What are the different types of bugs that can infest the scalp? How can you treat bug bites on the scalp effectively? Get the facts and insights.

Identifying the Culprit: Common Bugs Found on the Scalp

When dealing with an itchy scalp, it’s crucial to identify the underlying cause. While head lice are one of the most common culprits, other insects such as fleas, ants, and bedbugs can also make their way onto the scalp. Let’s take a closer look at the various bugs that may be responsible for your scalp discomfort.

Lice

Lice are small, wingless parasites that thrive by feeding on human blood. They can be white, brown, or black in color, and they move by crawling along the hair shafts. Lice typically congregate at the base of the hair, particularly around the neck and ears. You may also spot small, oval-shaped eggs (nits) attached to the hair strands near the scalp.

Fleas

Like lice, fleas are small and wingless parasites. Flea bites can cause itchy, discolored welts, blisters, or bumps on the skin. Fleas are brown or black in color and can be seen with the naked eye. However, they are much more agile than lice, capable of hopping and crawling quickly. Fleas generally do not make their home in human hair, but they may temporarily take up residence if they’ve infested your pet.

Ants

While it’s uncommon, certain types of ants, such as Pheidole ants (also known as barber ants), can infest the scalp. These wingless, reddish or yellowish-brown ants may eat the hair, leading to patches of hair loss, a condition called ant-induced alopecia. If you suspect you have ants in your hair, it’s important to seek medical attention right away.

Bedbugs

Bedbugs are small, flat, reddish-brown bugs that can be seen with the naked eye. They have wing pads, but these are not fully functional. Bedbugs typically prefer to make their home in furniture and mattresses, but they may occasionally end up in the hair. However, they are not well-equipped to survive in the scalp environment and will likely be washed out in a hot shower.

Distinguishing Between Insect Infestations and Other Scalp Conditions

While insect infestations can cause scalp itchiness, there are also other conditions that can lead to a similar sensation, including dandruff and psoriasis. It’s important to be able to differentiate between these various causes to ensure proper treatment.

Dandruff

Dandruff is a scalp condition that causes the skin to flake, resulting in white flakes that may resemble head lice or nits at first glance. The key differences are that dandruff flakes are always white, while lice may be white, black, or brown. Additionally, dandruff flakes collect at the top of the scalp and fall off hair strands more easily, whereas lice and their eggs cling to the hair follicles.

Psoriasis

Scalp psoriasis is a skin condition that can also cause an itching sensation. However, unlike insect infestations, psoriasis is characterized by the formation of thick, crusted scales on the skin. If you notice these scales, it’s best to consult a dermatologist for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Addressing the Problem: Effective Treatment Options

If you suspect you have an insect infestation on your scalp, there are several steps you can take to address the issue.

Examining Your Scalp

Grab a flashlight and magnifying glass to closely inspect your scalp. This can help you determine whether you’re dealing with lice, fleas, dandruff, or any other visible signs of an infestation. If you’re still unsure, it’s best to consult a healthcare professional for a proper diagnosis.

Treating the Condition

Depending on the type of infestation, you can take various measures to treat the problem at home. For lice, there are specialized shampoos and treatments available. Fleas and bedbugs can often be washed out in a hot, soapy shower. If you suspect ants, it’s crucial to seek medical attention immediately.

Addressing Underlying Causes: Beyond Visible Infestations

In some cases, the sensation of something crawling on the scalp may not be attributed to a visible infestation. This phenomenon, known as formication, can have several underlying causes, including:

Hallucinations or Medication Side Effects

Formication, or the feeling of something crawling on the skin, can sometimes be a symptom of hallucinations or side effects from certain medications. If you experience this sensation without any visible bugs or flakes on your scalp, it’s important to consult a healthcare professional to determine the root cause and receive appropriate treatment.

Seeking Professional Guidance

If you’re unable to identify the cause of your scalp itchiness or if the condition persists despite your efforts, it’s best to seek the advice of a healthcare professional, such as a dermatologist. They can provide a proper diagnosis and recommend the most effective treatment plan, ensuring that the issue is addressed effectively and safely.

Maintaining Scalp Health

Regardless of the underlying cause, it’s important to maintain good scalp hygiene and overall health to prevent and manage any issues that may arise. This can include regular shampooing, using gentle, antifungal products, and addressing any underlying skin conditions or nutritional deficiencies that may contribute to scalp problems.

Types and How to Treat Them

Most of the time, bugs on your scalp are head lice. But you may also find fleas, ants, or other insects on your head. Here’s what you can do to treat these parasites.

A head lice infestation is one of the most common reasons for an itching sensation on your scalp.

But it’s possible that other insects or scalp conditions could be to blame for the itchiness, including:

• fleas
• bedbugs
• ants
• dandruff
• psoriasis

Here’s how to tell whether you have lice or another condition.

Bugs you may find on your scalp include:

Lice

These small parasites can be white, brown, or black. They don’t have wings and move by crawling. You’ll typically find them at the base of hair shafts, especially around your neck and ears.

