Ever thought your hair was literally aching for some extra TLC during these special nine months? If you find yourself scratching your head (hopefully not too hard!) wondering why your scalp seems to be on the tender side lately, you’re not alone.
Let’s chat about scalp pain during pregnancy—a topic that doesn’t make the headlines but definitely deserves a spot in our pregnancy chats.
Possible Causes and Remedies for Scalp Pain During Pregnancy
Hormone Party
While pregnant, your body becomes the boomtown of hormonal activity. This isn’t just any party—it’s a full-blown hormone fiesta!
You see, estrogen and progesterone don’t just work behind the scenes on baby-making magic; they also have quite the impact on your skin, including the scalp.
Their increased levels make your scalp super sensitive to the touch. This means even a gentle brush can feel uncomfortable.
But here’s the silver lining – it’s all for a breathtakingly beautiful cause. Your body is in the midst of creating new life, and that’s nothing short of miraculous. This hormone party, with all its quirks, including the tender scalp, is part of the journey.
Now, what can you do to gate-crash this party and bring some relief to your scalp? Use softer hair brushes all the time. Also, Opt for gentle, soothing shampoos and maybe even pamper yourself with a gentle scalp massage.
The good news? This is only temporal. And while it might feel a bit raucous right now, it’s all part of your body’s way of preparing for one of life’s most beautiful events.
So, take a deep breath, momma. Give your scalp that gentle love it craves, and carry on. You’re doing a fantastic job!
Blood flow fiesta
Your body, during this time, has increased its blood volume by up to 50%. This is to keep up a sufficient, constant supply of oxygen and nutrients to your baby.
Imagine your circulatory system deciding, “Hey, let’s turn up the volume!” This is great news for the baby, but it can lead to some unexpected side effects for you, including increased sensitivity and nagging scalp pain.
The increased blood flow puts pressure on the nerves in your scalp. Your scalp might react to this pressure by causing discomfort or even pain.
But here’s the good part: acknowledging this can be your first step in managing it. So, what can you do to help manage this tender-scalp fiesta?
You’d be surprised to know that just drinking more water can help this. How? Water keeps your blood thinner, which helps it flow more easily to all your organs and skin.
This better blood flow is important for delivering nutrients and oxygen and for helping regulate body temperature.
Also, a gentle scalp massage can be a great way to show some love to your hard-working head, stimulating circulation in a way that says, “Thanks for the hard work,” and providing relief.
Remember, all this pain winds down eventually. After giving birth, your blood flow and body functions will gradually return to the pre-pregnancy state, and this pain now becomes a thing of the past.
Stress and tension
Amidst all the incredible changes your body’s going through to support your growing baby, it has to deal with stress. Now, stress isn’t just an emotional experience. It has some pretty real physical effects, too.
When you’re stressed, your muscles tense up as if they’re preparing for a battle, including those tiny muscles around your scalp and neck. Think of it as your muscles throwing a bit of a tantrum because they’re not sure how to handle the stress.
This tension can be pretty uncomfortable. The scalp becomes sensitive. And even a gentle brush can feel like you’re trying to comb through a tangled mess of worries.
But here’s the glad tidings: We’ve got some fantastic ways to send that stress packing and ease the tension.
First off, breathe! It sounds simple because it is. Deep, slow breaths can be incredibly powerful in telling your body, “Hey, it’s okay, we’ve got this.” It’s like sending a calming message straight to those tense muscles.
Another thing is relaxation. Prenatal yoga can work that magic; meditation, too. Even something as simple as finding a quiet moment to sip your favorite (decaf) tea can rule out the stress.
All these techniques help relax those tight muscles, including the ones around your scalp. Again, hydration! Drinking plenty of water keeps everything in your body running smoothly, helping to ease tension and keep you feeling good.
Remember, it’s perfectly okay to ask for help too. Chatting with a healthcare provider or a therapist can provide additional strategies to manage stress.
Changes in Hair Care
Your hair’s texture might have changed, probably becoming oilier, drier, or even a mix of both at the very beginning of pregnancy. And as a result, you might find yourself reaching for new hair care products or changing your routine to keep up with your hair’s new demands.
But here’s the twist: sometimes, these new products or changes in routine aren’t RSVPing well with your scalp.
More like suddenly switching from your fav tried and true comfy sneakers to high heels. Your feet—or, in this case, your scalp—might have some objections.
For instance, your new shampoo might contain ingredients that your scalp isn’t used to, making your scalp respond with irritation or pain. Even something as seemingly benign as washing your hair more or less frequently than before can prompt your scalp to say, “Hey, what gives?”
So, what can you do to keep your scalp happy during these changing times? Here are a couple of friend-to-friend tips:
Simplify Your Hair Care. Stick to gentle, hypoallergenic products with as few ingredients as possible. Your scalp is very sensitive now and only appreciates simplicity and gentleness.
Nutritional Tango
At these times, your body demands more nutrients to support your growing baby. Often, we adjust our diets to meet these needs—more calcium, vitamins, proteins, iron, and, in fact, more everything!
But sometimes, amidst all these changes, we might not get the balance quite right. And it’s not just your belly that feels the impact—your scalp might too.
For instance, a lack of essential fatty acids can lead to dry skin. And since your scalp is skin, too, it can become dry and sore.
In the same way, if your body is low in vitamin B, your hair might not be getting the support it needs to stay strong and supple. And without enough zinc?… well, that could legit throw another spanner in the works, contributing to an unhappy scalp.
Here’s the good news: this is totally manageable. You can soothe the itchy, nutrient-deficient scalp by making sure you’re getting a well-rounded diet that covers all the bases of prenatal nutrition.
Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, like salmon or chia seeds, should be your main focus, as they are thought to keep the scalp hydrated.
Lean into whole grains and meats (if you’re not vegetarian) for that vitamin B boost, and sprinkle some pumpkin seeds on your salad for extra zinc.
Also, don’t be shy about talking it out with your OB-GYN. They can give you a heads-up on the best prenatal vitamins to complement your dietary intake, ensuring that both you and your scalp can dance through this pregnancy in comfort and health.
SCALP PAIN DURING PREGNANCY: THIS IS A WRAP
Scalp pain during pregnancy, though, can be a bit baffling; it isn’t necessarily a sign to sound the alarm bells. Instead, it invites us to tune into our bodies with kindness and curiosity.
Your body is doing the extraordinary work of growing a tiny human, and sometimes, it sends out signals—like scalp sensitivity—to remind you to pay attention to your nutritional and skin needs.
So, if your scalp starts sending out those SOS signals, see it as an opportunity. An opportunity to reassess your diet and hair care routines to make sure you’re getting the nutrients and treatments you and your baby need.
