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Migraine due to Head Wash

HI,
I am getting this Migraine attack the day after I have my head wash. It is been there for 4,5 years now and i checked with many doctors with no improvement of the condition. So the trigger here for my migraine is taking head bath ?
Lately one of the doctors suggested me Betacap 5 plus tablets to be taken once daily during night. Is there any way to reduce this trigger as the attack occurs 90% of the times when i have a head wash. Also after taking my head bath my back neck and region below my ears starts to pain....
Best Answer
Avatar universal
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi,
Thank you for your clarification. I agree with your doctor that washing the head itself is not a trigger. Initially, I was a little confused with the head wash term. Possible triggers could be due to the stuff you use or even the type of water you use. If you change your shampoo regularly, other possible triggers are your soap, body wash, etc. Hard water, on the other hand, usually has higher mineral content than soft water. A headache journal will really help in identifying the possible triggers. There is a migraine tracker here in Medhelp that may also help.  Ruling out allergies or hypersensitivity by a specialist, as suggested above, is also a good consideration. Take care and best regards.
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Avatar universal
I have also same headache problem specifically in winters. Although i have observed that if hairs are short then the problem is less sever. That's why i try to keep my hairs short during winters. Does anyone also has noticed such co-relation?
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Avatar universal
Thank You for valuable comment

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Avatar universal
So interesting to find these posts - I have experienced a similar problem.  Throughout my life I've had occasional ocular migraines without pain, but usually only one every couple of years (I'm 45 now).  Recently they have occurred at least once a month, and with a diary I realized they occur on days when I've washed my hair in the morning.  I only wash it once per week and currently have long thick hair.  I don't use a blow dryer and usually twist and pin it up for work when it's still damp.  I suspect that hair washing is not the only trigger, because changes in weather and atmospheric pressure also sometimes coincide with my ocular migraines, but hair-washing certainly an unusual one.  Thanks to everyone for posting.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi!

Im so glad that im not the only one! Ive been having this problem for the last 4 years now. I wash my hair everyday, but shampoo about twice a week. He headaches begin in about 16 to 24 hours after shampooing. Also, my neck cracks every time I move it once the aches start. My eyes hurt and my jaws hurt.

I used to think that it was because I wasn't drying my hair well enough (which was affecting the sinus). But that didn't make sense as the headaches appear only after shampooing!

I also observed that my stomach felt uneasy along with the head and am slowly coming to the conclusion that the shampooing is triggering acidity in the stomach as there is also some acid reflux. I am also told that extreme acidity does cause the neck and shoulders to hurt along with the headaches. I haven't been able to stop the headaches though.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi, i agree with the temp changes playing the key part role here.
E.g transition from warm to colder.
What helps me is to wear a hat immediate after the bath for at least 3 hours and keep the back of my head and neck also protected (warm).
That ritual blocks out the headaches. It'a compromise i have to accept.
I' m 45 male and have headaches after hair bath for a decade. I use very mild headed water, not hot. I also know lots of people with exactly the same symptoms, which started at some age in their life.
But I've noticed that also i gradually used to get headaches during winter, whenever the wind was cold and i didn't where a hat (i'm talking here for temps about 10 Celsius (50 F) not necessary lower).
I both case I'm talking about severe pain along the sculp and burining eyes.
So i'm forced to wear a hat almost all the time when outdoors in the winter. It just works that way.
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Avatar universal
I have learned over the years that the change in temperature (water & room) make a huge difference.I suffer the most during the cooler months. If I keep the water temp. close to the room temp. & towel dry my hair as much as possible & then use a dry towel (a dry towel is key) to wrap my hair, ears & head & stay in the bathroom without the vent fan until the mirror clears on it's own then my head has been allowed to adjust slowly to the change of temperature & the pain is not as severe. I truly believe the sudden change in temperature is my worst enemy. Certainly worth trying if you have the time.    
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Avatar universal
I am having the same "pain-after-shower" problem as well!

