Sore scalp?

[Nevb1973]

I notice my scalp in the back of my hair at the top, the crown I guess you would call it is very often sore. It seems to happen if I wear my hair up or down. Sometimes if I have higher ponytail it's worse. But I notice it most days. It will go away if I massage my scalp. Any idea what this is from or what it means? My hair isn't that thick or heavy. I feel like it is half as thick as when I was younger. My ponytail is 2 1/2 inches. The last two years I had major sheds that really thinned my hair out so I can't imagine it's the weight of my hair. In just worried it's all going to fall out of something crazy like that.

[Fairina]

How often is that area touched? Do you lay down or wear hats often? Do you notice if that hair grows in a different direction than the rest? Do you have any scalp issues like dandruff? Have you used a mirror or camera to try to look at it? If so, what do you see?

[Nevb1973]

How often is that area touched? Do you lay down or wear hats often? Do you notice if that hair grows in a different direction than the rest? Do you have any scalp issues like dandruff? Have you used a mirror or camera to try to look at it? If so, what do you see?

No nothing different I can see that's why I don't understand why.

[arr]

Did you by any chance start taking high doses of biotin? Biotin caused my scalp to become extremely sore and tender and it didnt go away until i stopped taking it.

[Fairina]

No nothing different I can see that's why I don't understand why.

I've had instances where I brushed my hair and actually ripped through the skin. I didn't even notice until a week later. Check your brushes for sharp bristles. If you drink you possibly bumped your head without noticing! Even being slightly tipsy can make me not feel much pain. Do you tease the hair there? And does that area feel hot to the touch? Can you describe the pain? Sharp/stabbing/throbbing/dull sorry for the interrogation I'm just trying to get a better idea of what you're experiencing to find answers!

[lapushka]

I notice my scalp in the back of my hair at the top, the crown I guess you would call it is very often sore. It seems to happen if I wear my hair up or down. Sometimes if I have higher ponytail it's worse. But I notice it most days. It will go away if I massage my scalp. Any idea what this is from or what it means? My hair isn't that thick or heavy. I feel like it is half as thick as when I was younger. My ponytail is 2 1/2 inches. The last two years I had major sheds that really thinned my hair out so I can't imagine it's the weight of my hair. In just worried it's all going to fall out of something crazy like that.

If it happens when it's down as well (and to the same degree), then it's got to be something else... but what. It's not that abnormal for hair to "hurt" a bit when worn up. It's all about the follicles going against the grain. I had that often when I was a child, but then by wearing it up so much my hair got "trained" and quite used to it.

[Anje]

Do you notice any connection to your wash schedule? Some people get sore scalps if they go too long without a wash.

I notice that my scalp will get sore if I put my hair in a funny position. I can do buns to about my crown, but if I put one on top of my head, the follicles will start to complain. Then they complain more when I take it down and generally continue to whine about my hair's position until I've washed it, which somehow seems to reset things. I get the same thing with other updos that change the direction of my hair, like crown braids. Now supposedly, I could train my follicles to deal with these things better by very gradually increasing the time with my hair in a weird position (generally going "up" in my case) every day. But frankly I don't like those styles enough to wear them constantly, so I haven't bothered.

It might be worth getting someone to look at it, make sure it doesn't look irritated. If it does, maybe some medical eyeballs should see it. Also, if your hair has thinned a lot it might be worth a medical workup anyway. Hairloss can be connected with loads of things, but thyroid and iron levels are two of the first culprits to check.

[CremeTron]

I get this too and took a photo of the top of my head the other day as it was so unbearable. It all looked fine but I realised that my hair was protesting being parted on the opposite side.

My part goes quite far back so my crown hair was going against the grain as it were. Have you been combing your hair back a lot? Or differently?

Also like Anje mentioned, could their be medical issues? Dermatitis? Also some conditioners and oils do not play nice with our scalps and I thin the top can be the most sensitive.

[Mainesongbird]

I had this, this week but I thought it was because I had been wearing it up too much and sometimes I have reactions with the paint or the metal on the pins.

[Rushli]

I get follicle pain from time to time. I have not really figured out the trigger. i thought stretching washes was the issue but sometimes it stays through a wash day. I found the using an application bottle to put diluted caffeine directly onto my scalp and massaging gets rid of it. I dissolve a 200mg tablet in 8oz of water and use about 1/8 of it. Unless it happens when I also feel a migraine coming on or it is my weekly caffeine application then a use a bit more. I try to make sure It does not add up to too much.

[meteor]

Do you notice any connection to your wash schedule? Some people get sore scalps if they go too long without a wash.

I notice that my scalp will get sore if I put my hair in a funny position. I can do buns to about my crown, but if I put one on top of my head, the follicles will start to complain. Then they complain more when I take it down and generally continue to whine about my hair's position until I've washed it, which somehow seems to reset things. I get the same thing with other updos that change the direction of my hair, like crown braids. Now supposedly, I could train my follicles to deal with these things better by very gradually increasing the time with my hair in a weird position (generally going "up" in my case) every day. But frankly I don't like those styles enough to wear them constantly, so I haven't bothered.

