Itchy scalp Assessment Questionnaire

Questions Your Doctor May Ask - and Why!

During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques to assess the symptom: Itchy scalp. These will include a physical examination and possibly diagnostic tests. (Note: A physical exam is always done, diagnostic tests may or may not be performed depending on the suspected condition) Your doctor will ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is important to openly share any pertinent information to help your doctor make an accurate diagnosis.

It is also very important to bring an up-to-date list of all of your all medical conditions, medications including dosages, and names of numbers of any specialist you see.

Create your printable checklist by answering questions that your doctor may ask below:

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How long have you had the itchy scalp?
Why: to determine if acute or chronic.
Is there any other areas of the body that are itchy or have a rash?
Why: e.g. seborrheic dermatitis may also affect the skin of the face and trunk; psoriasis may also affect the skin on the trunk, nails and the joints but tends not to affect the face.
Is the itch mild, moderate or severe?
Contact with anyone that also has itching scalp?
Why: e.g. may suggest chicken pox, impetigo or head lice.
Past history of skin disorders that may cause scalp itching?
Why: e.g. atopic dermatitis (eczema), seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, dermatitis herpetiformis.
Have you been exposed to anything different recently?
Why: e.g. hair spray, shampoo, perm chemicals - may suggest contact dermatitis.
Do you have an allergic tendency?
Why: e.g. asthma, hay fever - may suggest atopic dermatitis as the cause of itchy scalp.
Has your scalp been exposed to direct sun recently?
Why: may suggest scalp sunburn as the cause of itchy scalp.
Past medical history?
Why: e.g. Celiac disease may be associated with dermatitis herpetiformis.
Medications?
Why: some medications may cause sensitivities such as aspirin, morphine and codeine.
Known allergies?
Why: e.g. food allergies, insect allergies, drug allergy.
Family history?
Why: e.g. allergies, psoriasis, eczema.
Fever?
Why: may suggest chicken pox, serum sickness, exfoliative dermatitis.
Symptoms of psoriasis vulgaris of the scalp?
Why: e.g. thick patches of adherent scale on the scalp, mild to moderate itch. May be associated with psoriasis lesions on other parts of the body including elbows and knees. May be complicated by arthritis and nail symptoms.
Symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis?
Why: e.g. yellow-red, scaly, greasy and itchy rash of the scalp. May also affect the ears, face, eyebrows, around the eyes, around the nose, centre of the chest and centre of the back. Dandruff is a feature of the scalp area.
Symptoms of head lice (Pediculus humanus capitus)?
Why: e.g. white spots of the nits (may be mistaken for dandruff), nits cannot be brushed off, scalp itching. Scalp may be asymptomatic and may not be itchy.

Conditions listing medical symptoms: Itchy scalp:

The following list of conditions have 'Itchy scalp' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.

Select from the following alphabetical view of conditions which include a symptom of Itchy scalp or choose View All.

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