If your scalp has started to itch in your late forties or fifties, often for no obvious reason, you are not imagining it. A dry, itchy scalp is one of the quieter changes that can come with perimenopause and the menopause, and it rarely gets mentioned alongside hot flushes and poor sleep. The NHS lists dry and itchy skin among the symptoms of the menopause, and the skin on your scalp is no exception.
Why the scalp itches around the menopause
Oestrogen helps the skin hold on to water and produce the oils that keep it supple. As levels fall, skin everywhere tends to become thinner and drier, and it loses moisture faster. On the scalp that can show up as tightness, itching, fine white flakes or a crawling, prickly feeling.
A few everyday habits can make it worse at this stage of life:
- Hot showers. Very hot water strips the little oil the scalp still makes.
- Harsh shampoos. Strong sulphate detergents leave a dry scalp feeling tighter after every wash.
- Product build-up. Dry shampoo, sprays and serums sit on the scalp and can irritate it.
- Hair dye. Skin often becomes more reactive in midlife, so a dye you have used for years can start to irritate.
What helps an itchy scalp in the menopause
- Turn the temperature down. Wash and rinse your hair in lukewarm water.
- Choose a sulphate-free shampoo. It cleans without stripping, so the scalp is less tight afterwards.
- Clear build-up gently. Massage shampoo into the scalp with your fingertips, not your nails, and rinse thoroughly so no residue is left behind.
- Go easy on dry shampoo. Use it between washes rather than instead of them.
- Keep conditioner on the lengths. Rich conditioners and oils on the roots can add to build-up.
- Patch test hair dye 48 hours before every colour, even a brand you know.
- Try not to scratch. Scratching breaks the skin and keeps the itch going.
A shampoo for a dry, itchy scalp
Our tea tree shampoo for an itchy scalp was made for exactly this kind of scalp. It is sulphate-free, so it cleans without stripping, and it combines pure tea tree oil, which lifts flakes and build-up from the roots, with lavender oil, which calms the feeling of itch. It is not medicated, so it can be used as often as you need. Massage it in, leave it for three to four minutes, then rinse. It is rated 4.5 by more than 470 customers, £11.
Many women also notice their hair becoming finer around the menopause. If that is your main concern, our caffeine shampoo for thinning hair combines caffeine, biotin, argan oil and rosemary oil in a sulphate-free formula, and you can alternate it with the tea tree shampoo through the week.
When to see a GP or pharmacist
Most menopausal scalp itch is down to dryness and settles with a gentler routine. See a GP or pharmacist if:
- the itch keeps you awake or is not improving after a few weeks of changes
- you have thick, scaly patches, sores, bleeding or a spreading rash
- your hair is coming out in patches
- your scalp reacts after colouring, with swelling, burning or blisters
These can point to something other than dryness, such as a skin condition or an allergy, that needs its own treatment. It is also worth raising scalp and skin changes when you talk to your GP about menopause symptoms in general, because they are part of the same picture.
The short version
An itchy scalp around the menopause is common and usually comes down to drier skin. Cooler water, a sulphate-free shampoo, less build-up and a little patience make a real difference. If it does not settle, or anything looks sore or unusual, get it checked.
