Dry Scalp: Common Causes and Treatment Tips

Dry scalp is a fairly common problem faced by many of us at some or other time in life. Some of us have had a dry scalp since birth. One reason is strong heredity. If one of your parents has always complained of an itchy dry scalp, then be careful, they might have passed it on to you.

Other causes:

1. Excessive hair drying or brushing

2. Excessive cold weather

3. Excessive treatments like dyeing

4. Excessively hot or windy weather

These all act as irritants for the scalp and result in excessive dryness. Symptoms of a dry scalp are a feeling of itchiness and tightness on the scalp when you comb or tie your hair. Even small flakes might appear. If these flakes get secondarily infected, then they might lead to seborrheic dermatitis caused by a fungus. This results in greasy, yellow and oily flakes on the scalp. It causes intense itching. This is especially with people having a tendency for seborrheic dermatitis generally. Dry scalp treatment is essential as it gives you an uneasy sensation every time you comb your hair.

Tips:

- Make sure you switch to deep conditioning shampoos and conditioners. But make sure you are not shampooing your hair too often. That itself can lead to loss of natural oils and hair proteins which are essential to maintain the softness and shine of your hair.

Avoid using chemical-based shampoos and try using the herbal or natural variants. They are milder in general.

- When you wash your hair, avoid hot water, instead use cool water.

- When you are out in the sun, make sure you cover your head with a large enough hat or a scarf or stole. Use light-coloured, light-weight stoles. They help reflect away the sunlight and reduce insensible loss of moisture from the scalp.

- Avoid doing chemical treatments to your hair till the scalp is healthy again.

- Avoid excessive combing as it will lead to further drying and flaking.

- Avoid dyeing your hair too often.

Five Ways Females Can Prevent Hair Loss

Women are much less likely than men to go bald. But, as we age, our hair does thin. Some of us lose more than others. We can blame our genes, partly. We may be able to slow the shedding. As it turns out, environmental factors play a much bigger role for ladies than for men.

Here are five ways to try to hold on to your hair:

1. Don’t smoke. Smoking was a “very significant” risk factor for hair loss in a study led among 90 pairs of female identical twins. (Studying twins helps researchers sort out environmental vs. genetic causes). Those who smoked for the most years had the most hair loss around their temples. Smoking impairs blood circulation, which is vital in hair growth, and makes the scalp oilier, which can encourage bacterial overgrowth and damage harm follicles.

2. Wear a hat. Don’t worry so much about messing up your hairstyle and developing a temporary case of “hat head.” You may be rewarded with thicker, healthier hair in the long run if you make a habit of protecting your head from the sun. A bonus to wearing a hat: You will protect yourself from wrinkles and from skin cancers on your scalp, face, and neck.

3. Watch what you drink. In the study of twin sisters, those who drank one to two cups of coffee a day and those who had up to four alcoholic beverages a week fared best. The reasons are not clear. But a bit of alcohol may help increase blood circulation to the scalp. Bonus benefits: Many studies suggest light to moderate coffee and alcohol use are good for the heart.

4. Stay happy. Hair loss was greater in women who were divorced, widowed, or married multiple times (and in women with multiple children). The common factor? It’s probably stress. Stress raises levels of the hormone cortisol, which might trigger chemical changes that damage hair follicles.

5. Go easy on braids and weaves. Those styles were linked with hair loss by researchers. They focused on a pattern of hair loss on the crown of the head that is common in African-American women. Very tight styles held in place for weeks or months may cause damage.

Female Hair Loss: Common Causes and Basic Remedies

It is widely known that pregnancy causes hormonal changes that ultimately lead to excessive hair loss. During pregnancy, a large reserve of protein and calcium is taken up by the baby, causing a lack of essential nutrients, which are beneficial for hair growth. This major transfer of nutrients leaves a woman severely deficient in hair food.

Consequently, women are advised to obtain a healthy diet during pregnancy and to consult with their physician to ensure a proper balance of hormones.

Menopause is another reason that can cause hair loss because of the lack of oestrogen. A thinning of scalp hair along with a growth of excessive facial hair occurs in about half of all women by age 50, although it may begin anytime after puberty.

