Scalp Bleeding Causes: Injury, Infections, Picking or ?

Are you suffering from bleeding scalp? What are the reasons behind your it? This problem may have a wide range of causes, they can range from chronic itching, skin conditions to head injury. Explore this article for detailed information about the causes, symptoms, and treatments including natural remedies

Causes

This problem has many causes with various symptoms. The symptoms and treatments will depend on these causes. Here are the most common causes”

1. Injury

Head injury simply means any trauma to the scalp, brain or skull. The severity of the head injury may vary from mild to moderate to severe brain injury. According to many sources head injury can either be open or closed. The two head injury types can both lead to it bleeding. Head injuries also include skull fractures, edema, wounds, hemorrhage, hematoma and concussion. According to Medlineplus.com, head injuries may cause bleeding brain tissue and layers surrounding the brain. It can result in external scalp bleeding as well.

Due to scalp injury or trauma

2. Bleeding Disorder

Healthline.com explains that “A bleeding disorder is a condition that affects the way your blood normally clots.” Especially when you are injured. This disorder can lead to unusual bleeding outside and inside the body. There are those disorders that will increase the blood leaving your body or result in excessive or prolonged bleeding. Though this disorders usually follow accident or injury, some cases will just occur without any meaningful reason. Common symptoms of this disorders include easy bruising, frequent nosebleeds, heavy menstrual flow and bleeding into the joints among others. There are many kinds of this disorders but the most commonly known ones are:

Hemophilia-a condition occurring when there are low levels of clotting factors
Factor II, V, and VII, X OR XII deficiencies– these are linked to blood clotting problem or unusual bleeding disorder
Von Willebrand`s disease– this one is inherited one that occurs when blood lacks von Willebrand factor that is helping in blood clotting

3. Compulsive scalp picking

According to Rightdiagnosis.com, compulsive scalp picking is “A form of obsessive compulsive disorder where a person compulsively picks at the skin on their own scalp.” Though during this period the bearer can feel some scalp pain, they can’t stop this as they try to relieve stress and gratification sensation. The severity of this disorder will vary but may lead to bleeding in the affected skin. This problem is mainly due to stress and anxiety but can be treated. Mediation, cognitive-behavioral and hypnosis treatments can really be meaningful for this syndrome

4. Skin Conditions

Many skin conditions occurring on the scalp that can trigger itchy rash or itchy blisters on scalp or lesions can lead to itching hence triggering some bleeding. According to Webmd.com, “There are 22 conditions associated with bleeding and skin rash.” Such skin conditions may be due to skin infections, insect infestation, allergy and irritation or disorders associated with internal organs or something else. The severity of such skin conditions will basically depend on the causes. Some will form blood-filled blisters while others can be itchy and trigger scratching to an extent blood oozing out. Here are common skin conditions that can lead to the itchy scalp or lesions that bleed:

Itchy scalp due to ringworms can result in bleeding

Itching due to ringworms can result in bleeding

Psoriasis on head
seborrheic dermatitis (dandruff)
folliculitis decalvans
Contact dermatitis
Eczema
Ringworm
Folliculitis
Chickenpox
Dry scalp skin
Severe scalp acne

There are many treatments available for head bumps or scalp sores caused by these conditions. They include best shampoo for dandruff, scalp psoriasis cure, scalp scab treatment among more treatments

5. Hair Transplant

It is a common problem during hair transplant surgery. This occurs in both graft area and the donor site. You should acknowledge that this is normal and should be expected. The most important question is that, how long will the bleeding last? This one is always temporary and usually last for only two weeks but can extend depending on the circumstances. During this stage, the haemorrhage will signify healing process and the donor area forms scabs and heals. Bleeding can also be experienced when the transplanted hair is combed. So rough combing and hair scratching should be avoided during this stage.

Hair transplant can cause some mild scalp bleeding

Hair transplant can cause some mild bleeding

6. Chronic Itching

Chronic bleeding due to scalp infections, skin conditions or allergy can also contribute to this issue. When you end up with itchiness that is reoccurring, you will definitely develop the urge to scratch the itching region too. Frequent scratching will damage the affected skin leading to damage to the skin tissue hence hemorrhage. Scratching can also cause small blisters filled with blood that can burst and bleed.

7. Suction Instruments during Delivery of a baby

Suction instruments used during the delivery of the baby can also to the baby bleeding scalp. During this process, this instrument can accidentally injure the baby scalp leading tohemorrhage. This usually occurs when there is complications with the birth process i.e. when a woman birth canal is too narrow to allow out the baby. Such accident can also lead to some other complications to the baby in future.

8. Careless combing

If at all you are suffering from a scalp pimple or bump, rough combing brushing may trigger bleeding as well. When also existing pimples or scalp lesions is scrubbed during hair brushing or combing, this problem is likely to be experienced. This is a common problem especially for those having long scalp hair. We should always be keen when combing or brushing by determining the presence of any lesion. Combing or brushing your hair using rough combs and brushes may also accidentally lead to the skin being scratched hence bleeding.

