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Dry flaky skin on scalp: Is your dry scalp something more serious?

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Is your dry scalp something more serious?

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Dandruff vs. Dry Scalp: What’s the Difference?

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Dry scalp is caused by a lack of moisture in the skin while dandruff is caused by an excess of oil on the scalp and an overgrowth of Malassezia yeast. Dandruff cannot be cured, but its symptoms can be managed with a specialized shampoo.

If you have a dry, flaking scalp, you may suspect dandruff. But it could be a symptom of dry scalp. Dandruff and dry scalp have the same main symptoms, which are falling flakes and an itchy scalp, but they’re two different conditions.

With dry scalp, your skin gets irritated and flakes off. With dandruff, the cause is too much oil on your scalp along with an overgrowth of yeast, called Malassezia, that’s already on your skin. That excess oil causes skin cells to build up and then shed. Knowing which of these conditions you have can help you get the right treatment and banish those flakes for good.

You get dry scalp when your skin has too little moisture. The skin on your scalp becomes irritated and flakes off. If your scalp is dry, the skin on other parts of your body, such as your arms and legs, could be dry too.

Dry scalp can also be triggered by factors such as these:

  • cold, dry air
  • contact dermatitis caused by a reaction to products you apply to your scalp, such as shampoo, styling gel, and hairspray
  • older age
  • the use of products that strip the natural oils from your skin

The skin cells on your scalp and body normally multiply when you need more of them. Then they die and shed off. During this process, your skin cells turn over on a regular basis or turn over faster in response to inflammation. When you have dandruff, skin cells on your scalp shed more quickly than usual.

The main cause of dandruff is seborrheic dermatitis, a condition that turns your skin oily, red, and scaly. The white or yellow scales flake off, creating dandruff. You can get seborrheic dermatitis anywhere you have oil glands, including your eyebrows, groin, armpits, chest, upper back, ears and along the sides of your nose. In babies it’s called cradle cap.

Often, a fungus called Malassezia triggers dandruff. This fungus normally lives on your scalp. If you have too much of it, though, it causes your skin cells to multiply more quickly than usual.

Certain factors can cause Malassezia to multiply, including:

  • age
  • hormones
  • stress
  • underlying medical conditions and nutritional deficiencies

Dirty hair doesn’t cause dandruff, but if you don’t wash your hair often enough, the oily buildup can contribute to flakes.

One way to tell the difference between dry scalp and flakes from dandruff is by their appearance. Dandruff flakes are bigger, and they look oily. In babies with cradle cap, their scalp looks scaly or crusty. Both dryness and dandruff can make your scalp itch.

The following is a comparison of the main symptoms of each condition:

You can treat most dandruff yourself with an over-the-counter shampoo. If you’ve tried a dandruff shampoo for at least a month and your flakes haven’t improved, they’re getting worse, or the skin on your scalp looks red or swollen, make an appointment with a dermatologist, a doctor who specializes in treating the skin. You might have another skin condition that needs to be treated.

A doctor or healthcare professional will determine whether you have dandruff by looking at your scalp and hair. They can rule out conditions such as eczema and psoriasis, which can also cause flaky skin on your scalp.

If you have dry scalp, wash with a gentle shampoo and then use a moisturizing conditioner. One way to tell whether you have dry scalp or dandruff is to apply a light moisturizer to your scalp before you go to bed. If the cause is dry scalp, the flakes should disappear once you shower the next morning. Some hair stylists can perform a scalp treatment that uses steam to deliver more moisture to your scalp.

Dandruff shampoo

For mild dandruff, wash your hair every day with a gentle shampoo to lower the amount of oil on your scalp. If your dandruff is more severe or a regular shampoo doesn’t work, try a dandruff shampoo.

Most dandruff shampoos contain medication that kills the fungus on your scalp or removes flaky skin. Here are some examples:

  • Pyrithione zinc (Head and Shoulders, Jason Dandruff Relief 2 in 1) is an antifungal drug. It kills the fungus on your scalp that causes flaking. Pyrithione zinc shampoos are gentle enough to use every day.
  • Selenium sulfide (Selsun Blue) lowers the amount of fungus and prevents too many skin cells from dying off. If you have blond or gray hair or dye your hair, ask a healthcare professional before using shampoo containing selenium sulfide. It can change your hair color.
  • Ketoconazole (Nizoral) kills the fungus that causes dandruff. You can buy it in either over-the-counter or prescription strength.
  • Salicylic acid (Neutrogena T/Sal) removes extra scales from your scalp before it can flake. Salicylic acid can dry out your skin and cause more flaking.
  • Coal tar (Neutrogena T/Gel) slows the growth and shedding of skin cells on your scalp. Tar-based shampoos can also change your hair color if you have blond or gray hair.