We can always blame postmenopausal hair loss on the lack of oestrogen, but research has shown that more than one hormone is involved in this process. The loss of both progesterone and oestrogen throughout menopause seems to lead to a new hormonal pattern that leads to hair fall and an increase in facial hair.

If you are concerned about hair loss or the growth of unwanted facial hair during menopause, visit your doctor for a check-up and for a diet review.

A doctor’s treatment plan will be based on both your medical and lifestyle information. A doctor might prescribe a short-term dose of oestrogen to see if that addresses the problem. Drinking plenty of green tea, getting enough vitamin B6, losing weight and getting enough sleep are highly recommended because your problem might get fixed if you just switch to a healthier lifestyle.

Women suffering from hair loss should avoid ponytails, hair weaves, braids and tight hair rollers, which can pull and stress your hair. If you need to use blow-dryers and other heated hair instruments, try to use the cooler, lower heat. Use shampoos and conditioners that contain biotin and silica.

Head massages can help with blood circulation in the scalp and promotes hair growth. Give yourself a head massage every day by putting your fingers gently, but firmly, on the scalp and start moving the scalp in small circles for a few seconds in each spot until you’re done with your whole head. This can be done for five minutes twice a day.

A Balanced Diet for a Better Hair Day, Every Day

Many people don’t think much about the health of their hair — that is, until its starts thinning. If you’re noticing a significant increase in the amount of hair lost per day, you might take comfort in the fact that you are in good company: Hair loss affects about 35 million men and 21 million women in the US alone.

This equates to two-thirds of the male population that will experience noticeable hair loss by the age of 35, and that number jumps to 85 per cent by the time they reach the age of 50, according to the American Hair Loss Association.

Hair loss can occur for a variety of reasons. One permanent cause is genetic, but most people don’t realize that other causes may be temporary and reversible. Temporary hair loss may be caused by extreme stress, severe illness or childbirth; but the cause that is most easily treatable is a change in diet, according to the AHLA.

Hair needs many vitamins and nutrients to stay healthy. Among them are protein, iron, omega-3 fatty acids, zinc and vitamin A, but not too much: Excess vitamin A can actually cause hair loss, according to researchers at the University of Hawaii.

If you think diet may be the cause of your hair-related woes, try adding some of these hair-healthy foods to your recipes:

• Beans – Great source of iron, zinc and biotin

• Almonds, pecans and cashews – Rich in zinc

• Dark leafy greens (such as spinach, broccoli and Swiss chard) – Contain vitamins A and C, which your body needs to produce sebum (to condition hair)

• Carrots – Another good source of vitamin A

• Walnuts and salmon – Both rich in omega-3 fatty acids

• Brazil nuts – High in selenium (promotes scalp health)

Nutritionists reported on which foods are especially fabulous for your hair. These tips are good for thick, shiny, healthy hair no matter what. They recommend beans for iron, zinc and biotin; walnuts and salmon because they’re rich in omega-3; and dark leafy greens for vitamins A and C. It sounds like a delicious salad, right? Also on the list: Almonds, pecans and cashews, so if you like mixed nuts, you’re in luck.

However, if you’re not the salad-eating type, you can still give your hair a boost. There are tons of supplements out there that contain essential fatty acids and biotin. You will notice a huge difference in your hair — thicker and shinier — after taking them. They also make your mane grow faster, so if you’re trying to get rid of some unfortunate bangs, they may be the answer.

Short- and Long-Term Solutions to Hair Loss

Apart from stress, intense heat and pollution also cause hair loss. With these causes of hair loss, what are the apt solutions?

Hair Replacement

There are hair system makers who offer an ultra-customised non-surgical hair replacement system for both men and women.

There are makers who use real quality human hair and the treatment is custom made to suit each individual’s needs. The idea is to provide a system, which duplicates exactly the way one’s hair used to be. Alternatively, the system can be designed to create a new kind of hairstyle, including a combed-back look that exposes the hairline.

What is an ultra-custom non-surgical hair replacement system?

The systems are made according to the client’s needs. Factors like density, texture, colour, length, curl size, gravity splits of the original hair are considered and only then the new system is designed. The system is glued and taped to the scalp without any surgical procedure and only a replacement of hair is done. One can style, comb their hair the way they want to.