It might be worth getting someone to look at it, make sure it doesn't look irritated. If it does, maybe some medical eyeballs should see it. Also, if your hair has thinned a lot it might be worth a medical workup anyway. Hairloss can be connected with loads of things, but thyroid and iron levels are two of the first culprits to check.

^ I agree with all of this. :agree:

Sometimes, I just get a sore, sensitive scalp randomly, and then taking updo down and massaging scalp thoroughly really helps.
But my immediate thought was:
- either a new updo (follicles need to get used to being pulled in new direction) or
- sebum on scalp (maybe because sebum is waxy and can feel uncomfortable sometimes)...

[Nevb1973]

I don't take biotin or any other vitamins. I don't use a bristle brush only a wide tooth comb. I run a comb through it once and I'm careful to be gentle and then leave it alone for the day. I don't tease my hair or even blow dry or use other heat for over a month. I wash once a week. I sleep with my hair down I can't stand to have a bun or braid when sleeping. It's not really painful just a slight soreness which is just strange. Like your arms would be a little sore from exercise that's the closest way I can describe it.I only really notice it when I touch my head. My scalp looks fine nothing different,I guess my head is an odd duck.

[lapushka]

Maybe you just have a tender head. It actually exists.

[sophiamermaid]

Since henna-ing my hair last week (YAAAAAAAAAY, HENNA) for the first time in aeons I've had something similar: transient pain at the crown. In the past it's only happened when shafts are going a new-ish direction. It goes away with a thorough brushing for me, and my hair's not getting thinner that I can tell! If I pull gently up, like take fists of hair at the crown and very carefully squeeze and rock them, it feels AMAZING and the pain's completely gone afterwards! Is your scalp asking for more brushing/massage? Have you tried massaging/extended brushing (or combing -- you don't brush, right?) for, say 14 days and observed if it stops?

[Annalouise]

Do you notice any connection to your wash schedule? Some people get sore scalps if they go too long without a wash.

....

BINGO!!!

If I don't wash my hair daily my scalp on the crown hurts.
It's a mystery to me. It doesn't matter if I wear my hair up or down.
For some bizarre reason the oil accumulation on my scalp bothers my hair follicles.
It makes them sore and THEN, my hair starts falling out.

I'm not kidding. The only solution for me is DAILY SCALP washes!!

[Annalouise]

I don't take biotin or any other vitamins. I don't use a bristle brush only a wide tooth comb. I run a comb through it once and I'm careful to be gentle and then leave it alone for the day. I don't tease my hair or even blow dry or use other heat for over a month. I wash once a week. I sleep with my hair down I can't stand to have a bun or braid when sleeping. It's not really painful just a slight soreness which is just strange. Like your arms would be a little sore from exercise that's the closest way I can describe it.I only really notice it when I touch my head. My scalp looks fine nothing different,I guess my head is an odd duck.

Bingo!!
I'm the same way. If I braid my hair for more than say 2 hours I get a sore scalp. And I HATE HATE HATE sleeping with my hair constrained in any way.
I think it was EDG a long time ago said he slept with his hair loose going down the back of the bed (I don't know if he still does?) but this is the only way I like to sleep.

I think you should wash your hair more than 1x a week. That's just because it will reduce the sore scalp in MY experience. (not true for all just true for me).

[Carolyn]

What Anje said. I get sore spots on my scalp if I've skipped washing for a couple of days. I'm fine with washing every other day but sometimes I'll get to day 3 or even 4 and I'll get a very sore tender spot in the same place the OP does. Scalp massage doesn't help. The only thing that makes it go away is a shampooing. I have no idea why this happens but it doesn't really matter why. I know what to do when it happens.

[Roshini]

I have this issue too..on top of my crown. Just sore scalp. I experience it when I gently touch my scalp, while combing or moving the hair shaft. I have asked my DH, Sister to have a look at it. They all say its pretty normal with mild dandruff. I was so concerned with this soreness and visited a specialist, they just dismiss it as dandruff and put me. On ketaconzole or salicylic acid shampoo. But the soreness just wouldn't go.
I have not straightened my hair in my life, no colour or any manipulation. I wear it in a loose ponytail every day. I just wear it high again loose while sleeping. Can this cause this soreness.
To the op, I know how it feels and yes I have also lost so much hair that I am at 50% of my childhood hair. It isjust some kind of folliclepain. I have done blood work - heamoglobin, thyroid profile, ferratin, and some more...all of it is pretty normal. Never been able to figure out.

I am 11m pp and never had it during pregnancy and it started again at 8m pp along with the hair fall. I am not sure whether my hormones are playing crazy. I have given for some blood work again to recheck.

[wrinkledamanda]

I definitely find that since my hair has gotten longer, I need to wash it more often otherwise my scalp hurts, too.

[lapushka]

Yeah, I have to admit, by day 6/7 my scalp, where my bun usually sits gets a little sore too. But by then it's wash day and a wash usually clears that right up!

[Nevb1973]

Little update. The last two weeks I switched to Pantene shampoo and conditioner and my scalp was not sore. I was using Suave Professionals for quite awhile, so I guess I needed to switch it up. When it's starts again I guess it must mean it's time to switch. Plus the Pantene makes my hair feel really soft and silky.

[elvenelk]

What causes a sore scalp? Sometimes it starts hurting for no reason.