Body odor can be very embarrassing, and while some body areas are expected to release unpleasant odor, sometimes, it may be a surprise that the least expected places are stinking, for instance the scalp. People will expect that your underarms and feet smell bad when they are sweaty, but what about a stinky scalp? Probably no one is going to understand why that is happening and you could end up in a stigma as people prey on you for having that scalp smell.

You have probably heard of the ‘Smelly Hair Syndrome’ that can bring about relationship problems, expulsion from school, or taunts from coworkers. It happens if your hair cannot stop releasing that bad smell, and it happens even when you have washed the hair that very morning. Think of it this way, you wake in the morning and wash your hair, and by midday, it begins to release a sweaty, muggy smell. That’s not because there is dirt in hair or the scalp, but something else is happening.

Oily hair may not necessarily cause your scalp to smell unpleasant, however, when you have overactive oil glands within your scalp, they can bring about a distinctive, sour odor that may be unpleasant to smell. People with an oily scalp tend to experience itchiness, dandruff, and skin discomforts besides having odor as the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology points out. The odor coming from oily scalp mainly arises from bacterial growth within the scalp as explains Jules Abadi, a New York City dermatologist in Cosmopolitan magazine.

You may have bacteria in scalp that is harmless and it may be present whether the scalp is oily or not, however, when there is excessive oil in that part, it allows the bacteria to multiply because there is food to make them thrive. The proliferation of the bacteria causes odor.  So, what really causes a smelly scalp? 

 Causes of Smelly Scalp

Many things are said to cause smelly scalp, so understanding the cause can help you and your doctor or dermatologist to come up with the right treatment plan.

 Smelly hair syndrome: This is a condition manifesting in form of a stinky scalp or hair not as a result of poor hygiene. It occurs even after you have washed your hair twice in a day. People who have the condition tend to have overactive sweat and oil glands that release excess sweat and oil. The excess sweat and oil begin to smell after some time.

Smelly hair syndrome has been associated with hormonal imbalance in the body. The smelly hair syndrome isn’t that occasional ‘bad hair day’, it’s something that is difficult to explain. People having this condition have smell that varies between different individuals. Some say that the smell stinks like a diaper or a wet dog. Others say that the scalp or hair smells like sour milk, moldy hay, dirty socks, or old shoes.

Some people with this condition will say that the smell coming from hair is so bad that flies buzz around their head. That’s quite frustrating, and it’s no surprise to find that some people have been mistreated because they have the smell. For example, a report air by KIRO TV claimed that an 8-year-old girl attending school at Thurgood Marshall Elementary, in Seattle was asked to get out of her classroom because her hair was stinky. She had to miss her studies for more than a week. Smelly hair syndrome is actually socially stigmatizing and it can psychologically affect the self esteem of those affected.

 Microbial growth: The presence of bacteria or fungi on the hair or scalp may cause bad odor. The scalp has follicles just like other parts of the body. The follicles secrete sebum to help lubricate the skin. Sometimes, a person may have a condition that makes the follicles not to release sufficient sebum oil resulting in a dry scalp. Microbes begin to thrive in the tiny cracks formed in the dry scalp causing bad odor. Excessive oil production in scalp may also cause bad odor. Bacteria will thrive in oily secretions making a person’s head to really smell bad. The bacteria release odorous substances that are said to lead to the stinky odor.

Dry scalp: When you have dry scalp, it means that it lacks the protective oil layer. This makes the skin to become more prone to infections. Some scalp skin conditions will occur along with itching causing a person to scratch the affected part. Having an excessively dry scalp may trigger sores which could open and be infected resulting in bad odor. Dry scalp may be caused by extreme heat or cold, hormonal disorders, over washing of the hair, and sunburn.

 Skin conditions: You may have smelly scalp if you have a skin condition. These conditions are mostly accompanied by soreness and itching. The itching may make the skin conditions to spread to other parts of the scalp causing secondary infection. Some skin conditions may also present with bumps that tend to ooze a smelling discharge. You may have a smelly scalp if it is affected by these skin conditions:

• Dandruff
• Eczema
• Ringworms
• Psoriasis
• Seborrheic dermatitis

Tinea capitis: A fungal infection that causes the condition known as tinea capitis may make the scalp to become smelly. Tinea capitis may result in smelly scalp syndrome. The fungal infection invades the hair follicles as well as the shaft. This is known as dermatophytosis.

