Scalp Treatment

Many people may confuse these dry flaky skin with dandruff. The difference is that the main cause of dandruff is the condition seborrheic dermatitis which causes the skin to turn red, oily and scaley. This can happen in areas with oil glands such as the head, face and armpits.

Psoriasis is another skin condition that also causes the skin to redden and turn scaly. However, the difference is that the skin flakes are usually thicker and require prescription medication to control the condition.

Another reason for skin flaking off is a type of fungus that lives in our scalp. Certain individuals have an abundance of it that results in the overproduction of skin cells which will eventually flake off.

When tackling the issue of dry scalp, one can first look at changing the type of shampoo that they are using. Some shampoos contain anti-fungal medicine that can either kill or help to significantly reduce fungal propagation hence controlling skin cell production. Others can control the scaliness of the scalp along with reducing skin cell production to reduce flaking.

Prevention is also key. You may not be experiencing dry scalp at the moment. However, it may very well develop. There are three things to keep in mind:

• Drink enough water. The root cause of dry scalp may very well be dehydration as the skin is not able to obtain enough moisture.
• Look at your washing habits. Sometimes too much or too little washing may be detrimental to scalp health. It is of utmost importance to find a balance for your scalp.
• Improve your hair care routine. Be it changing your shampoo or incorporating a hair mask, it may be beneficial to change up existing routines to better scalp health.

On the other end of the spectrum are individuals who suffer from an oily scalp. The reason for this is an overly active sebaceous gland.

Each hair follicle is connected to a sebaceous gland that produces sebum – natural body oils that travel down the hair shaft to keep the hair from drying out. However, in some individuals, they may have an overly active sebaceous gland. As a result, the oil causes hair to clump together giving the individual a greasy look.

There are a variety of reasons as to why an individual would be combating oily scalp. As mentioned previously, seborrheic dermatitis may be one cause that leads to the development of both an oily scalp and dandruff. This is especially so in areas with a lot of oil glands such as the head.

Genetics also play an active role in this as some individuals are just more genetically prone to sebum overproduction.

Washing one’s hair too many times may also be a cause. Every time an individual washes their hair, the shampoo they use washes away the sebum that has been secreted to protect the hair. As a result, the sebaceous gland will produce more. If the sebaceous gland is overly stimulated, it may lead to the overproduction of sebum.

There are a few ways that one can deal with an oily scalp. Fish oil and aloe vera has been shown in research to have anti-inflammatory properties and may be able to help reduce the frequency of flare-ups. Another home remedy would be apple cider vinegar that has been touted for their anti-inflammatory properties. However, people with eczema may find that this would further irritate their skin.

You can also look at changing your shampoo or reducing the number of times you wash your hair. Shampoos that are suited for individuals with oily scalp would mostly be water-based and contain compounds such as benzoyl peroxide, sodium lauryl sulfate and ketoconazole.

Many may find that earlier remedies show lacklustre results. This is because the root of the problem is not addressed, these remedies are not able to penetrate deep enough into the hair follicle to create any lasting results.