Head Smells Bad

[jasonstarks31]

My head has recently started to smell very bad.  It smells so bad that I can smell it myself every time I move my head.  I can't describe the smell but several people have told me that it smells like more than just sweat.  When I rub my scalp I can smell the odor on my fingertips.  Just a few months ago I started to use dandruff shampoo because my flakes were getting out of hand.  I recently started using selson blue approximately 3 times a weeks while using a regular shampoo/conditioner the remaining 4 days of the week.  Any ideas???

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

Two possibilities are there for your symptoms.First of all,stress or hormonal changes may lead to excess oil produced by the oil glands in your scalp. This causes the harmless bacteria that live in the scalp to proliferate and feed off the oil, which produces the odor.

Second possibility is of a fungal infection causing tinea capitis.It is contagious and can spread direct contact with someone who has the condition, or if you touch contaminated items such as combs, hats, clothing, or similar surfaces. Diagnosis is by clinical examination of the scalp as well as a skin lesion biopsy with microscopic examination.Anti-fungal medications, taken by mouth, are used to treat the infection.

It is important to keep the area clean. A medicated shampoo, such as one containing selenium sulfide like selsen may also help.

If the symptoms persist then pls get it evaluated from a dermatologist.

Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted if you have any additional doubts.Kind regards.