Reaction to hair care products: A person who reacts to hair care products may experience problems of odor with their scalp. The products tend to react with the person’s natural oil found on the scalp creating the bad odor. Chemicals found in hair dye or hair shampoos may react with the scalp’s natural oils resulting in a foul smell. Even when the shampoo has fragrances to reduce bad smell, you may still find that when they come in contact with the oils, there is really bad odor.

Poor hygiene: Lack of proper hygiene may lead to smelly scalp. If you don’t wash your hair or scalp, it will begin to host bacteria and other microbes. The sweat and oil from glands will begin to settle on the scalp bringing about bad odor. Washing your hair and scalp thoroughly and frequently is important to make sure it remains fresh and clean.

Stress: When a person is heavily stressed out, you find that most body functions are obstructed or shut down. Stress can impact the production of important hormones in the body. When there is an imbalance in hormones, it can give way to skin conditions such as acne which may discharge fluids that release bad odor. This may cause the head or scalp to smell terrible. Make sure that you keep the stress levels low by walking away from the stressful events or life. Indulge in things that keep you busy such as watching TV, listening to music, and chatting with friends and refrain from being lonely. If you suffer from chronic stress, you may need treatment or therapy from an expert.

Wearing hats and helmets: If you wear hats or helmets, you may have problems with the scalp like bad odor. Covering the hair or head for a long period can increase sweating and the growth of bacteria. The bacteria will begin to release odorous substances that make the scalp or head to smell horrific.

Other causes: You may have smelly scalp if you have a weak immune system, thyroid disorders, dandruff, or generalized body diseases like cancer. People who indulge in vigorous physical exercises may have increased perspiration that results in bad smell. Consuming excess amount of oily or fatty foods may also contribute to the problem.

 Symptoms Associated With Smelly Scalp

When you have a scalp that smells bad, there may be symptoms associated with it. Of course, the stinking is the major symptom, but an individual may also have other symptoms and they include:

·         Bruising

·         Sore bumps

·         Irritation

·         Rashes

·         Swelling of the scalp skin

·         Tenderness of the scalp skin

·         Buzzing flies around the head

·         Pus-filled lesions

Smelly Scalp – Treatment

Treatment depends on what is causing the bad odor and the symptoms a person is having. Some symptoms can be treated using OTC medications, but others may not respond to conventional treatment, for example Smelly Scalp Syndrome. Severe symptoms need the attention of a doctor because they could indicate a serious medical issue.

Medical treatment:  A person may be prescribed antibacterial medications such as mupirocin or clindamycin to treat and prevent infection. Corticosteroids are prescribed to help treat skin conditions such as eczema. These medications come in form of creams, ointments, lotions, and foams.

Retinoids are used to treat conditions such as scalp acne and they are derived from vitamin A. Retinoid medications come in form of creams and gels. A person may also be administered antifungal drugs to treat skin conditions like athlete’s foot and ringworm. Examples of antifungal drugs are such as ketoconazole, terbinafine, and clotrimazole.

Salicylic acid is a medicine that treats conditions like warts and acne. It is effective in treating psoriasis. This ingredient is found in most skin care products, especially those intended to treat acne and warts.

A person having smelly scalp may also get treatment with immunosuppressants if there is an allergy reaction causing a condition that brings about the bad odor. Enzyme inhibitors and biologics may also be included in the treatment.

Scalp Odor – Home Remedies

There are home remedies you can use if your scalp is smelling bad. You can try out lime juice that helps with fungus infection. It also helps clean and reduce hair loss. Tea tree oil is another ingredient that you can use at home to treat smelly scalp. It helps to balance the scalp oil and soothe the skin. Tea tree oil also has antifungal properties meaning it will reduce skin infection coming from fungus.

Baking soda helps clear dandruff by exfoliating the skin of the scalp. This helps to remove dead skin cells that could give rise to scalp odor.  Baking soda helps to kill fungus and bacteria that tend to thrive and develop on dandruff.

Apple cider vinegar is another ingredient that can help with smelly scalp. This ingredient helps limit the overgrowth of fungus. It also reduces hair fall that occurs because of the spread of fungus. Other home remedies you can use to help treat smelly scalp are such as milk of magnesia, neem oil, tomato juice, bay leaves, coconut oil, and fenugreek seeds.