9. Pulled Hair or Tight Braiding

Apart from skin conditions, allergies or diseases, it can also be due to pulled hair or tight braiding. Pulling of hair will damage the hair follicles and can lead to bleeding. Tight braiding can also lead to scabs on the head that can also result in hemorrhage. On the other side, tight braiding or hair pulling can also lead to scalp lesions that can eventually lead to this problem.

Symptoms and diagnosis

Bleeding scalp have many causes that will result to various symptoms. It is obvious that early signs or symptoms occurring alongside this problem will definitely depend on the underlying primary Causes. The symptoms will originate from various skin conditions and infections or from internal organ disorders. Some will also occur suddenly that you may not have time to study them. A good example is one due to head or scalp injury.

Here are some of the symptoms that may together with this condition:

Itchy scalp rashes
Reddened scalp bumps
Small blood-filled blisters
Scabbing (after scalp bleeding)
Urge to scratch it
Hair loss
Light-headiness or dizziness
Low blood pressure
Death within seconds or minutes (in serious cases)
Pale, cool or clammy skin
Hair transplantation
Swollen or tender scalp skin
Weakness
Other itchy skin lesions

Bleeding can also be due to a veiled severe health condition that may involve serious internal organ disorders. In such cases, the symptoms occurring alongside it may be very dreadful or life-threatening. The may include impaired vision, loss of consciousness, breathing and swallowing problems among other serious symptoms.

Mild episodes are common and easy to treat. They also rarely have no long-term effects. Severe cases can be very dangerous. Such significant cases are always due to accidental scalp cuts, lacerations or puncture wounds from sharp instruments. According Emedicinehealth.com, such intense bleeding can result to, decreased blood pressure or reduced organ blood flow.

How to treat scalp bleeding

Treating scalp will only be effective if the underlying causes could be diagnosed and treated separately. The treatments will also vary depending on the severity of the underlying symptoms. The may involve minor or major wounds. For cases of mild bleeding, you can easily stop them at home. Below are three procedures to care for this problem.

Stop the bleeding

Put some pressure on the scalp wound or cut using a clean cloth or tissue until it stops
Use thick layer of cloth to soak the blood if that is possible
You should wash your hands after this first aid and before cleaning and dressing the wound
Only apply a tourniquet if the bleeding is serious

Clean the wound/Cut

Using soap and warm water clean the scalp wound or bleeding spot. Wash out the soap out of the affected spot spot to avoid irritation
Remember to apply hydrogen peroxide or iodine that can damage the scalp tissue around the bleeding area.

Protect the wound

To protect the bleeding wound, you need to use apply antibiotics to avoid or to reduce the risk of infections
Cover the wound with sterile bandage
Make sure to change the bandage daily to keep your scalp wound clean and dry
Keep your scalp hair short until the bleeding relieves

Natural remedies

Home remedies for bleeding scalp will vary ranging from household ingredients such as tea bags, ice colds to certain herbs with potential healing properties. Below are what are considered effective home remedies that will help you.

Tea Bags

This remedy works very effectively for stopping the bleeding. Regardless, of which type of the tea, just take a tea bag and moisten it with water and apply it on top of the affected spot. Hold it there for around 10 minutes. This should stop mild to moderate cases.

Application of Ice

This is the most commonly used natural remedy to stop bleeding. It helps in blood clotting as well as relieving the pain occurring alongside hemorrhage. “When you apply ice on a wound, it causes the ruptured arteries to constrict and close off” [Justhealthlifestyle.com]. This will eventually stop bleeding. One warning you should bear at the back of your mind is that you should not apply the ice directly.

Apply ice

White Vinegar

This home product has an astringent property that will incredibly help stop bleeding. It will make the ruptured arteries that are causing this problem to constrict and close off hence limiting blood loss. This remedy will also aid clotting process. Just take cotton wool and dip into the white vinegar and apply it to the bleeding wound. This will wonderfully relieve.

Ground Coffee Powder

The ground coffee powder can also help to stop blood flow since it aids clotting process. This is one of the oldest natural remedies used to stop bleeding and has been passed from one generation to the other. It is only effective for minor cases.

Apart from the above 4 mentioned natural remedies, more natural remedies include; turmeric, cayenne pepper, black pepper, alum, juniper sap, cornstarch, flour, salt and water, yarrow, sugar and witch hazel

When to call a doctor?

Call your doctor when:

The home remedies and the first aid procedures can’t stop the bleeding
The wound is deep or the edges are open with intense hemorrhage
The wound has dirt or debris that can’t come out
The area of scalp wound feels numb
If there is any sign of infection on the wound such as tendering, redness or thick discharge alongside bleeding

The doctor will prescribe other advanced treatments that may help to stop the bleeding, therefore, I repeat, don’t nurse any bleeding scalp wound while you see it does not respond to the first aid procedures/the natural home remedies.