It's not just the young: I am a 50 year old woman who also is addicted to scratching my head for dandruff; I've been doing it since I was a child. I thought it was quirky and strange and am so relieved to know that others do it too. It is perhaps a distraction, an obsession, I don' t know what psychological term to assign to it. I actually get disappointed when I don't have dandruff, like loosing a friend. Very strange!
Loading...
I've had this same dandruff-scratching obsession since I was a kid. I did it so much that by the time I was 12 there was a rumor going around that I had lice... but that's ancient history. The thing is the fact that I had dandruff was never the issue. Until pregnancy dried out my skin and hair, the condition of my scalp was fairly normal (hopefully it will return to its original condition in a few months... with more dry dandruff to scratch, I'm in front of the mirror all the time now!)... it's just this obsession. While living with my parents, I would scratch my mother's or brother's hair when they would let me. I've looked into trichotillomania (compulsive hair pulling) and find that I exhibit some of its symptoms as well, just not to that intense a degree. I've also been wondering about genetic factors and psychological links. Milder forms of Tourette Syndrome run in my family. (I have a little 'tic' myself). Also, my mum says that her own mother used to pay her and her sisters to scratch her head.
I've been married for two years now and somehow manage to keep this little habit from my husband's eyes. He knows I have "issues about dandruff" and that I'm constantly losing combs, but it's the weirdness of the obsession I don't want him to know about. How do you stop?
I've been married for two years now and somehow manage to keep this little habit from my husband's eyes. He knows I have "issues about dandruff" and that I'm constantly losing combs, but it's the weirdness of the obsession I don't want him to know about. How do you stop?
Loading...
Itoo have this compulsion,but I didn't really think anything was wrong with it. Everyone has a compulsion,something that they just have to do, wether its cleaning or scratching their heads or a certain way they wash their hands. I found that if once a week you use baby oil on your dry hair, let is sit for about 10 minutes and then wash twice,it helps ease flakes,also they sell a green tea shampoo and conditioner at great clips, it helps moisturize your scalp and it feels great on your scalp, try it you will love it
Loading...
WOW. Im amazed at how many of us there are. I've read quite a few threads in different forums about this and cannot believe the similarities. I scratch my head it started last year. My boyfriend can't stand it and tries to pull my hands away. They are drawn like a magnet. It happens at lot when Im watching a movie or sitting at the computer. I search every inch of my head for scabs then pick them off and try to pull it all the way down my hair shaft and see what it looks like. I love seeing blood under my fingernails and I love to flip my hair and see how many white flakes I rustled up. Its so gross. It is something Im ashamed to do. Especially cause I pick the dandruff out of my nails with my teeth without realizing who's around. The worst thing about it is I have really nice long dark brown hair and I never had dandruff before. I created the dandruff and now I can't stop. I shed hair like crazy too so Im sure Im going to make myself bald if I don't stop.
Loading...
Amazing, I too have this same, rather odd problem/addiction. I am a 19 year old male, and I too will sit up late at night, while doing homework or such and scratch my head to see the "snow" fall.
It is aggravating, and irratating to no extent!! Upon impulse and without my assent, my hands seem to move of thier own accord to begin an almost ritualistic process of running my hands through my hair.
Many times I will start where my hairline begins at the top of my forehead, and slowly, methodically, work my way to the crown of my head (seems most dandruffy spot) digging my fingers through my hair. I don't usually use nails, although i use fingertips with quite a bit of pressure to work through the labyrinth of hairs to find the largest flakes I can.
At which point I try to extract my "treasure" (such as picking a b****r from your nose!)
It is aggravating, and irratating to no extent!! Upon impulse and without my assent, my hands seem to move of thier own accord to begin an almost ritualistic process of running my hands through my hair.
Many times I will start where my hairline begins at the top of my forehead, and slowly, methodically, work my way to the crown of my head (seems most dandruffy spot) digging my fingers through my hair. I don't usually use nails, although i use fingertips with quite a bit of pressure to work through the labyrinth of hairs to find the largest flakes I can.
At which point I try to extract my "treasure" (such as picking a b****r from your nose!)
Loading...
good times, me too, 19 y/o male. I always thought it was picker's syndrome, from my taking stimulants (prescription ritilan), but maybe not, yay!
btw, though, just because we all do it, let's not rule out the possibility of us all being a bit nutty. I've always had trouble with anxiety, and I definitely notice myself doing this more when i'm anxious, stressed, etc. but not only then.
