Portions of this document last updated: Feb. 01, 2023, Original article: https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/minoxidil-topical-route/side-effects/DRG-20068750. Scalp pain when youre repositioning hair can take the form of: Some people describe it as the feeling of having your hair combed or brushed aggressively, like a scraping or pulling feeling. poor diet, especially one lacking in protein and iron, infections of the skin cells or hair follicle shafts, viral diseases that cause skin sores such as, regular or improper use of hair products such as dyes and relaxers, massaging the scalp with fingertips in circular motions, slowly letting down hair that has been held in a tight position for a long period, hair-damaging chemicals, dyes, or devices. Braiding relaxed hair causes hair loss because relaxed hair is fragile. As a little girl everybody in Sophias family knew she would grow up to do hair because her dolls always had creative hair styles, and she always wanted to style family members hair when they came to visit. Mayo Clinic; 2022. According to Johns Hopkins University, this pain can appear as hot, intense, electric-like shocks. I know I can't possibly be the only one this happens to. Learn more about some of the most common causes of hair breakage and what you can do about them. When combing your hair a week before the scheduled date for hair relaxing, use a soft toothed comb. Speak to your doctor if youre feeling pain on your scalp that isnt going away. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine. Pizzorono JE, et al., eds. If you prefer to color your hair instead of relaxing it, you would be a candidate to transition. (Usually ten minutes). Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Apply the amount prescribed to the area of the scalp being treated, beginning in the center of the area. Step 4. For the same reason, do not apply minoxidil to other parts of your body. MNT is the registered trade mark of Healthline Media. There are many possible causes of a painful scalp when the hair moves. Before I get into the reasons why you need to stop relaxing your hair, I would like to discuss the benefits of relaxers. "Avoid scratching, rough combing, and brushing and do not shampoo or wet the hair for 72 hours prior to service, "A burning or tingly sensation can be normal in some cases," says Abra McField, CEO and Founder of Abra Kadabra Hair & Healing. More often than not, hairdressers attend to other issues while they wait for your hair to cook well. Keep your hair and scalp healthy by following the hair hygiene tips recommended by the. However, there are ways to ensure this does not happen. Husband and her dating history, Top 17 really scary phone numbers that work and you should never call, Was Fleece Johnson released from jail? In case you get burns after you apply relaxer, you have to ensure that your hairdresser does not spray any product with alcohol on your scalp as this will worsen the burn. Are there any side effects of Hair relaxing? Dinulos JGH. How to Market Your Business with Webinars? Hair loss will begin again within a few months after minoxidil treatment is stopped. The same advice applies to over-the-counter dandruff treatments. Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy linked below. include protected health information. Headaches involving these nerves are far more common, however. The scalp becomes so sensitive for some people that even a light touch can be painful. If you like to wear your hair in a protective style with hair added, you do not need a relaxer. 6 How to get rid of a chemical Relaxer burn? I understand that relaxers make it easier for many to take care of their own hair but you must consider your hair texture and skin type. information highlighted below and resubmit the form. It usually affects oily areas of the body, such as the face, sides of the nose, eyebrows, ears, eyelids and chest. Scalp pain has several different causes, but it usually flares up when you're tired and stressedand the number one culprit is not washing your hair. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Then, as soon as i sit in that chair, it goes away. It is important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure that this medicine is working properly and to check for unwanted effects. This product is available in the following dosage forms: In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. When the scalp is inflamed for long, it leads to permanent hair loss. Does it make a difference if you use a no lye or sensitive scalp relaxer? Since moving your hair triggers the pain, its only natural that many people assume your hair is whats feeling the pain, too. This happens to me too. If this article helped you please share it. It encompasses the science of the structure, function and diseases, The Consultation Hair or scalp problems could be an indication of an internal abnormality in the body. (n.d.). Luckily, there are preventive measures that you can take to ensure your scalp is protected from the adverse effects of chemical burn from relaxer. This irritation or inflammation can have several different causes, including: Your options for treating scalp pain are highly dependent on the cause. Although there are natural hair textures that require more time to take care of, many textures can be relaxer free and manageable. Scalp burn is one side effect of applying chemical hair relaxer. Finasteride is another treatment approved the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The National Institute of Health (NIH) claim that most forms of alopecia are generally not dangerous to the health or a sign of nerve damage. You need to be consistent with your hair care routine, and make sure you trim your transitioning or natural hair every two to three months. This type of hair loss can take place from years of relaxing your hair. Instead, s/he should use the back of the comb. Shorter also stresses that there are many potential causes of breakage, that may not be directly related to your relaxer. It could be the strength of the relaxer that was too strong for your skin. Sometimes an itchy scalp can be a red flag signaling other, more serious medical conditions. