Severe scalp pain

[Tyke1980]

I am begging for help.  I am a 30 year old female who has been having severe scalp pain for the past 9 months.  It feels like someone is pulling out my hair or acid was poured on it.  A few days ago, I went to get my hair cut to lessen the weight on my head and the barber caught her comb in a snarl and pulled a section of my hair very hard.  It feels like I was cut with a razor right where she pulled.  I can feel EXACTLY where she pulled out the few hairs.  It is severe and I don't know what is wrong.  This was 5 days ago and it hurts very bad.

I have seen several doctors for the scalp pain and they are still not sure what caused this or how to treat it.  The pain is enough to make me physically ill and not want to eat.  It brings me to tears every day.  Could she have damaged the nerves or follicles?  She said she didn't pull out any hair, but I think she did.  I have never felt this much pain before.  Please help me!  I am terrified and in SO much pain.

[Tyke1980]

Thanks for your information.  It seems like we all have different possible causes for our scalp pain but none of us or the doctors know for sure what could be causing it.   I don't know if anything will ever help but I am learning to live with mine by knowing what has helped.   I wear a hat in the sun to prevent the burning sensation on my scalp, keep my hair short so it doesn't pull, etc...    Learning to live with it is the only "cure" I have found.   I wish you and everyone else luck!

[paulsimps]

Has anyone thought this might be a C1/C2 or C2/C3 pinched nerve in the spine. And the pain in the scalp is just refered pain?
Ive had a very sensetive scalp the last week but also sore neck and shoulders
I have problems with all my C spine as shown up on Xray.
One of my 'magic' cures for pinched nerves is Tetra Cycline (mild antibiotic used for skin problems)
[ lately surpassed by Minocycline]
A few days on that and it will either help or not.
Minocycline has recently been found to be a good antiinflamatory - as well as antibiotic - and use in operations now to lessen pain after.

just a thought as no one else seems to have thought of refered pain as being a possible cause

[lydia_1992]

I'm 52 years old and I started with also tender scalp, like their pulling my hair.I also get like a headache . I get tensed and get like light head . I was and have tinted my hair every month and leave the tint for about 45 min. I started using 20 % developer and then my head started itching real bad.I used 10% developer before and don't remember it ever itching like the way it would itch now that I started with the 20%.I noticed that my head was getting real itchy. I use a  prism on my hair right after I tint it and then after i would itch and i would scratch my head real hard.A prism is to make your shiny and smooth not dry.  I don't know if it's the prism or the 20% developer that would make my hair itch. about a month ago i started with scalp pain . Not all over my head , but more on the crown. thats where the pain is . I do go through anxiety and get stress thinking what it could be. I went to the doctor and i told the doctor that my sister felt that kind of scalp pain to and they told her that it was a sinus infection. They gave her antibiotics for it and after a few days her scalp pain went away. so the doctor gave me antibiotics to and has't gone away. I feel more my pain on the crown towards the back. I made an appointment with acupuncture Dr just wondering what it could be.  I also changed shampoo too.

[Tyke1980]

Wow.  Thanks for sharing your experience!  Sounds like you had a tough road.  I am pretty sure mine isn't that.  I don't have similar symptoms to yours.  I think mine is just going to remain a mystery and I am learning to live with it!   I wish you the best of luck!

[MumOfTwoMore]

Just in case it's not been suggested, I was diagnosed with folliculitis decalvans by a trichologist.  My GP had tried various remedies and eventually a product called Sebco worked.  This was intense polytar.  Nothing else had worked and I was losing hair and had a very sore scalp.  I was relieved to see the trichologist as well as the doctor, because although my GP is great at most things, this clearly wasn't his speciality and too much time was lost before he settled on the right treatment.  Unfortunately, I'm left with a bald patch at the top of my scalp, but the folliculitis has gone.  I now have some sun damage through the hair loss, so am wearing a hat at all times and will try and find one with UV protection.  Hope you resolve this soon.

[dkw1960]

Thank you, I think I have tried all shampoos.  I tried pouring aloe vera juice on it last week and that even hurt.  Denominator for me would be neck muscles.  I haven't been bitten by a tick I years.  And I don't color my hair.  Its just really weird stuff.