Dandruff tea tree oil

Shampoos containing tea tree oil are an alternative remedy for dandruff. Tea tree oil is a natural ingredient with antifungal properties that some studies show treat dandruff. Some people are allergic to tea tree oil. Ask a doctor before you try it. Stop using the product if you have any redness or swelling.

No matter which dandruff shampoo you try, read the instructions on the bottle and follow them carefully. If you’re not sure which shampoo to use or how often to use it, ask a doctor or pharmacist for advice. You might have to try a few brands before you find one that relieves your dandruff.

Once your dandruff improves, you might be able to cut back on the number of days that you use the shampoo. For more stubborn dandruff, a doctor can prescribe a stronger shampoo or a topical steroid or topical antifungal.

Here are some tips to prevent dandruff and dry scalp:

If you have dandruff, wash your hair often with an antidandruff shampoo. Make sure to rinse out all the shampoo.

Avoid using hair products that contain harsh chemicals, such as bleach and alcohol. These ingredients can dry out your scalp. Also avoid oily hair products that can build up on your scalp.

Spend a few minutes out in the sun every day. There’s some evidence that ultraviolet (UV) light exposure can help control dandruff. You don’t want to get too much sun exposure, though, because it can increase your risk of skin cancer.

Manage your stress with meditation, yoga, deep breathing, and other relaxation techniques.

Dandruff isn’t curable. Most people will have to manage symptoms over the long term. Usually, the flakes will come and go. Treating dandruff with a special shampoo can manage your condition and prevent itching and flakiness.

Dry scalp – what to do if you have dandruff, itching and dryness: care rules and an overview of 10 products

Contents

  • Signs of dry scalp
  • Causes of dryness
  • How to solve the problem of dry scalp
  • Care tips
  • Precautions
  • How to properly wash your hair
  • Dandruff and its elimination
  • Composition for dry scalp care
  • Product Overview

Signs of dry scalp

Brittle and dull hair, the desire to scratch your head are typical symptoms of dry scalp. To find out if this is really your problem, answer five questions.

  1. 1

    Do you often feel discomfort because your scalp is dry and itchy?

    “Dryness of the scalp causes such unpleasant symptoms as feeling
    tightness after washing, as well as itching and flaking. main reason
    dryness is a reduced secretion of sebum, which performs
    protective function. The type of skin of the scalp is determined by the activity
    sebaceous glands, this factor is inherited genetically, and globally
    it cannot be changed. However, with the right care, you can
    minimize problems.

  2. 2

    Are you worried about dry dandruff?

  3. 3

    Do the strands become electrified when combing?

  4. 4

    Is your hair brittle, dull, thinning?

  5. 5

    Does the feeling of tightness return quickly after shampooing?

If you answered yes to most of these questions, most likely the problem of dry scalp is relevant for you.

Now check what your hair is missing.

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Take the test

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Causes of dryness

“Dry scalp is most often a congenital characteristic, since the hormonal background and activity of the sebaceous glands are primarily associated with genetics,” says Ekaterina Turubara, medical expert Vichy. But sometimes dryness of the scalp can be caused by:

  • frequent staining;

  • unbalanced diet;

  • wrong choice of care products;

  • thermal effect of styling tools;

  • diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, nervous and endocrine systems;

  • allergies, skin diseases;

  • non-compliance with the drinking regime.

Dry scalp feels itchy and tight. © iStock

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Dealing with a Dry Scalp

If an itchy, dry scalp has become a problem, it’s time to take action. Sometimes it’s enough just to reconsider the way of life and change some habits.

  • Eat foods rich in healthy fats: nuts, fatty fish, cheese, vegetable oils, avocados, eggs, red meat.

  • Watch your drinking regime – the daily norm is the consumption of 1.5-2 liters of pure non-carbonated water.

  • Do not abuse caffeinated drinks, they dehydrate.

  • Eat less sweet and salty foods.

  • Discard the hair dryer.

  • Consult a trichologist to rule out scalp conditions.

We advise you to read:

  • How hormones affect the skin: in youth and adulthood
  • Eat Me: Skin Healthiest Foods

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Care tips: what to do if the scalp is dry?