It all started nine months ago when I dyed my hair to cover my gray hair. After that I have gone through all kinds of body pain --- headache, toothache, joint pain, ear pain, stomachache, twisted muscles, foot pain, leg pain, you name it. For many days I could barely get out of bed. It gets worse every time I took a shower.

Now nine months have passed and my hair has been cut many times since then. Yet I still develop body pains after showers, even though the severity is less than before. The pattern is clear: I would suffer pain for at least three days after a shower. To rule out shampoo-related allergies, I haven't used any shampoo but soap for the last couple of months. The symptoms would go away almost completely after 3 days and I would enjoy normal life ... until next head shower which I take every seven to ten days!

This pain have completely changed my life. Doctors I've seen don't know much about it, not to mention how to treat it. Right now I am just hoping the, over time, the problem will go away. And I pray it does not cause even more serious health problem down the road.
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Avatar universal
Hi,  all your comments were very useful, thank you. I too get migraines and i started noting in a diary the events before the day before.  It appears that washing my hair seems to be the trigger.

Interestly also, in the last month I had no migraine at all. That is because I used the shower in the guest bathroom. My sister and family were over and I had them use my regular ensuite. The difference in the shower in the guest bathroom is that it is a hand held one, the water does not hit my head directly from a height and also the flow is a lot slower. I had a migraine today after using the regular shower last nite. I will now use the hand held shower and keep you posted of the outcome .
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Avatar universal
Hi everyone,
Thanks for your comments and suggestions
.
Just to update on my condition.
It is almost 10 years since I started having this problem of migraine. It just changes your entire way of life.
During these year what I have learnt is that there is no permanent cure/solution for this devil . You have to adapt to this and make changes to your life style in a way you can reduce the severity of the attacks.

During these days when I get an migraine attack I don't panic and I am lot composed dealing it in my own way. I just give myself some good 2.3 hours rest (may be rush to a dark room, close my eyes take some deep breath for about 10, 20 mins and feel the pain fading away). I feel it helps.
And surely after all these days I could conclusively say that the trigger is having head wash a day before or so. I start feeling pain in my back neck and see it reaching my eyes turning to a migraine head ache.

And to your info, I have stopped all medications a year before.But occasionally during my attacks i used to take a pain killer (once in a month or so). I do take precautions like steam inhalations, but more so I made these changes to myself - drink plenty of water during the day, get up early in the day and go for a jog, balanced diet with green vegetables..etc.

My attacks are lot less these days (may be once or twice in a month with comparatively less severity). Hope all these helps some of you.

P.S - i heard my father had this problem when he was at my age and it slowly faded away when he reached his 40's. I do expect it to happen soon, although I am 26 now ..:-)
Helpful - 0
5386548 tn?1367225410
Hi, me too i have a similiar headache. when i wash my hair within 1 or 2 hours i get headache. my scalp get a bit hot and my eyes starts to get red and irritating sometimes. when i use oil before washing my hairs, the headache effects are lower.

However when i go to the sea, and dive, i dont get headache.  one possible causes, might be that the salts in the water blocks the pores on my scalp.

When i wash my hairs in the afternoon, the headache is lower.

