How to Stop the Head Scratching Habit

Can't stop scratching your head? If it itches, you have all the natural right and reason to scratch, if only to relieve the symptoms. However, if it has become a habit, something you do unconsciously even when nothing actually itches, you also have every reason to stop. Here's how to stop that head scratching habit and keep your hair and scalp in tiptop place:

Find out if the itching has a cause.
There are several conditions that may be the reason your head scratching is a habit and they could be caused by tiny organisms. Check if you have head lice, dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis. If it's followed by hair pulling, you could even have a case of trichotilomania, a nervous condition characterized by compulsive hair pulling.

If you've had these conditions for some time, your head scratching is due to real itch, not just some imagined need. Thankfully, these conditions can be treated and managed with care and medications. If these are the reasons you're scratching your head habitually, go see your doctor.

Is your head scratching caused by stress?
If you're always stressed and one of your coping mechanisms is head scratching, there's a good chance it has developed into a habit. Try to observe yourself and see if your head scratching is caused by an external stimulus or your own emotions. Do you scratch your head when you're caught in traffic or when you're up for a deadline or about to speak in public? If there are causes to your head scratching habit, it will be easier to stop if you know what they are.

Substitute.
Once you've learned to recognize the situations and emotions that cause your head scratching habit, you can learn how to stop it by substituting a different behavior. Remember that habits are learned and that in order to stop one, you can substitute a different behavior.