“Caring for a dry scalp is no big deal. The main thing is to develop the right strategy,” says Ekaterina Turubara.

Choose the right cleanser

Look for a sulfate-free shampoo. “Its cleansing base is too weak for a normal scalp,” explains the Vichy expert. “But for those who suffer from a lack of sebum, it is quite suitable, as it does not destroy the already unstable hydrolipid film.”

It is good if the shampoo contains ceramides, vitamins B3 or B5, as well as natural oils rich in essential fatty acids. So dry scalp care will be as effective as possible.

Cosmetics with natural oils are suitable for dry scalp. © iStock

Use extra hair care for dry scalp

Don’t ignore masks, balms, leave-ins designed specifically for your problem. These products contain substances that provide the scalp with the necessary components to maintain an optimal level of moisture.

The type of scalp is usually hereditary. © iStock

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Precautions

  1. 1

    When washing your hair, the water should be warm, but not hot. Rinse your hair with cool water. From the temperature difference, the hair cuticle will close, keeping the active components of the care products inside.

  2. 2

    Be careful when using a hair dryer. Avoid too hot air and keep an eye on the airflow angle: drying at a right angle or from the bottom up leads to dryness. “The air flow coming from the hair dryer should pass along the strands, and not seal the hair to the head,” explains Ekaterina Turubara.

  3. 3

    Keep out of the sun. Hair suffers from UV radiation, becoming dry and brittle. In summer, do not forget about a hat.

Back to index

How to properly wash your hair

  1. 1

    Squeeze a little shampoo into the palm of your hand and lather with water. Apply to scalp. Lather gently, as if you are doing a gentle massage: the habit of scratching and scratching the skin with your nails can cause irritation, increase peeling and itching.

  2. 2

    Rinse hair and apply the mask to the scalp and conditioner throughout the strands.

  3. 3

    Gently wring out the hair and wrap it in a terry towel without rubbing.

  4. 4

    Remove towel and let hair dry naturally. Dandruff and dry scalp after this should not disturb you for several days.

    “When the scalp is dry, the frequency of washing does not matter. If the shampoo is mild enough, you can use it as often as needed. Usually a couple of times a week.

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Dandruff and methods of its elimination

In the language of dermatologists and trichologists, dandruff is called “seborrheic dermatitis”. Among the main reasons for its appearance:

Microbiome is a broad concept that includes not only microflora, but also the totality of microbial genes. If changes occur in the microbiome, this leads to the growth of the malassezia fungus, which causes dandruff.

To restore the microbiome balance of the scalp, Vichy Dercos experts have developed an anti-dandruff shampoo that stops the development of the malassezia fungus.

To get rid of dandruff, dry scalp should be washed with this shampoo in a course 2-3 times a week for a month. And as a preventive measure – once a week, combining with another mild shampoo.

One of the problems with dry scalp is split ends. © iStock

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Ingredients for dry scalp care

“There are several products to correct dry scalp,” says Ekaterina Turubara. – First of all, shampoos. Their formula should be sulfate-free, with soothing and moisturizing additives ( panthenol, niacinamide, allantoin )”.

Manufacturers sometimes add Ceramide or Natural Oils to to soften the scalp. And instead of the usual gel base, they use a cream one: the shampoo turns out to be thicker and more comfortable for dry scalp.

A separate class of products are emollients, a kind of moisturizing creams adapted to the skin of the scalp. They usually contain a lot of ceramides and essential fatty acids .

Calming scalp softening masks are light weight formula based on lightweight silicones. Silicones evaporate when heated to body temperature, and only a thin protective film of ceramides and oils remains on the scalp, imitating the natural hydrolipidic layer.

One of the signs of dry scalp is brittle, weak hair. © iStock

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Product Review

From cleansing to nourishing, Skin.ru’s editors say our review provides the best products for dry scalp and hair.

Shampoos

Legendary Olive Intense Nourishing Shampoo Botanic Therapy, Garnier

Nourishes hair without weighing it down thanks to olive oil, restores along the entire length.

Kerium Gel Shampoo, La Roche-Posay Mild Physiological Shampoo

With regular use, the product with salicylic acid and glycerin restores the balance of the scalp.

Intensive anti-dandruff shampoo for dry hair Dercos, Vichy

Eliminates visible dandruff, soothes itchy scalp with selenium DS, ceramide P, salicylic acid and vitamin E. seve, L’Oreal Paris

Lotus, tiare flower, rose, chamomile, flax, sunflower oils moisturize the scalp and provide intense nourishment.