IMPORTANT: dandruff is from the build up of shedding skin cells from the scalp, that for one reason or another fall out in clumps. at any one time there will only be a finite amount of dead skin cells ready to be flaked, so although scratching your head, applying pressure to the scalp may momentarily increase dandruff by increasing blood flow under the skin, which may cause some of the flakes to fall off, the flakes wont endlessly keep coming
TO SUMMARIZE: with a thorough enough sweep, you can temporarily clear your head of the flakes
btw, though, just because we all do it, let's not rule out the possibility of us all being a bit nutty. I've always had trouble with anxiety, and I definitely notice myself doing this more when i'm anxious, stressed, etc. but not only then.
IMPORTANT: dandruff is from the build up of shedding skin cells from the scalp, that for one reason or another fall out in clumps. at any one time there will only be a finite amount of dead skin cells ready to be flaked, so although scratching your head, applying pressure to the scalp may momentarily increase dandruff by increasing blood flow under the skin, which may cause some of the flakes to fall off, the flakes wont endlessly keep coming
TO SUMMARIZE: with a thorough enough sweep, you can temporarily clear your head of the flakes
Loading...
All of you should definitely get one of those close-bristle lice combs, they get even the smallest flakes out, and it is SO SATISFYING.
do all you folks also like peeling sunburns?
do all you folks also like peeling sunburns?
Loading...
I have never been able to fully clear out my scalp, and maybe I am a bit nutty... In fact, I know I am! (though not just from this)
And I always peel a sunburn, whenever I get a blister, It grates on my nerves, and I just keep peeling, and peeling, even to the live skin....
And I always peel a sunburn, whenever I get a blister, It grates on my nerves, and I just keep peeling, and peeling, even to the live skin....
Loading...
I'm a fifteen year old girl, and this same thing has plagued me for a little over a year now. It's soo comforting to know that I'm not alone in this situation! I'm glad I found this forum! ^-^
I scratch and scratch, and sometimes I'll fluff my hair to make the loose flakes fall out. I don't know why, but I'm glad some of you understand, just how addicting it is to watch the flakes accumulate into a great big pile. Especially on black surfaces! Another really weird thing I do, is flick the flakes from under my nails.
I have one spot that I just LOVE to scratch, and it's become a bald spot. A bleeding, scabby bald spot. It's terrible, it's gross, it's painful, and it's extremely embarrassing. When you're fifteen, almost your entire being revolves around how you look, and something like this, just isn't helping.
-_-
Another problem I seem to have, is no one understands how addicting, and how hard it is to stop. My mom just thinks I'm crazy. But I know it has to be some sort of emotional-response. I think this because, I pick violently when I'm stressed out, scared, nervous, or angry. When I'm around my friends, or boyfriend, just laughing and having a good time, I don't scratch at all! So I would assume it has something to do with anxiety?
I've been to a dermatologist, and all that m***n said was "Oh, just use some 'Head and Shoulders', and you'll be fine." Well, I've been using it for several months, and it's done nothing for me.
Although, I'm struggling to find a solution for this, I hope some of you can take comfort in knowing that, other people and I, are going through the same thing. I'm going to keep looking back on this forum, to try to scour for help.
thanks! and keep posting <3
I scratch and scratch, and sometimes I'll fluff my hair to make the loose flakes fall out. I don't know why, but I'm glad some of you understand, just how addicting it is to watch the flakes accumulate into a great big pile. Especially on black surfaces! Another really weird thing I do, is flick the flakes from under my nails.
I have one spot that I just LOVE to scratch, and it's become a bald spot. A bleeding, scabby bald spot. It's terrible, it's gross, it's painful, and it's extremely embarrassing. When you're fifteen, almost your entire being revolves around how you look, and something like this, just isn't helping.
-_-
Another problem I seem to have, is no one understands how addicting, and how hard it is to stop. My mom just thinks I'm crazy. But I know it has to be some sort of emotional-response. I think this because, I pick violently when I'm stressed out, scared, nervous, or angry. When I'm around my friends, or boyfriend, just laughing and having a good time, I don't scratch at all! So I would assume it has something to do with anxiety?
I've been to a dermatologist, and all that m***n said was "Oh, just use some 'Head and Shoulders', and you'll be fine." Well, I've been using it for several months, and it's done nothing for me.
Although, I'm struggling to find a solution for this, I hope some of you can take comfort in knowing that, other people and I, are going through the same thing. I'm going to keep looking back on this forum, to try to scour for help.
thanks! and keep posting <3
Loading...
go to Boots and buy medicated dandruff shampoo like Selsun or something.
works miracles :-D
works miracles :-D
Loading...
My daughter is just 5 and she has this long black curly hair. her hair is pretty dense and recently a thick mat of dandruff settled on her scalp.
