Dry Scalp Causes and Treatments

There are many causes of a dry scalp, but the most basic reason behind it is not having enough natural oils. The oil and lipids secreted by your skin's sebaceous glands is important to maintain the natural moisture of your hair and scalp. If stripped of this natural lubrication, the skin becomes dry and in turn, a dry scalp causes flaking, itching, and brittle hair that breaks easily. Find out the several causes and prevent your scalp from drying out.

One of the most common reasons for dry scalp is the use of harsh hair shampoos. Some shampoos or cleansers contain chemicals that remove the natural oil from your head. Avoid products with anti-bacterial substances as they tend to be very abrasive. If you are using an anti-dandruff shampoo, use one with moisturizing properties. And then discontinue its use after treatment. Try switching to a milder shampoo and/or limit the times you use shampoo when you wash your hair in a week.

Using hot water in showers and baths is also one of the top dry scalp causes. Trying bathing in warm to lukewarm water so you won't strip off all the lipids from your skin and hair. If you can't live without hot water, at least cover your head with a shower cap, and then use water with a cooler temperature in washing your scalp.

The type of water that you have may also cause a dry scalp. Test your tap to check if you have hard water. This type of water often lessens the effectiveness of products specialized for dry skin and hair. You can put filters on your shower head and bathroom taps to filter out the mineral deposits from your water.

Have you noticed that your skin is more likely to be dry during winter or when the air conditioning system is on too high? When the humidity levels drop, the air sucks the moisture from your body's surface including your scalp. If you put lotion on your skin to keep it supple, make sure that you use a moisturizing product on your head as well. Another option is to adjust the central air conditioning's settings and maintain it at a temperate level.

Like extreme cold, intense heat can wreak havoc on your hair and scalp. Blow dryers, cause damage on hair follicles and the surrounding skin. Prolonged use breaks down the nutrients and protective lipids. When exposed, the hair shaft splits and the dry scalp causes dandruff. The obvious solution is to air dry as often as possible. If you really must blow dry, make sure that the nozzle is 5 to 6 inches away from your head. in addition, limit your use of other hair styling equipment such as curling/straightening irons, and salon heat lamps. Sun exposure, although not one of the major dry scalp causes, is also one of the things to avoid for a healthy scalp.