The Best Ways to Treat Dry Scalp

1. Why do I have dry scalp?
2. How to treat dry scalp?
3. When to see a doctor?

Name something that is white and flaky, seems harmless but causes discomfort? Dandruff! But wait, it can also be a dry scalp. Dandruff and dry scalp are both very different hair issues, though they share a major symptom—white flakes that make your scalp itchy. But the underlying causes of these conditions are quite different. Whether it is dandruff or dry scalp, we’re sure you are more than willing to get rid of those flakes right away. 

Our skin is categorised as normal, dry, oily, and combination. So, a dry scalp is nothing more than dry skin. This happens when your skin is unable to produce or retain moisture, which leads to dryness. So, when your skin gets irritated, flakes appear on the scalp, resulting in dry scalp. The major signs of a dry scalp include:

• Soreness
• Itching
• *Hair loss
• Flaking 

Medical conditions 

• Seborrhoeic dermatitis occurs where there’s an overproduction of oil on the scalp. This becomes the perfect breeding ground for fungus, which eventually causes a build-up of dead skin cells. What you are left with, ironically, are oily flakes on a dry scalp.

• Eczema causes the skin on the scalp to become itchy, dry, red, and flaky. These patches on the scalp can become infected and release a clear fluid when you itch the scalp and cause them to break.

• Psoriasis is another skin condition that is characterised by redness, flaking, and scaling on the scalp. The scaling that occurs due to this skin condition is usually a lot more prominent and thicker than the flaking caused by dandruff.

Hair care habits

Good hair care habits lead to a healthy non-dry scalp. But some of the following habits act as triggers to an unhealthy scalp. These are:

• Colouring your hair frequently exposes your scalp to chemicals, dyes, alcohol, and preservatives that can drain your scalp of its natural moisture. It even leaves residue behind, which can cause dandruff.

• Washing your hair can clean your tresses but shampooing too often can lead to your hair and scalp losing its natural moisture. Also, leaving your hair unwashed for too long can cause dry scalp.

• Using heat-styling tools frequently can make your scalp dry. The heat released from your styling appliances strips your hair of all the natural oils, leaving your scalp and hair dry.

Dealing with a dry scalp requires patience and following the right hair care habits. Also, it’s equally important to find the right hair products to gently cleanse and nourish your dry scalp. Here’s what a right dry scalp treatment should do?

• Get rid of dandruff

Treating a dry scalp involves getting rid of dandruff and giving your hair the moisture, it needs. So, how to get rid of dry scalp? You start with the underlying cause. Since dandruff is a known cause of dry scalp, your dry scalp treatment should aim at getting rid of dandruff. Dandruff tends to damage the scalp and change the outer skin cell, thereby disrupting your skin’s natural moisture defence and allowing it to escape. If you need to treat the root cause of your problem, i.e., dandruff, try Head & Shoulders Clinically Proven Scalp Relief Shampoo. This selenium sulphide shampoo is clinically proven to control itching and flaking, and targets severe dandruff. The gentle formula cleanses and moisturises your scalp and leaves you with great-looking hair.

• Moisturise your scalp

Once the dandruff is taken care of, you need to hydrate and replenish your dry scalp. Anti-dandruff shampoos are great, but do you know what’s better? An anti-dandruff shampoo that moisturises your scalp to prevent the onslaught of another wave of flakes. For nourishing your dry scalp, you’ll need a moisturising shampoo that gently cleans your hair and keeps it flake-free. 

Head & Shoulders Dry Scalp Care Shampoo gives you flake-free hair and improves your scalp health in 2 weeks! This dual-action formula with almond oil that moisturises your hair, also offers immediate relief from dry scalp and itchiness. Formulated with Head & Shoulders’ NEW Fresh Scent Technology, this shampoo gives you an improved in-shower scent experience.

• Get rid of impurities

Your styling products tend to leave behind some residue that can trigger excess oil production that builds up on the scalp. This can cause dandruff, which eventually causes dry scalp. To break this vicious cycle, your dry scalp treatment should keep your scalp and hair clean. 

• Care for your hair

In addition to a cleansing shampoo, you also need a conditioner that will make your hair manageable. How about a hair product that does both? If that’s the case, try Head & Shoulders Dry Scalp Care 2-in-1. 

Head & Shoulders Dry Scalp Care 2-in-1 combines the cleansing properties of a shampoo and the replenishing qualities of a conditioner to give you the ultimate dry scalp cure. This 2-in-1 hair product locks in moisture, 75% better than any regular moisturising shampoo.

If you scalp feels dry, itchy or irritated and results in excessive flaking, do not wait for the condition to aggravate. Consult a dermatologist if there’s no improvement in your scalp condition despite using the right shampoo and conditioner.  

Dry scalp treatments work wonders and ensure that you do not have to spend your entire day trying to resist the urge to scratch your scalp. With the right hair products and some good hair care habits, you can keep dry scalp at bay.

*All references on this page refers to hair fall or hair loss due to breakage.