Bad odour due to dandruff

Hello reader, what would be at the top of your list if you were asked to name the body areas most likely to emit an unpleasant odour? 

You might think of your feet or underarms first, but your scalp may be smellier than you know. Identifying the most likely culprit might assist you in determining the best strategy to decrease or even eliminate any unpleasant odours.

What causes an odorous/smelly scalp?

If you’ve wrinkled your nose upon taking a sniff of your scalp and it’s not a one-time experience, you should think about the numerous reasons for the odour.

1. Seborrheic Dermatitis

The name of this frequent skin illness comes from the fact that your sebaceous glands secrete oil. The excess growth of natural yeast that dwells on our bodies is thought to cause seborrheic dermatitis. This creates dry, yellowish, scaly spots on the scalp, and it may also cause it to stink.

2. Sweating significantly

If you’re a gym enthusiast who skips the post-workout shower despite working up a sweat, your scalp may persuade you to reconsider. When sweat combines with microorganisms on your scalp, you may begin to sense an unpleasant odour. Excessive sweating, commonly known as hyperhidrosis, might aggravate the condition.

3. Over- or under-washing

When you put off a good scrub, oils, or sebum, accumulate on your scalp. This sebum might cause your scalp and hair to smell unpleasant.

4. Fungal Infection

A fungus that resides on the skin may cause a smelly scalp. This fungus is capable of causing inflammatory reactions such as folliculitis, dandruff, and eczema.

5. Hormonal Changes

Hormone fluctuations have an impact on your hair and scalp. Many women, for example, experience hair thinning or loss after menopause. If your body produces too much androgen, it may cause an overproduction of oil from your skin’s glands, especially those on your scalp.

6. Pollution 

Pollution (especially fine matter such as dust or smoke in the air) is damaging to our lungs, and it is. However, ambient scents can trigger a variety of symptoms ranging from headaches to nausea. These particles can also adhere to your hair and scalp and cause it to stink.

7. Scalp Psoriasis

You may have thin scales covering your scalp or a succession of thick, crusty plaques if you have scalp psoriasis. You may be inclined to avoid washing the affected area, but doing so may result in the development of odour as oil and skin cells accumulate. According to research, 7 to 26% of persons with psoriasis will develop psoriatic arthritis. This necessitates treatment to prevent or postpone the development of potentially permanent joint injury.

8. Diet

Body odour might be caused by your diet or changes to your diet. For example, if you’re a big meat eater, some studies suggest that all that meat may impact how you and maybe your scalp smell to others.

9. Hair care products

Some people purchase hair products merely for the aroma, while others are more concerned with the desired results. Even delightfully perfumed products, however, can cause an oil buildup on your scalp if not wiped away. This can result in unpleasant scents.

Is it possible to have smelly scalp syndrome?

Some individuals may be perplexed as to the source of their stinky scalp. They may even question whether there is a mystery smelly scalp syndrome to blame. This is not recorded in the medical literature. However, other medical issues could cause an unpleasant odour to originate from the scalp, so it’s always a good idea to consult a doctor about those possibilities.

Treatment for Smelly Scalp

Consider the following choices if you choose to treat your problem at home before seeing a doctor:

• Shampoo for an odorous scalp
• Use essential oils
• Lemon juice

If home treatments do not work, you should consult a doctor. The doctor will check the situation and then prescribe a medical treatment depending on the cause. For example, you may believe you have dandruff while in fact, you have seborrheic dermatitis. To treat the underlying cause of the disease, your doctor may prescribe an antifungal medicine, medicated shampoo, or antifungal cream for your scalp. If the cause is a fungus, such as Malassezia, the doctor may recommend a specific anti-dandruff shampoo including pyrithione zinc, which studies suggest might help. Oral and topical medicines are among the effective treatments for scalp psoriasis. However, many of these necessitate a prescription.

Wrapping Up

If you’ve noticed a difference in the odour of your scalp or hair and there’s no clear cause, such as a change in hair products, you should see a doctor. It could simply be a case of needing to wash your hair more frequently. A chronically stinky scalp, on the other hand, may suggest the presence of another ailment that requires medical attention.