Why am I getting painful bumps on my scalp?

stina84 · April 2011

This is new to me? Could it be from stopping full throttle cg? I shampoo now with gentle sulphate shampoos and I believe they all have amodimethicone in it. Any
thought? Thanks ladies! Xoxox

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ththd · April 2011

Are they like in-grown hair bumps or pimples? It could be a reaction to a product not necessarily the sulfates but another ingredient in the shampoo. Do you have them on your neck or forehead also?

ththd · April 2011

I forgot to add that I think your hair looks awesome in your avitar!

wavynwild16 · April 2011

I get the same thing when I've been using a product for a while that doesn't jive with my scalp. It almost feels like pimples, except they are just red and sore and super itchy. You're probably having a reaction with something in your products, whether it be the sudden concentration of detergent, or a specific ingredient in a new product. It really helped me to do a scrub with tea tree oil, sugar, and oil every week or so. It stopped the itchies and helped my scalp a LOT! Hopefully IAgirl will respond to this thread soon, because she is like the ultimate itchy curly mentor/expert (she helped me find out that I was sensitive to fragrance)!

IAgirl · May 2011

You might be reacting to a product... is this a new one for you? Are there any products which have never caused you any trouble? Silicones are pariahs here, but in truth, they tend to be very non-reactive for sensitive skin.

If you have yet to find relief and can't recall any products which were not associated with itch or bumps, then it may not be the products by themselves.
You might have seborrheic dermatitis which is a skin inflammatory disorder (kind of like ezcema). The irritated skin tends to get an overgrowth of yeast, which is itchy and causes bumps also. Also tends to make the scalp look kind of pink.
The best treatment for this (I just read a medical journal article because DH broke down and went to the dermatologist for a prescription treatment because the OTC stuff wasn't working) is a combination of 2% (Rx) ketoconazole shampoo, used 3 days in a row, plus a topical steroid (like cortisone) to control the inflammation.

You might try hydrocortisone cream (OTC, 1%) on some of the bumps to see if it helps.

As for products, an irritated scalp becomes very sensitive to things that would not bother it otherwise. DH cannot use most of his dandruff shampoos right now because his skin got too red, itchy, and bumpy and they began making things worse. He has to use my California Baby or else his Rx shampoo.

He also uses Dove soap. On his hair. This would be an awful idea to use soap because it leaves soap scum on your scalp which helps trap the skin and yeasts. Dove rinses off better than most "soaps," but I'm still putting the kibosh on that because I am the one who has to apply the topical stuff etc. etc. Oh just wait until you're married (if you're not already).

People with skin problems like this tend to need to shampoo (gentle shampoos are perfect) to exfoliate: remove dead skin and yeasts and sebum. It's really important for keeping the scalp healthy. If the itch and bumps get out of control, the hair tends to fall out (I've seen it in people and dogs).

PM me if you'd like help looking at product ingredients or anything else, or post them here.

stina84 · May 2011

Thanks girls! Im really not sure what it is! Because my scalp doesn't itch at all, and my face and neck etc don't have these bumps. It is concentrated to my scalp. They just hurt. They seem to be getting a bit better, not as many. It must have been from switching shampoos or what not...but my hair looks A-MAZING!!! so hopefully my scalp gets used to it! Haha! Ill post apic a little later! Xoxox

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IAgirl · May 2011

Oooooh, PICTURES! Can't wait!
I get flat-ish bumps (always in the same spots) on my temple/eyebrow area which hurt, but don't itch. Sometimes the skin gets kind of stiff and flakes off.
A tiny dab of 1% hydrocortisone cream or ointment (from the grocery store) makes it go away after 2 or 3 days. I prefer ointment because it has about 2 or 3 ingredients = less chance for itchy chemicals.
If you can get to those bumps with some hydrocortisone, try it. It's cheap and easy and requires very little commitment. The ointment or cream doesn't get in your hair if you're careful and use a tiny bit.

stina84 · May 2011

Here's my pride and joy hair finally coming back to easy managable hair...and me 50lbs lighter and 1 week away from being a Mrs!!!! Yay

Sorry its sideways!

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stina84 · May 2011

Sent from my DROID2 using CurlTalk App

plunkybug · May 2011

Not seeing the picture...

Why am I getting painful bumps on my scalp?

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