You may also notice small, oval eggs (nits) on hair strands near your scalp. You can see lice with your naked eye, but they’re often easier to spot when you have wet hair. You can also use a magnifying glass to find them more easily.

Fleas

Like lice, fleas are small and wingless parasites. Flea bites itch, and they may leave discolored welts, blisters, or bumps.

Fleas are brown or black, and you can see them with your naked eye. However, they move much more quickly than lice and other bugs, and they can hop and crawl. They usually don’t make their home in human hair — your pet’s hair is another story entirely.

Fleas also don’t lay eggs in human hair. If your pet has fleas, you may be more likely to have fleas on your body, but they often don’t survive for long. You can also kill fleas on your body by taking a hot shower with plenty of soap.

Here’s how to get rid of fleas in your home.

Ants

It’s uncommon for ants to infest your hair, but it’s still possible. Pheidole ants (barber ants) can cause a rare condition called ant-induced alopecia. To put it simply, they may eat your hair, causing patches of hair loss on your scalp.

These wingless ants are reddish or yellowish brown. You can see them with your naked eye, and they resemble other types of ants.

If you have ants in your hair, you may feel a crawling sensation on your scalp, but you won’t experience the intense itch that you would with lice and flea bites.

Consider contacting a doctor right away if you believe you have ants in your hair.

Bedbugs

Bedbugs are small, flat, reddish brown bugs that you can see with your naked eye. They have wing pads, which resemble wings but aren’t fully functional.

They usually don’t hang out in your hair or on your scalp. They actually prefer furniture and mattresses.

If they do somehow end up in your hair, they won’t survive for long. They’re not equipped to attach to human hair, and they also don’t like light or heat.

If you suspect you have bedbugs in your hair, you can often wash them out in a hot shower.

Learn more about treating bedbugs in your home.

Conditions that are not insect-related may cause scalp itching, including:

Dandruff

This scalp condition causes your skin to flake, and those white flakes may resemble head lice or nits at first glance.

Key differences between dandruff and lice include:

• Color: Dandruff is always white. Lice may be white, black, or brown. So, if you notice any darker spots on your scalp, you may have lice.
• Location and movement: Lice are small, moving bugs that live around the scalp. Their eggs cling to the hair follicles. Dandruff flakes, on the other hand, collect at the top of the scalp and will fall off strands of hair fairly easily.
• Sensation: Both conditions can cause itchiness. But with lice, you might also feel a crawling sensation.

Check out our guide to home remedies for dandruff.

Psoriasis

Scalp psoriasis is a skin condition that may cause an itching sensation. But the similarities between lice and psoriasis stop there.

Psoriasis causes thick, crusted scales that build up on your skin. If you notice these scales, it’s best to contact a dermatologist who can diagnose psoriasis and recommend helpful treatments.

Here are 12 ways to treat psoriasis at home.

Hallucinations or medication side effects

If you feel like something is crawling on or beneath your skin, but there’s nothing there, you may be experiencing a tactile hallucination called formication.

This type of hallucination can have several different causes, including substance use, medication side effects, or mental health conditions such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

If you can’t find any bugs or flakes on your scalp but continue to feel an itching sensation, consider reaching out to a doctor for more guidance.

If you think you may have bugs in your hair, these tips can help:

• Grab a flashlight and magnifying glass: Bright light and magnification can help you clarify whether you have lice, fleas, dandruff, or anything else on your scalp. Still not sure? A healthcare professional can help.
• Treat the condition: You can treat lice, fleas, and bedbugs at home. You can wash fleas and bedbugs out in the shower with hot soapy water. To kill head lice, you’ll need to pick up some medicated lice shampoo or spray from your local drugstore, or ask your doctor for a prescription treatment.
• Treat the environment: Whether you have lice, fleas, or bedbugs, killing the bugs in your environment can prevent reinfestation and help protect others from getting the bugs. To do this, thoroughly vacuum all rugs and furniture, wash and dry bedding and clothing in hot water, and disinfect any items you can’t wash by sealing them in a bag for 2 weeks.
• Get professional support: If over-the-counter (OTC) medications, at-home remedies, and cleaning don’t get rid of the bugs, a doctor or another healthcare professional can offer more guidance on next steps.

If you do have lice, you can treat them with:

• OTC treatments: Examples include permethrin lotion or pyrethrins combined with piperonyl butoxide.
• Prescription treatments: A doctor can prescribe spinosad topical suspension (Natroba), ivermectin lotion, benzoyl alcohol lotion, or malathion lotion.
• Manual removal: You can use a lice comb, flea comb, or any fine-toothed comb to remove lice and nits. You’ll need to repeat this at least every 3 days until all the lice go away. For best results, combine this method with medication.

Learn more about lice treatments and home remedies.

The type of insect you’re most likely to find in your hair is the head louse. But fleas, bedbugs, or ants may also temporarily live on your scalp.

It’s also possible to mistake a scalp condition, like dandruff or psoriasis, for lice. If you’re not sure why you have an itchy scalp, try taking a close look with a flashlight and magnifying glass. If you still can’t tell, a doctor can offer more guidance.

