, Barisić F, Bulat V, Buljan M, Situm M, Bradić L,et al.Differential diagnosis of the scalp hair folliculitis.Acta Clin Croat.Tamagawa-Mineoka R, Katoh N.Atopic Dermatitis: Identification and Management of Complicating Factors.Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Apr 11;21(8):2671. doi:10.3390/ijms21082671.Dall’Oglio F, Nasca MR, Gerbino C, Micali G.An Overview of the Diagnosis and Management of Seborrheic Dermatitis.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2022 Aug 6;15:1537-1548. doi:10.2147/CCID.S284671.American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Folliculitis.Feldmeier H.Treatment of parasitic skin diseases with dimeticones a new family of compounds with a purely physical mode of action.Trop Med Health.2014 Jun;42(2 Suppl):15-20. doi:10.2149/tmh.2014-S02Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treatment for ringworm.Rendon A, Schäkel K.Psoriasis Pathogenesis and Treatment.Int J Mol Sci.2019 Mar 23;20(6):1475. doi:10.3390/ijms20061475Wang TS, Tsai TF.Managing Scalp Psoriasis: An Evidence-Based Review.Am J Clin Dermatol.2017 Feb;18(1):17-43. doi:10.1007/s40257-016-0222-4Blakely K, Gooderham M.Management of scalp psoriasis: current perspectives.Psoriasis (Auckl).2016 Mar 29;6:33-40. doi:10.2147/PTT.S85330National Psoriasis Foundation.Scalp psoriasis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Sunburn.American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to treat sunburn.Kwiatek R.Treatment of fibromyalgia.Aust Prescr.2017 Oct;40(5):179-183. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2017.056Arthritis Foundation.Medications for treating fibromyalgia.Billero V, Miteva M.Traction alopecia: the root of the problem.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol.2018 Apr 6;11:149-159. doi:10.2147/CCID.S137296MedlinePlus.Tension headache.Bhoi SK, Jha M, Chowdhury D.Advances in the Understanding of Pathophysiology of TTH and its Management.Neurol India. 2021;S116-S123. doi:10.4103/0028-3886.315986
Cedars Sinai.Head injury.
Lugović-Mihić L, Barisić F, Bulat V, Buljan M, Situm M, Bradić L,et al.Differential diagnosis of the scalp hair folliculitis.Acta Clin Croat.
Tamagawa-Mineoka R, Katoh N.Atopic Dermatitis: Identification and Management of Complicating Factors.Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Apr 11;21(8):2671. doi:10.3390/ijms21082671.
Dall’Oglio F, Nasca MR, Gerbino C, Micali G.An Overview of the Diagnosis and Management of Seborrheic Dermatitis.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2022 Aug 6;15:1537-1548. doi:10.2147/CCID.S284671.
American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Folliculitis.
Feldmeier H.Treatment of parasitic skin diseases with dimeticones a new family of compounds with a purely physical mode of action.Trop Med Health.2014 Jun;42(2 Suppl):15-20. doi:10.2149/tmh.2014-S02
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treatment for ringworm.
Rendon A, Schäkel K.Psoriasis Pathogenesis and Treatment.Int J Mol Sci.2019 Mar 23;20(6):1475. doi:10.3390/ijms20061475
Wang TS, Tsai TF.Managing Scalp Psoriasis: An Evidence-Based Review.Am J Clin Dermatol.2017 Feb;18(1):17-43. doi:10.1007/s40257-016-0222-4
Blakely K, Gooderham M.Management of scalp psoriasis: current perspectives.Psoriasis (Auckl).2016 Mar 29;6:33-40. doi:10.2147/PTT.S85330
National Psoriasis Foundation.Scalp psoriasis.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Sunburn.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to treat sunburn.
Kwiatek R.Treatment of fibromyalgia.Aust Prescr.2017 Oct;40(5):179-183. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2017.056
Arthritis Foundation.Medications for treating fibromyalgia.
Billero V, Miteva M.Traction alopecia: the root of the problem.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol.2018 Apr 6;11:149-159. doi:10.2147/CCID.S137296
MedlinePlus.Tension headache.
Bhoi SK, Jha M, Chowdhury D.Advances in the Understanding of Pathophysiology of TTH and its Management.Neurol India. 2021;S116-S123. doi:10.4103/0028-3886.315986
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