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. Many clients who stop relaxing their hair who have flaky scalp, notice less itching and dryness once they stop using relaxers. Part the hair into one or more rows to expose the hair thinning area on the scalp. If your scalp appears to be flaking or peeling, try gently brushing your scalp when its dry with a soft-bristled brush. Seborrheic (seb-o-REE-ik) dermatitis is a common skin condition that mainly affects your scalp. Home first aid ointments, creams, antiseptics, and dressing materials are often enough to treat basic cases. Hello Ladies! At a certain point in her career, Sophia realized that she had to have a thorough understanding of the hair and scalp because a majority of women complained of hair thinning, and hair loss. One of the reasons relaxers burn is because it is placed on the scalp during the application process. The same thing happened to me when I was a permed head. Elsevier; 2021. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Especially painful, severe, or prolonged cases of scalp sensitivity should also be reported to a doctor. This diversified young lady has a Bachelors degree in Business Administration, and a minor in Computer Applications. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. When I was relaxed, this used to happen to me as well. 2013;5(1):26-28. doi:10.4103/0974-7753.114710, Brazilian Knot Extensions Give Hair Natural-Looking Length and Volume, How to Remove Hair Extensions Without Damaging Your Natural Hair, How to Remove Tape-In Hair Extensions at Home, Can Hair Extensions Cause Hair Loss? Blowing with a hairdryer on the scalp may make the treatment less effective. In others, the scalp goes numb. This irritation or inflammation can have several different causes, including: scalp psoriasis. Avoid using sticky, adhesive-based hair products that contain alcohol, as they can strip your hair of moisture. Over-brushing your wet hair frequently can cause hair loss and trigger scalp tenderness within a short period. Now that you understand how relaxers help with hair maintenance, let me discuss when it is no longer safe for you to relax your hair. Scalp pain that occurs when you move your hair can be a symptom of other health conditions, such as: Scalp pain starts with irritation or inflammation of the skin on your head. This condition can be irritating but it's not contagious, and it doesn't cause permanent hair loss. Always take breaks in between protective styles to make sure you prevent hair loss. There are many potential causes of thinning hair that may not be related to your relaxer, Alexander explains. This includes the right pH and strength of the relaxer. This footer is unique to XenBase. Lack of Detangling Pulling through the hair while you are relaxing can cause irritation because the hair is being tugged from the scalp leaving your scalp more sensitive and prone to burns. Before s/he can start working on you, tell the hairdresser, the type of client you are - whether sensitive or not. Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Do not shampoo your hair for 4 hours after applying minoxidil. It is a guide to help you determine if you should be relaxing your hair based on the clues from your scalp. Some relaxer kits contain a small amount of base (usually something like petroleum jelly), but if you dont have one, using Vaseline is fine. You can click here to read more about the Affirm Texture Release. An antibacterial cleanser or antibiotic is sometimes needed to clear up the infection. ChildrenUse and dose must be determined by the doctor. the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Medical causes. Though many people embrace their natural hair, some still love the look andease of straight hairthat stays that way. Treating pimples on your scalp can be different from acne on your face or body. All rights reserved. This is to allow your scalp enough rest before applying the relaxer. Studies have shown that it can slow hair loss in 80 percent of cases of hereditary male balding or thinning caused by certain conditions. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully. I asked my moms and she didnt know either. Dang, I got that same problem but add on the headache/soreness. To some, these effects occur pretty quick, especially to those people with a sensitive scalp, while to others, it might take longer. "Scalp irritation is a glaring sign that a relaxer may be damaging to your hair and scalp," Shorter says. 3 Apply Treatment. Finasteride in the treatment of men with androgenetic alopecia [Abstract]. (2012). This irritation you feel is caused by inflammation. However, studies have shown that the medicine works best in younger patients who have a short history of hair loss. See pictures of scalp folliculitis and learn about its other symptoms. hairdresser patch test, described above. It could cause a nasty reaction - severe allergic contact dermatitis - when a larger amount of hair colourant is applied on your scalp. If you scratch this itch and get a relaxer, it will contribute to burning during the relaxer application. Hypertension (high blood pressure)Topical minoxidil has not been studied in patients who have these conditions, but more serious problems may develop for these patients if they use more medicine than is recommended over a large area and too much minoxidil is absorbed into the body. But some. Chemicals need to be avoided when there are other underlying problems with your scalp. If you should choose the two chemicals. McGraw Hill; 2016. https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com. I never ever get burns or irritations because of this simple tip! Lichen planus can also cause the scalp to flake or scale. Avoid heat styling if you relax your hair. But if you constantly find short hairs lying around right after styling, there's a good chance it's just breakage. Your hair is porous and able to receive moisture from conditioners easily. I think that it worse when the hair strands themselves are thicker as well. If you have one of these patterns of hair loss on your scalp pictured below, you should stop relaxing your hair immediately. Some of the causes are temporary and dont need any treatment, but many of them do. Start at the back of your head and work your way to the front. Micellar shampoo can help clarify your hair without stripping it of moisture. When your scalp's dead skin cells shed at a super-fast rate, you get itchy flakes. This will also help them prescribe the correct treatment. Scalp pain are highly dependent on the cause to read more about some the. Pimples on your scalp flake or scale the application process sticky, hair... 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