Types and How to Treat Them

Most of the time, bugs on your scalp are head lice. But you may also find fleas, ants, or other insects on your head. Here’s what you can do to treat these parasites.

A head lice infestation is one of the most common reasons for an itching sensation on your scalp.

But it’s possible that other insects or scalp conditions could be to blame for the itchiness, including:

• fleas
• bedbugs
• ants
• dandruff
• psoriasis

Here’s how to tell whether you have lice or another condition.

Bugs you may find on your scalp include:

Lice

These small parasites can be white, brown, or black. They don’t have wings and move by crawling. You’ll typically find them at the base of hair shafts, especially around your neck and ears.

You may also notice small, oval eggs (nits) on hair strands near your scalp. You can see lice with your naked eye, but they’re often easier to spot when you have wet hair. You can also use a magnifying glass to find them more easily.

Fleas

Like lice, fleas are small and wingless parasites. Flea bites itch, and they may leave discolored welts, blisters, or bumps.

Fleas are brown or black, and you can see them with your naked eye. However, they move much more quickly than lice and other bugs, and they can hop and crawl. They usually don’t make their home in human hair — your pet’s hair is another story entirely.

Fleas also don’t lay eggs in human hair. If your pet has fleas, you may be more likely to have fleas on your body, but they often don’t survive for long. You can also kill fleas on your body by taking a hot shower with plenty of soap.

Here’s how to get rid of fleas in your home.

Ants

It’s uncommon for ants to infest your hair, but it’s still possible. Pheidole ants (barber ants) can cause a rare condition called ant-induced alopecia. To put it simply, they may eat your hair, causing patches of hair loss on your scalp.

These wingless ants are reddish or yellowish brown. You can see them with your naked eye, and they resemble other types of ants.

If you have ants in your hair, you may feel a crawling sensation on your scalp, but you won’t experience the intense itch that you would with lice and flea bites.

Consider contacting a doctor right away if you believe you have ants in your hair.

Bedbugs

Bedbugs are small, flat, reddish brown bugs that you can see with your naked eye. They have wing pads, which resemble wings but aren’t fully functional.

They usually don’t hang out in your hair or on your scalp. They actually prefer furniture and mattresses.

If they do somehow end up in your hair, they won’t survive for long. They’re not equipped to attach to human hair, and they also don’t like light or heat.

If you suspect you have bedbugs in your hair, you can often wash them out in a hot shower.

Learn more about treating bedbugs in your home.

Conditions that are not insect-related may cause scalp itching, including:

Dandruff

This scalp condition causes your skin to flake, and those white flakes may resemble head lice or nits at first glance.

Key differences between dandruff and lice include:

• Color: Dandruff is always white. Lice may be white, black, or brown. So, if you notice any darker spots on your scalp, you may have lice.
• Location and movement: Lice are small, moving bugs that live around the scalp. Their eggs cling to the hair follicles. Dandruff flakes, on the other hand, collect at the top of the scalp and will fall off strands of hair fairly easily.
• Sensation: Both conditions can cause itchiness. But with lice, you might also feel a crawling sensation.

Check out our guide to home remedies for dandruff.

Psoriasis

Scalp psoriasis is a skin condition that may cause an itching sensation. But the similarities between lice and psoriasis stop there.

Psoriasis causes thick, crusted scales that build up on your skin. If you notice these scales, it’s best to contact a dermatologist who can diagnose psoriasis and recommend helpful treatments.

Here are 12 ways to treat psoriasis at home.

Hallucinations or medication side effects

If you feel like something is crawling on or beneath your skin, but there’s nothing there, you may be experiencing a tactile hallucination called formication.

This type of hallucination can have several different causes, including substance use, medication side effects, or mental health conditions such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

If you can’t find any bugs or flakes on your scalp but continue to feel an itching sensation, consider reaching out to a doctor for more guidance.

If you think you may have bugs in your hair, these tips can help:

• Grab a flashlight and magnifying glass: Bright light and magnification can help you clarify whether you have lice, fleas, dandruff, or anything else on your scalp. Still not sure? A healthcare professional can help.
• Treat the condition: You can treat lice, fleas, and bedbugs at home. You can wash fleas and bedbugs out in the shower with hot soapy water. To kill head lice, you’ll need to pick up some medicated lice shampoo or spray from your local drugstore, or ask your doctor for a prescription treatment.
• Treat the environment: Whether you have lice, fleas, or bedbugs, killing the bugs in your environment can prevent reinfestation and help protect others from getting the bugs. To do this, thoroughly vacuum all rugs and furniture, wash and dry bedding and clothing in hot water, and disinfect any items you can’t wash by sealing them in a bag for 2 weeks.
• Get professional support: If over-the-counter (OTC) medications, at-home remedies, and cleaning don’t get rid of the bugs, a doctor or another healthcare professional can offer more guidance on next steps.

If you do have lice, you can treat them with:

• OTC treatments: Examples include permethrin lotion or pyrethrins combined with piperonyl butoxide.