Fructis Triple Recovery 3-in-1 Universal Oil Mask, Garnier

Nourishes, regenerates and softens hair thanks to shea, macadamia and jojoba oils.

Masks

Dercos Nutrients Nutri Protein Revitalizing Mask, Vichy

Thanks to pracaxi nourishing oil, quinoa bran restores hair. A UV filter protects them from ultraviolet radiation.

Mask for hair in need of moisture and softness Fructis Superfood Aloe. Hydration”, Garnier

In addition to aloe, it contains coconut, soybean, and sunflower oils. Intensively moisturizes and softens hair.

Elseve Nourishing Luxury 6 Oils Hair Mask, L’Oréal Paris

Nourishes, softens and energizes hair with floral micro-oils.

Return to the table of contents

The scalp is flaky: causes and solutions

Peeling of the scalp is an unpleasant and fairly common symptom that should not be ignored. Such a problem may be accompanied by itching, redness, or a feeling of tightness. CLEAR experts will tell you in detail why the scalp under the hair is flaky and how to deal with it at home.

Causes of scalp flaking

Peeling of the skin, redness in some areas, feeling of tightness or itching spoil the mood and appearance of the hairstyle. They can appear suddenly and cause a lot of inconvenience. Among the main causes of flaking of the scalp are:

  1. Aggressive cleansing. Dryness and slight flaking often occur due to the wrong shampoo. A product with an aggressive detergent base can break the protective layer on the surface of the skin and provoke unpleasant symptoms.

  2. Allergy to styling products and other cosmetics. Peeling of the scalp can be an individual reaction of the body to a particular remedy. In this case, it occurs spontaneously and quickly passes if home care is adjusted.

  3. Fungus. The problem of dandruff is often attributed to an increase in the pathogenic fungus Malassezia. A large number of small scales form on the skin, itching and high sensitivity appear.

  4. General dry skin. If an adult has flaky scalp, this may indicate a general dryness of the skin throughout the body. It occurs with reduced work of the sebaceous glands, a lack of vitamins and nutrients, as well as a lack of moisture

How to deal with the problem

If the skin on the head is flaky, it is necessary to consult a specialist, identify the cause and choose the appropriate treatment. Effective shampoos will save you from an unpleasant problem and provide comprehensive hair care.

CLEAR Intense Moisturizing Triple Anti-Dandruff Shampoo contains zinc, vitamin B3 and amino acid complex. The tool activates the protective capabilities of the scalp, with regular use prevents the reappearance of dandruff and unpleasant itching. Shampoo with hyaluronic acidOpens in a new window promotes moisture and removes signs of dryness, cares for hair and scalp.

Shampoo CLEAR Icy freshness with menthol gives deep cleansing, removes impurities and keratinized particles of the epidermis, provides a pleasant feeling of freshness. Shampoo formula CLEAROpens in a new window reliably protects against the manifestations of dandruff with regular use, restores and visibly refreshes the scalp.

How to properly care for your hair if your scalp is very flaky:

  1. Choosing a shampooOpens in a new window. The cleansing, antibacterial and refreshing components in the composition help to quickly remove peeling and all kinds of impurities, provide freshness and comfort for the scalp, and take care of the hair along the length.

  2. Optimum water temperature. Do not wash your hair with too hot water – it can cause peeling. The best option is slightly warm water.

  3. Correct washing technique. In the process of applying and rinsing the shampoo, it is important to gently massage the roots and scalp. This will help remove all kinds of dirt and skin flakes. Apply the cleanser in a small amount, paying maximum attention to the root zone.

  4. Gentle drying. After washing, gently squeeze out moisture with a terry towel. In this case, do not rub the skin to avoid microtrauma. Try to reduce the frequency of use of the hair dryer, if necessary, use a medium and low blowing temperature to take care of the health of your hair and scalp.

  5. Comb selection. Give preference to combs and massage brushes with rounded teeth so as not to injure the skin.

  6. Avoid tight hairstyles, elastics and hairpins. Excessive tension can harm the scalp, provoke hypersensitivity, microtrauma and peeling.

  7. Application of styling products. Apply special varnishes and mousses for fixing only on the length of the hair, avoiding the roots and scalp. Carefully remove styling residue during the next wash.

  8. Headwear. Try to protect your scalp from the scorching sun and low temperatures with hats.