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Tiny white beads in hair with itchy scalp.

My head itches a lot, when I scratch it, little tiny white beads or balls come out about half the size of a mustard seed. I thought it was lice, bought and did a lice treatment. The comb only caught these tiny white beads and no lice. I've noticed that I've had acne as long as I have had these tiny beads (for 5+ years) but the acne is very mild. There are no flakes and I wash my hair often. I have no rashes anywhere on my body but I often find acne on my scalp and between my shoulder blades. I tried dandruff shampoo with no success, then came oils like coconut and teatree.

I would see a dermatologist but I'm impoverished and wondering what to do?

My father has the same problem so I asked him what he thought it was. He said they were white-heads from our immune system but his does not itch the same as mine. I showed him the beads I pulled out of my hair all he said was "huh..."

15 Responses
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Avatar universal
I too have a very itchy scalp and when I scratch I get the little hard beads, especially along my scalp line and down either side of my face. My dr. Has me on Clobestasol.  Is there something better? Because it doesn't seem to do any good!
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
I dont know about everyone else in here, but I've been experiencing the same thing recently.  With me though, I almost think its linked to my A.D.D medicine I take. Seems like on days if I take too much, or a little more than what I'm supposed to, I break out with an itchy scalp and these hard beads people are taking about. I take both Vyvanse and Adderall for my condition. Anyone else that are having these symptoms taking the same medication/s? If so, we may have just found our culprit.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Molluscum contagiosum possibly if you’re getting beads.  This condition is cobtsgeious and can spread but it also goes away all by itself over time roughly 18 months to 4 years.  Most people get approximately a dozen bumps but at times it can be worse and intervention like removal of bumps might need to happen.  Do not share towels etc.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi, I have the same problem.  It has been 7 months of sleepless nights. These white tiny balls are crawling and itching. I want to confirm that the jock itched cream made it go away?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I experience the exact same thing. Sadly there is no-one who will listen and no-one to help. I have been going through this for over 3 yrs and I am to the point of accepting that this will be my life forever.I am constantly agitated and my mood is effected. I have been trying all sorts of removal strategies without prevail. these fibers all look the same, varying in size and reproducing at an exponential rate.  I have tried almost everything short of suicide. I have learned to ignore my bodies warning signs and keep my hair covered by wigs and never leave my house! As I am afraid of spreading this to others. I am not delusional nor crazy but wish I was cause then there would be a psych med I could take to make this go away. I have tried several doctors, homeopaths and even witch doctors. However nothing works. Please let me know if your peers and professionals find anything that may help me. Thanks

Not crazy yet but well on my way!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I suffered from this condition and it finally cleared up after I performed the following actions and I used the following products consistently over a span of about four months...

Note:
If you have not seen adult lice, you may not have head lice. Research *Morgellon’s Disease regarding what is “eating you”. If your eyes; your eyebrows itch and you feel crawling on your eyelashes, you are probably also suffering from a **Demodex mites outbreak.

I too had these *hard white granules appearing on my hair and scalp. They were very similar to lice nits, yet, I never found any lice on my lice comb, and my scalp itched constantly; I had a constant sensation of things crawling all over and biting my scalp, my eyebrows, and inside my ears. I would even find many sores and scabs on my scalp and in my ears and this was not due to my scratching or harming my skin. **I was also experiencing this problem with my eyebrows and on my eyelashes. I also believe that it’s important to state that I have an impaired immune system due to having Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.

Note: Allowing this condition to linger could soon lead to alopecia based upon the constant trauma being inflicted upon your scalp and hair follicles.

Here are some steps to quickly rid yourself of this condition. All of these items can be found on Amazon.com

WARNING:
MOST OF THESE PRODUCTS CAN SEVERELY DAMAGE THE SKIN IF USED CARELESSLY OR INCORRECTLY. ALWAYS TRY A VERY SMALL AMOUNT OF PRODUCT AND/OR PRESSURE FOR EACH ITEM!  ALWAYS FOLLOW PRODUCT INSTRUCTIONS FAITHFULLY. IF YOU EXPERIENCE ANY PAIN, DISCOMFORT, OR PROBLEMS WHATSOEVER, MINIMIZE OR DISCONTINUE USE.

PRODUCTS & TOOLS I FOUND EXTREMELY BENEFICIAL:

1. LiceMeister® Comb
2. Q-Tips
3. Natural Cotton balls
4. Hair dryer
5. Carson MicroBrite Plus 60x-120x Power LED Lighted Pocket Microscope (MM-300)—optional—I used this to confirm that the white spheres and other stuff picked up by my lice comb were not indicative of a lice infestation
6. Shower caps (multi pack)
7. Benzyl Alcohol (kills lice & mites)
8. Lice Sisters Nit Glue Dissolver Spray (loosens nits and the white spheres from hair & scalp)
9. Dr. Bronner's Pure-Castile Liquid Soap - Tea Tree (kills/hinders most parasites)—dilute w/ regular shampoo
10. Oregano - 100% Pure, Best Therapeutic Grade Essential Oil (kills fungus)—use sparingly and thoroughly wash hands after use
11. Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser
12. Pure Coconut Oil (For dry scalp and lice hate it)
13. SEE A DOCTOR AND GET YOUR THYROID GLAND CHECKED AND TREATED, IF DAMAGED


How To End This Infestation (Daily Routine)

