If you have an itchy scalp at night, common causes like psoriasis or eczema may be the first thing that come to mind. However, other reasons for your itchy scalp include hives, dandruff, lice, and more.
Having an itchy scalp at night is particularly challenging because of poor sleep. This can make you tired the next day. That’s bad for your overall health and quality of life, especially if it’s a chronic problem.
Treating the underlying condition can stop your scalp from itching at night. You might consider medicine and remedies to relieve itching. If the itching is very bad or accompanied by other symptoms, a healthcare provider can provide additional treatments.
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Why Scalp Itch Is Worse at Night
Having an itchy scalp at night is called nocturnal pruritus. This condition can be acute (lasting a few day or weeks) or chronic (lasting longer than six weeks).
Research suggests many physical reasons that skin irritation can get worse at night:
- Changes in body temperature: During sleep, natural fluctuations in skin temperature may be associated with increased itch intensity.
- Hormone fluctuations: At night, your level of anti-inflammatory hormones (corticosteroids) naturally falls, which may exacerbate itchiness.
- Sweating: In the evening, you have more transepidermal water loss (water passing through the outermost layer of skin and evaporating). This can make your skin dry and itchy.
It may also be that your itchiness is just as bad during the day, but you’re more distracted so you just notice it more at night.
Common Skin Conditions That Trigger Scalp Itchiness
Having an itchy scalp at night may be caused by several skin conditions. These include:
- Hives (urticaria): inflammatory reaction that causes raised red welts
- Atopic dermatitis (eczema): inflammatory skin condition that causes scaly, inflamed, itchy skin
- Psoriasis: an autoimmune disorder that causes inflamed scaly patches of skin (plaques)
- Advanced age pruritus: dry, itchy skin in elderly people due to age-related factors
- Seborrheic dermatitis (dandruff): flaky, itchy scalp condition caused by a fungus
- Head lice: contagious parasite common in school-age children
- Bug bite or sting: skin irritation from mosquitos, bees, or other bugs
- Prurigo nodularis: a chronic skin condition characterized by hard, itchy bumps
- Scabies: an itchy skin condition caused by mites
- Scalp ringworm: a fungal infection resulting in a red and extremely itchy rash
- Nerve problem (neuropathy): damage to nerves
The most common conditions that affect your scalp at night are psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. These are chronic conditions, meaning they last a long time.
Studies show one of the biggest complaints of people with atopic dermatitis is a chronic scalp itch that leads to poor sleep and prolonged fatigue.
Psoriasis can flare up due to changes in diet, environment, or stress. When scalp itchiness disrupts sleep, it can increase stress, which in turn can exacerbate a psoriasis flare.
If you have psoriasis, you may also have thermodysregulation (abnormal or exaggerated changes in body temperature), which can intensify an itchy scalp at night.
Other Conditions That Cause Itchy Scalp
Several health conditions can cause the scalp to itch at night. They include:
- Thyroid problems
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease
- Iron deficiency anemia
- Some cancers, such as skin cancer, lymphoma, or leukemia
- Diabetes
- Depression
- Shingles
- Stress
- Schizophrenia
- Allergies, such as a reaction to hair care products
- Multiple sclerosis
How to Stop an Itchy Scalp Using Home Remedies
You can try several home remedies to treat an itchy scalp at night. However, you need to know why your scalp itches in order to find the right treatment. Your healthcare provider can give you a diagnosis and point you toward the best treatments.
Always check with your healthcare provider before trying any home remedies to be sure you’re using them safely.
| Cause of Itchiness | Possible Home Remedies |
|---|---|
| Skin conditions | Ask your healthcare provider for treatment recommendations |
| Allergic reaction | Allergy medications; elimination of hair products that may be problematic |
| Dandruff | Dandruff shampoo |
| Lice | Anti-lice shampoo, a lice comb, peppermint oil, tea tree oil |
| Stress | Exercise, calming activities (meditation, yoga, journaling), mental health counseling |
| Dry skin or inflammation | Peppermint oil, tea tree oil, coconut oil, or warm olive oil |
| Bacterial overgrowth | Peppermint oil, tea tree oil |
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Make an appointment with your healthcare provider if:
- You have persistent nighttime scalp itchiness.
- An itching scalp is accompanied by a rash.
- You have sores or other lesions.
- You were bitten or stung.
- You have a known skin condition and need treatment.
Healthcare providers can help you understand why your scalp is itching and give you proper treatment options to reduce or eliminate the itch.
For some causes of itchy scalp like psoriasis, your provider may prescribe a medicated shampoo or medicated ointments and creams.
Preventing an Itchy Scalp at Night
To reduce your likelihood of an itchy scalp at night, you can try these recommendations from sleep experts:
- Make sure your sheets and pillowcases are clean and made of material that won’t trigger itching or irritation.
- Consider running a humidifier near your bed. This infuses the air with moisture, which may reduce itchiness.
- Keep your room at around 65°F. Cooler sleeping temperatures have been shown to help with the body’s temperature regulation.
Summary
Having an itchy scalp is a frustrating condition that can impair sleep and lead to additional health issues if left untreated. Common causes include dandruff, eczema, psoriasis, and lice.
Contact your healthcare provider to get a proper diagnosis and treatment. Some home remedies, such as anti-dandruff shampoos, medicated lice treatments, and moisturizing oils, may offer some relief.
3 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Lavery MJ, Stull C, Kinney MO, Yosipovitch G. Nocturnal pruritus: the battle for a peaceful night’s sleep. Int J Mol Sci. 2016;17(3):425. doi:10.3390/ijms17030425
American Academy of Dermatology Association. 10 reasons your scalp itches and how to get relief.
American Academy of Dermatology Association. Is your dry scalp something more serious?
Additional Reading
Podder I, Mondal H, Kroumpouzos G. Nocturnal pruritus and sleep disturbance associated with dermatologic disorders in adult patients. Int J Womens Dermatol. 2021;7(4):403-410. doi:10.1016/j.ijwd.2021.02.010
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By Yvelette Stines
Stines is a Michigan-based health writer, book author, and communications specialist.
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