I really feel it whenever I see her scratching her scalp and am presently trying everything to rid her of the dandruff.
Her dandruff is a bit weird because when I remove a large flake, there is a tiny hole with blood in it. Not all flakes but a number of them. She doesnt feel a thing. Is that normal.
And because her hair is abit difficult to manage shampooing everyday and conbing through is difficult on her.
I have now bought both selsun blue and nizoral. I will first try nizoral and give it sometime. if it doesnt work, I will try selsun blue. I have also bought Listerine (which I read works) and that will be on standby. I am at war with dandruff.
I am presently using sulphur ointment with menthol and peppermint to relieve her itch.
If anyone has experienced the blood under the flake bit should pls share share thier experience.
Thanks
I really feel it whenever I see her scratching her scalp and am presently trying everything to rid her of the dandruff.
Her dandruff is a bit weird because when I remove a large flake, there is a tiny hole with blood in it. Not all flakes but a number of them. She doesnt feel a thing. Is that normal.
And because her hair is abit difficult to manage shampooing everyday and conbing through is difficult on her.
I have now bought both selsun blue and nizoral. I will first try nizoral and give it sometime. if it doesnt work, I will try selsun blue. I have also bought Listerine (which I read works) and that will be on standby. I am at war with dandruff.
I am presently using sulphur ointment with menthol and peppermint to relieve her itch.
If anyone has experienced the blood under the flake bit should pls share share thier experience.
Thanks
Loading...
I've had the same problem for over 8 years. I would scratch my scalp, rustle/shake part of my hair, and even single out single hairs while running my fingers and tugging on them, just to get the dandruff out.
I actually managed to stop for a while, but I picked it up again recently, apparently due to stress.
The worst part of it for me, is that because I concentrated mostly at the front of my scalp, I completely weakened the roots, and lost alot of hair. The hair thats left is very brittle and delicate. If I pull my hair back in a ponytail, the baldness is visible, but if I let it loose, its covered.
I'm 20 years old, and its quite embarrassing, I regret doing it, but I hope its not too late, before I lose even more hair.
I actually managed to stop for a while, but I picked it up again recently, apparently due to stress.
The worst part of it for me, is that because I concentrated mostly at the front of my scalp, I completely weakened the roots, and lost alot of hair. The hair thats left is very brittle and delicate. If I pull my hair back in a ponytail, the baldness is visible, but if I let it loose, its covered.
I'm 20 years old, and its quite embarrassing, I regret doing it, but I hope its not too late, before I lose even more hair.
Loading...
Well, I just typed in 'can't stop scratching my head' on google as this has been 'doing my head in' (sorry) for quite some time now, and found this forum - I'm chuffed, like most of you, to see there are others! I'm 23 and can relate to most of the things mentioned in this forum, however when I do the snowflake thing it's just to check the amount of dandruff my [obsessive] scratching has caused - I don't particularly like the snowflake part, but the scratching is a definite obsession. It tends to be worse at night for me and it's always when I'm on my own. I'm sure that over the last few years the condition of my hair has got quite bad, it's dry and doesnt hold together very well. If I wash my hair it gets too dry, if I don't it gets too greasy, but the scratching is always there. I know there have a been a few suggestions in here which i'm going to look into but does anyone else have any thing they've tried/taken/heard about that works?? I've tried conditioners, anti-dandruff shampoo, shampoo for greasy hair, shampoo for dry hair, shampoo for neutral hair, green tea, vosene, moisturising shampoo and all sorts but nothing seems to agree with my scalp - i don't even get that much visible dandruff but it's the compulsion, the actual picking of my head I don't like, sometimes I do it so I much I give myself a headache because i'm breaking the skin.
Loading...
Ive always had this problem!! My friends and mother hate it, and constantly tell me to stop. I never realized i wasnt alone! It gets really bad at times- in fact now i have dry dry skin from scratching too much asnd patches of scabs :-( its gross and annoying but i can not stop!!!!!!!
ive tried the- do something else- method. nope. drives me NUTS. in fact- ill scratch more if i try to force myself not to. im better off just letting it happen
:-( but happy to know im not too crazy- or, at least not alone ;-)
ive tried the- do something else- method. nope. drives me NUTS. in fact- ill scratch more if i try to force myself not to. im better off just letting it happen
:-( but happy to know im not too crazy- or, at least not alone ;-)
Loading...
hi i have been picking since the age of 4-5 i remeber my nanputting iodine on my bleeding scalp, i often use instruments like nit combs ect but i also get this uncontrolable urge to pick other peoples dandruff out. its hard standin on the bus staring intently at the lady sitting next to mes flakes pulling away is agony i do it more in times of stress.
Loading...