Dandruff. If your scalp is dry and itchy and you see flakes on your hair or clothing, you may have dandruff.
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Reaction to a hair care product. An itchy, dry, and flaky scalp could be telling you that you need to do a better job of rinsing the shampoo from your hair.
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Hives. These are red, raised, and very itchy bumps that can form anywhere on the skin, including the scalp.
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Head lice. An itchy scalp is the most common symptom of head lice. If you suspect that head lice are causing the itch, ask someone to closely examine your scalp and hair for signs of these tiny bugs.
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Scabies. Scabies is caused by a tiny bug called the human itch mite. If these mites burrow into your scalp, your scalp can become quite itchy.
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Scalp ringworm. Ringworm isn’t caused by worms. It’s an infection caused by a fungus. If you get ringworm on your scalp, you’ll likely have a red and intensely itchy rash.
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Scalp psoriasis. About 50% of the people who have plaque psoriasis experience a flare-up on the scalp at some point.
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Atopic dermatitis. If you have a type of eczema known as atopic dermatitis (AD), it can develop on your scalp. When this happens, you can have redness and scale on your scalp.
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Nerve problem. An intensely itchy scalp without signs of a rash or another skin reaction can be a sign of a nerve problem.