What is this headache all about.. its really annoying  and makes mood down.
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Avatar universal
Hi,
Just wanted to have clarification between head bath, is it SHOWER or bath as in bath tub.
My experience is having headaches after washing my hair under shower with hot water, if in the summer the water is not so hot then I have less severe head, neck and shoulder ache.
I am also trying not to use the hair dryer, plugging my ears so that no water can get into my ear (may be that is causing some sort of inflammation).
In my case if I wash my hair under shower and use the hairdryer, after about 15 minutes, my head feels hot and mostly there after I start to feel the pain in the back of my head on the ear level only behind the right ear, usually this pain extends to the neck and the shoulder area and lasts for 2 to 3 days, I use stretching excercises, some simple pain killers like aspro etc..
I found that I have less problem if I wash my hair in the after noon, may be body temperature has something to do with this problem.
I have no problem if I go for hair cut and get my hair washed there, then I believe that either tilting my head backwards might be the solution.
I would welcome the experience of other people regarding this sort of pain.
Thanks for reading and hopefully someone comes up with an answer or advice.
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Avatar universal
Hi Dr Santos,
                   I also have same problem.Whenever I take head bath I get severe headache.I am sure HeadBath is the reason for this HeadAche.You mentioned about 'betacap plus 5 medication' what is that?Can you please give me the names of the Tablets you are using so that I can use the same.
Helpful - 0
681148 tn?1437661591
I know temperature is also a factor.  Cold rain will trigger a migraine for me in no time flat if the rain drops hit my head in the trigger spots.  Strong smelling anything will trigger migraines, too.  So, it definitely helps to use a fragrance free natural shampoo.  Jason and Earth Science both make formulas that help.  Another thing that helps is to reduce how much shampooing you're actually doing.  A lot of times, just getting under the shower and massaging the scalp is enough to be clean.  So, this can help reduce the amount of shampoo anyone needs to use.  This should work for most people, regardless of whether a person has dry scalp or oily scalp.

Just a guess here, but would bathing the old fashioned way, without showering help prevent what is triggering your migraines?  I'm just wondering, since I experience triggers from cold rain hitting my head, if it's possibly something to do with the speed of the water from the shower.  An old fashioned bath is mostly still water, so I'm wondering if that would actually help.
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Avatar universal
Hi friends,

Thanks for all the posted valuable material.

Surely Hair wash is the trigger. I have tried several soaps, shampoos, etc. Headache returns very next day always. I have also had with different types of water sources too. It does not matter. It repeats. Hence, I have reduced the frequency of Hair wash to once a week.

Let me try oiling before a ‘QUICK’  hair wash. May be it blocks, temporarily, possible water entering through tiny pores in the head and causing head ache as guessed by one of the friends.

Although docs say head wash can never be a trigger, I have experienced that ‘Head wash’ is a trigger

Thank you again
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Avatar universal
Even I feel similar symptom. I also feel that whenever I take a head bath, within a couple of days, I get severe headache. It usually starts early in the morning and lasts till 2 days unless I take a saridon. Initially saridon used to remove the headache. Now, it reduces for few hours and the headache appears again and remains until I get good long sleep.
Helpful - 0
596605 tn?1369946627
Idea?
Have you tried using sulfate free shampoo? I ask because it is a fairly common allergy or sensitivity to have. You might try it and see? Not much to lose.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi everyone,

Thanks for your replies.

I wash my head in a very normal way. (No Tilting of head etc) and also i dont think my shampoos are causing me such triggers as i have tried changing them. Is it possible for water entering through tiny pores in our head and causing head ache ( just my vague theory! ). ?

Regarding betacap plus 5 medication:
Iam taking this for the past 10 days and haven't got any serious migraines so far apart from very slight head aches. I ve washed my head 4 or 5 times during this period and i hope this medicine is working.


Is it possible to have a trigger as in my case ?

B cos the doc said having head wash can never be a trigger. If it is so i have to find out the actual trigger. Looking for your valuable suggestions ....
Thank you again
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi,
Please do elaborate on the head wash you were referring to. Is this related to the position of your head or the stuff you use ( toiletries, etc). Take care and hope to hear from you soon.  
Helpful - 0
620923 tn?1452915648
Hi...may I ask, do u tilt ur head backward or go to a hair salon to have this done as a sink?

If so, u may want to see a NL to see if u have a pinched nerve in ur neck and bending a certain way is the trigger, not the washing of ur hair.

Good Luck
"selma"
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi,
How are you? It is possible that this is a trigger for your migraine headaches.  You may have migraine preventive medications prior to your head wash and abortive medicines if you feel the migraine coming .discuss this with your doctor for proper management. Take care and do keep us posted.
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