Hair care products, the weather, age and various skin conditions can cause dry scalp. You may be able to treat the condition by switching shampoos, but talk to your healthcare provider if dry scalp persists.
Vitamins D, B2, B3, B6, B7 are usually associated with a flaky scalp. A deficiency of these vitamins can directly impact the immune system and increase the risk of inflammation. Vitamin B and Zinc also play an integral role in boosting your immune system to counter dandruff like ailments.
Jojoba Oil or Argan Oil: These oils are great for moisturizing and balancing the scalp without clogging pores. Apply a few drops directly to your scalp and massage it in. You can leave it on without washing if it's a small amount, or rinse it out if needed.
Wash Hair Less Often, but Not Too Infrequently
While washing too much can dry out your scalp, doing it too little can also have the same effect.
Drinking an adequate amount of water keeps your hair hydrated and can prevent many scalp and hair issues such as itchiness, dandruff, and dry or brittle hair. In addition, when you drink enough water, your scalp remains hydrated and healthy, helping you avoid thinning hair and hair loss conditions.
To effectively treat dry scalp, use a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner, avoid hot water when washing your hair, moisturize your scalp regularly with oils or scalp treatments, and consult a dermatologist if symptoms persist for personalized treatment options.
Seborrheic (seb-o-REE-ik) dermatitis is a common skin condition that mainly affects your scalp. It causes scaly patches, inflamed skin and stubborn dandruff. It usually affects oily areas of the body, such as the face, sides of the nose, eyebrows, ears, eyelids and chest.
Vitamin A. If scalp dryness is a problem, adding Vitamin A can help since it helps produce sebum. More sebum production means a moisturized scalp, essential to scalp health.
Not only does your scalp have a plethora of sweat glands, but it also has an abundance of sebaceous (oil) glands, which produce oily sebum. Have you ever scratched your scalp and noticed white, waxy buildup under your nails? That's sebum mixed with dead skin cells.
Dandruff or Dry Scalp
It can also be embarrassing. Although these skin conditions are usually on the scalp, seborrheic dermatitis can also occur on the face, chest, armpits, and groin. The cause for such issues links back to vitamin deficiencies in vitamins B3 (niacin), B2 (riboflavin), and B6 (pyridoxine).
Scabs on the scalp can emerge due to folliculitis, dermatitis, psoriasis or an allergic reaction to chemical products, like hair dye or or hair treatments. It is rare for scabs to form due to severe health conditions, like skin cancer.
Head and Shoulders Daily Moisture Scalp Cream
This lightweight, quick-absorbing formula is one of our favorite natural hair products. It's suitable for protective styles like twists and locs, or relaxed hair. Apply it all over your scalp to seal in moisture and prevent flakes and itchiness.
Generally, he says, the range is somewhere between once a day and once a week. “If you have very fine or thin hair, you may need to wash more often, while those with thick or curly hair may need to wash less often,” says Dr Elizabeth Bahar Houshmand, a double board certified dermatologist and hair health expert.
Our top pick is Briogeo, a clarifying shampoo and scalp-scrub combo treatment that our testers said banished itchy symptoms and flakes for days on end.
Some hair care products can dry and irritate the scalp by stripping the natural oils from your skin. Weather can also dry your scalp in low humidity and cold climates. When you have dry skin on your scalp, you'll typically experience itchiness and flakes of skin, according to Dr. Hooper.