1. Saturate scalp with #8
2. Vigorously (and carefully)comb (#1) over entire scalp three times
3. Saturate scalp with 2 caps of #7 and thoroughly massage into entire scalp—>saturate #2 and swab the outer area of the ears (and also the eyelashes)and where the itching is most intense (do not probe deeply into the ears!) saturate #3 and blot across eyebrows—wait 10 minutes on all actions
4. Shampoo hair with diluted #9
5. Put a drop of #10 in palm and rub hands together—-massage over entire scalp then wash hands well
6. Saturate scalp with #11—massage into wet scalp and hair
7. Blow dry hair and scalp to “Shrink Wrap” parasitic organisms’ activity/movements and prevent itching, crawling, biting sensations —may also help to kill lice
8. Put on a shower cap when going to bed
9. In the morning, shampoo hair with diluted #9
10. Add a tablespoon of #12 to your scalp and massage through hair thoroughly
11. REPEAT THESE ACTIONS DAILY UNTIL YOUR CONDITION CLEARS UP...
12. WASH AND SCALD ALL COMBS AND BRUSHES DAILY
13. WEAR CLEAN CLOTHES DAILY
14. WASH & DRY ON HIGH HEAT ALL CLOTHES, HATS, AND BEDDING YOU COME INTO CONTACT WITH DAILY
15. THOROUGHLY VACUUM YOUR HOME AT LEAST WEEKLY
16. DETAIL YOUR CAR AT LEAST WEEKLY
17. SEE A DOCTOR ABOUT YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM BEING WEAK & POSSIBLE THYROID DAMAGE




Helpful - 0
1 Comments
On step six, did you mean #11 for the oregano essential oil?
Avatar universal
Use distilled white vinegar. Put some in a spray bottle and spray directly on the scalp. Should clear up in less than a week. The same problem happened to me I was on antibiotics, I tried orgango oil, multiplie vitamins soaps etc. I saw a YouTube video about white vinegar I did this every night before bed then shower in the morning and it was clear in 4 days. I think you might also need a detox or avoid gluten and dairy. This helps so much.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
When my daughter had a test infection my sister in law put some year infection cream on her feet be cause my daughter s feet spelled like critics feet an it helped I wonder if this would help if it is a fungus
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have little Brady like balls in my head to an my scalp itches too.an my boyfriend will pop them  an he said sometimes they have a odor but some I've seen one here say fungus if so I was wondering cause my one dog itches a lot an I know it can't be flees that much,an she got a foul smell like a mangey smell  but this has been going on o a yr.an no hairs fallen out haven't checked for needs but so I get a mother dog  same thing he start itching like her then he getit
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Plz study Peladora Dermatitis! We can get it from our pets
Avatar universal
Hi im Abir from Bangladesh. As you shared your experience, i want to try it the same way for me. But in my locals i cant find any Jock Itch anti fungal cream. In this regard i need a name of a Jock Itch anti fungal cream or the same cream that you've used or just tell me the main ingredients of any of the creams from the same group. Thank you.    
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
lotrimin or lamisil
Avatar universal
Hello Young Lady,
  Comment above Oct.14,2011 states Food Allergies.
I am finding the same true for me. Source of problem.
Docs will give you all suggestions to help with symtoms, But you need to get to the Cause. Skin is Largest Organ of Body and Toxins Produced inside have to find a Way Out.
  Research Candida ( Fungal in Digestive Tract ).VERY few Docs will tell you to work on this ( Food Allergies same way )
  I am 62 and retired Grain Farmer and I experimented with No Grain and NO Dairy and WHAT a GREAT Difference I have noted in my Overall well Being. Hope this gives you some direction to at least try ( and costs Nothing ) It was a Win Win for Me.....Be Well Stay Well  ..  ..jmg
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi Suzyque,  I too have had to deal with this condition on my scalp, beard, mustache, and even my eye lashes.  After trying several remedies I learned that the condition is most likely a fungus, so I began to apply 'Jock Itch' cream to my entire scalp and other affected areas, beard, mustache, eyebrows and even my eye lashes.  It only took three days to begin to see the results.  Now I have no little balls, and no dandruff.  

I had to get my hair damp to spread the medication evenly throughout my scalp and my hair is cut fairly short, so the application could be a bit difficult if you have long hair.

I am not a Dr. so I am not recommending any treatment in this post I am simply telling you what I did to get rid of this aggravating condition.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Did you ever get rid of the itching and little beads? I have them as well but on my back and face. They were on my arms last year and came back now. I was drowning my skin in tea tree oil and they went away. Now I'm doing the same thing. What did you find as a remedy?
Helpful - 0
563773 tn?1374246539
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hello,
These tiny white beads can be due to folliculitis skin or the hair follicles at the end. The other possibility is of perifolliculitis scalp. It is characterised by small, very itchy pustules within the scalp, often most troublesome on the frontal hairline. The scalp should be washed with a mild normal shampoo as often as desired. Antidandruff shampoos containing antifungal agents such as ketoconazole or ciclopirox are sometimes helpful. Apart from that you need topical and oral antibiotics, antihistamines, oral steroids and topical tretinoin.

My sincere advice is to get it examined from a dermatologist. It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.
Helpful - 0
1340994 tn?1374193977
You said you tried dandruff shampoos, but did you try Nizoral?  It is different.  It is an antifungal.

You might have food allergies.  Mine are to gluten, nuts and milk.  Eating gluten made my skin itch terribly and get little whiteheads on my scalp.  You are describing sebum, so you are getting high production of sebum.  You might get relief by avoiding shampoos with wheat, so maybe a Neutrogena shampoo or Dove shampoo and then rinsing your hair in the sink with a couple of tablespoons of vinegar in your rinse water.  
Helpful - 0
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