Likely Suspects of Dry Scalp

If you’re experiencing a dry scalp at this changing of the season, you aren’t alone. In fact, about half of Americans experience dandruff or other forms of dry scalp throughout the year, and no time is as common during transitions to and from the winter months. Today, our scalp care team will review some of the most common reasons you may suffer from regular or sporadic dry scalp and dandruff.

Top Causes of a Dried Out Scalp

There are plenty of reasons you can have dry scalp, ranging from medical conditions to nothing more than your local climate, but the secret to a success treatment of dandruff and dry scalp always lies in a more optimized scalp care routine. Here are some of the leading reasons you may experience a dry scalp:

Medical Conditions

There are numerous medical conditions that cause dry scalp. Some of these cause frequent or constant dry scalp and dandruff, while others will come and go in spurts. If you feel that, no matter what you do, your dry scalp will not stop bothering you, it may be wise to seek out a doctor’s opinion. They can recommend prescription-grade scalp care products that can augment your regular routine to help out, as well as other medicines and treatments that can help with your particular situation. Some of these conditions include:

  • Scalp Psoriasis – While this may appear like dandruff, with white skin flakes, the problem could be entirely caused by psoriasis, and not related to an environmental cause of dryness at all; you would need an entirely different treatment for psoriasis to accompany standard scalp care products and practices.
  • Eczema – This is especially common in children, but the problem can begin or continue during adulthood. Other diseases and disorders, especially autoimmune disorders, can cause or emulate eczema, especially in adults. Unlike psoriasis, eczema is usually accompanied by a persistent itchiness in specific areas on the scalp.
  • Seborrhea – Also called seborrheic dermatitis, this disorder is the most difficult of the three to diagnose, as it almost exactly mirrors common dry scalp symptoms. There are, however, numerous over-the-counter medicated shampoos and scalp care products that help with this dermatitis, and also some prescription-grade options available through a dermatologist.
  • Heredity – Your genes could also be considered a medical condition, of sorts, and cause you to have symptoms similar to dermatitis, psoriasis, or eczema (as well as the conditions themselves), so be sure to see a doctor if someone else in your family seems to have the same symptoms or a known case of one of the above disorders. It is important to note that some populations of people are much more likely than others to suffer from dry scalp, dandruff, and dry skin disorders than others; speak to your doctor for specific hereditary possibilities and diagnosis information.

Your Cleaning Habits

If you don’t regularly and properly wash your scalp, then you’re much more likely to suffer from dry scalp. Simply washing or rinsing your hair isn’t enough, even done regularly, to keep your scalp healthy and hydrated; you need to know how to properly wash your hair, specifically your scalp, and do so with the right frequency, meaning neither too often or not often enough. It helps tremendously, of course, to use the right hair and scalp care products for your particular needs and hair type. Additionally, if there hasn’t already been enough information for you, using chemically-based shampoos and conditioners can actually detract from your hair and scalp care efforts by leaving pore-clogging residue on your hair follicles, scrubbing off all of your body’s natural oils, and actually drying out your hair and scalp. By instead using our scalp care products, you take advantage of essential oils derived from naturally moisturizing plants to more safely and effectively hydrate your scalp.

Your Daily Life

After you get out of the shower in the morning, you have to go about your day and tackle everything else that is thrown at you. In your life, there are plenty of factors that can make your scalp more or less healthy, many of which you have more control on then you think. By taking proactive steps to cut back on bad habits and maximize good ones, you can make dramatic and surprising improvements on your scalp care routine. The top list of day-to-day hair harmers include the following:

  • The weather – Well, can’t control this too much. If you live in a particularly dry climate, you’re likely going to have more issues with dry scalp than someone that lives in a more humid one (granted, they have frizz problems, so don’t envy them too much!). Even the day-to-day weather changes in your area can have profound effects on your hair, which is likely why spring and fall mean more itching and flakes than usual. Prepare your hair for these pivot points by having a scalp care routine in place from late fall through early spring, then as needed during the warmer months!
  • Your diet – Your scalp is just skin, and skin is incredibly sensitive to the things you eat. If you’re eating junk, your skin will show it with bags under your eyes, pale or pasty skin, and even a dry, irritated scalp. It’s easy for us to forget that our scalp is just skin with a bunch of hair follicles sticking out of it, but that’s exactly what it is, so if you’re struggling with oily or dry skin on the rest of your body, your scalp is likely experiencing it much more.
  • Stress – Again, your scalp is made up of skin – skin that is extremely sensitive to stress and anxiety. We’ve all noticed bags under our eyes, less-than-lustrous look on particularly stressful day, or the classic pimple on prom day caused by stress and anxiety. Well, your scalp skin is no different, and it can reward your stress from work or school with a dry, itchy scalp, lackluster or flat hair, and even things like split ends and breakage if your stress continues over long periods of time – and you thought wrinkles were the worst of your worries!

Shop Our Scalp Care Products

While we can’t get you the prescription-grade products a dermatologist could for a potential medical condition that is impacting your dry scalp, we can help anyone with environmentally-caused dry scalp with our scalp care product lines. Look through our various product types to find a line that best matches the current needs of your hair, then pick up the multistep products that work together to take care of your scalp and future hair. Give it a try today, and find out how great a moisturized, healthy scalp can feel!

Shop our entire product lineup here today!


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