Dry scalp
A dry scalp causes itching, flaking and irritation. The oil on the scalp which keeps your skin moisturized has decreased. In this article you will firstly, read about the difference between dandruff and a dry scalp, secondly about the symptoms of a dry scalp, than about the causes of a dry scalp and most importantly about the best treatment against it.
Dry scalp or dandruff?
Dandruff and dry scalp have the same symptoms. Therefore, it can be difficult to conclude what you are actually suffering from. But in dry scalp, the skin gets irritated and flakes off. With dandruff, the cause is too much oil on the scalp. That excess oil causes skin cells to build up and then shed. Therefore, knowing which of these conditions you have can help you get the right treatment and banish those flakes for good.
A symptom to recognise if you are suffering from dry scalp or actually have dandruff is to look at the colours of the flakes. With a dry scalp, the flakes are usually white small specks, while dandruff is tinted yellow. According to Antonella Tosti a dermatologist: “Dandruff also has an abnormally accelerated renewal of scalp skin cells that fall off as scales and clusters”. In addition, this means that the excess oil causes microscopic dead skin cells to stick together in clumps. Most of the flakes will be thicker than flakes that come from a dry scalp.
Symptoms of a dry scalp
Below you will find the symptoms of several scalp conditions:
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Dry scalp |
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Dry, cracked skin that also bleed or itch |
Tight or dry feeling scalp |
It may feel dry, scaly and also crusty scalp |
Very dry skin |
Dry skin |
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Red patches of skin, with thick silvery scales |
No scales |
No scales |
Red and scaly |
Swollen and red patches/dry and also scaly rashes |
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No flakes |
White small flakes of dead skin |
Flakes that range from small white to large, greasy and yellow. |
Flaky |
Flaking scalp that resembles dandruff |
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Itching, burning and also soreness |
Itching and also irritation |
Itchy flaking on the scalp and hairline |
Very itchy or burning |
Itchy, scaly bald patches |
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Not the cause for hair loss, only scratching is |
No |
No |
Scratching can damage the hair follicles |
Patches of hair loss (Alopecia) and also low fever and swollen lymph nodes |
Other conditions of the scalp
When you do not only suffer from a dry scalp but also from itching of the scalp or scaling you might suffer from tinea capitis, dandruff, psoriasis or seborrheic dermatitis. When you are not certain of your condition we advise you to also read the articles below:
Causes of a dry scalp
The first cause we will talk about is too much washing of the hair. Washing your hair every day can strip your scalp of the natural oils that it needs to stay hydrated. Over time, your hair can start to dry out, brittle and break. We recommend washing your hair 3 times a week, but this depends on your hair type.
The second cause of a dry scalp where we will talk about are the usage of hair products. If your scalp turns red, itches and flakes after you was it with certain shampoos, soaps or other hair products can lead to contact dermatitis. If you dye your hair it can also be the reaction against a chemical. To combat effectively against contact dermatitis, you have to think about the possible cause for it, before using an effective shampoo, which contains effective ingredients that improve your scalp condition.
The third cause is about different temperatures and the weather. During the winter months in cold climates, the humidity in the air drops. Cold weather dries out the skin all over your body. We recommend you to stay not longer for 5 or 10 minutes in the shower at a time. Because spending too much time under hot water can strip your skin of its natural oils.
Furthermore, a couple things can have an impact on the dryness of your scalp. Alcohol can dry the scalp and a lot of ingredients such as sulphates, menthol and eucalyptus can irritate the scalp. These can be drying an cause an imbalance in the PH of the scalp. Overall it is best to use a shampoo that has been specially developed for the scalp, such as an anti-sulphate shampoo and nourishing mask.
Treatment against a dry scalp
Against a dry scalp, Neofollics Hair Technology has developed a product that also helps for other scalp conditions that combats it. These are an exfoliating shampoo and nourishing mask, that work independently of each other, but together provide extra effectiveness and the best treatment on the market. The treatment is for a Healthy Scalp and it also combats dandruff, flakes and itching. Furthermore, the treatment gently exfoliates the scalp and removes impurities like dandruff and flakes. It contains a broad spectrum of ingredients that have anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial activity.
The shampoo needs to be applied directly to the scalp with the fingertips or the shampoo brush. This brush stimulates the circulation and overall health of your scalp. By massaging for better circulation, cleansing and ridding the scalp of dandruff, dirt and sebum. For the best results, use the shampoo and nourishing mask 3 to 4 times per week. Leave the shampoo in for 2-3 minutes, than rinse and use the nourishing mask, which you do not rinse.
Conclusion
A dry scalp can be caused by various things such as dry weather, using the wrong products and washing your hair too often. Dry scalp can be very similar to other conditions such as eczema or dandruff. Find out what is bothering you so you can treat it in the best way possible.