Does the process have any side effects, and how safe is it?

The glue and tapes used are FDA approved and there are no side effects to it. The system has enormous amount of pores, which allows the scalp to breathe, and in lieu of this, the client is able to use the system just like normal hair. It is effective and lasts up to more than three years. Plus it’s really easy to maintain.

What kind of cost is involved in this process?

The extent of hair to be replaced and the length determine the cost of each system. Maintenance of the system can be done at ease by the client, but if the client has other preferences on how to have the servicing done, then a nominal charge is levied. Every client is given due attention at the time of consultation.

What are some of the common reasons for people losing hair these days?

Hair loss, baldness in particular, can either be hereditary or due to one’s lifestyle changes that were not prevalent in previous generations. Hair loss is a perennial problem in men and women. Severe stressful life, exposure to intense heat, humidity, pollution, greasy fast food and many more add to reasons.

What are home remedies for hair loss?

If the hair loss is not due to heredity or any medical process side effects, then nutrient deficiency would be one of the major reasons. A major amount of water to cleanse your system, high-protein diet and iron-rich foods can be suggested and would give a good result too.

Remedy Scalp Itchiness before It Worsens to Hair Loss

Along with dryness of the scalp, negligence towards hair care is a main reason for scalp itchiness, which can be a forerunner of a worse condition such as hair loss. The other causes of an itchy scalp include a poor diet, too much anxiety and stress and lice. Cleaning and washing of hair in an improper way along with dandruff and scalp acne and allergies as a result of usage of chemical-based products like hair dyes are some of the other reasons.

Remedies

1. Make a mixture of one part of eucalyptus oil, lavender oil, German chamomile natural oil with four parts of water and gently dab it on the areas affected.

2. Application of lemon juice on the scalp is believed to be very effective in treating an itchy scalp caused by dandruff. Mixing curd with lemon juice diluted in water is

also found to be very efficient in cases where the dandruff is severe.

3. Massaging your scalp with a combination of cedar vinegar and warm water can be beneficial in curing itchy scalps.

4. Tea tree oil is found to have anti-bacterial properties. These help in treating scalp acne, rashes and pimples which subsequently help in reducing the itchiness.

5. Oil obtained from Neem plant is very good since it has fungicidal properties. Apply a mixture of Neem oil, rosemary oil and tea tree oil on the scalp on a regular basis.

Tips for Itchy Scalp:

• We may feel like scratching our scalp, but avoid doing this as this will only aggravate the problem.

• The right kind of comb is also very important. Wooden combs with wide teeth should be preferred as these are known to increase blood circulation.

• Identification of the reason for the occurrence of itchy scalp will prove beneficial in its treatment.

• The right kind of shampoo is also very important. It is a myth that the costliest shampoo is the best. It may be good but may not be the answer for you. So go for a shampoo that best suits your hair condition.

• Washing your hair regularly will help in preventing dirt and dead skin cells from accumulating on your scalp which in turn will prevent infections and an itchy scalp.

These simple tips and home remedies for itchy scalp will be of immense help as they are effective and not very costly as compared to the chemical-based products available in the market. Apart from being light on your pocket, they are easily available, easy to prepare and use. However, one must never forget that all the remedies mentioned will be effective if and only if they are used regularly.

Manage Stress to Maintain the Health of Your Tresses

Turns out that stress and bad habits such as smoking, drinking and even tanning could contribute to hair loss, especially in women, according to preliminary findings from new research.

Two new studies found that women’s hair follicles are particularly vulnerable to the wear and tear of a stressful lifestyle. One study found that women who had suffered the stress of a divorce or death of a spouse were at the highest risk of losing their hair at the midline, meaning a widening of the parting in the middle of the scalp. This type of hair loss is called telogen effluvium, which refers to hair loss induced from severe stress – may it be physical, emotional, or psychological stress.

Men can chalk balding mostly up to genetic luck of the draw, although smoking, alcohol consumption, daily stress, and sun exposure contribute as well. According to the research, such habits contribute to poor blood flow in the scalp, affecting the health of the hair follicles since it is through blood circulation that the follicles obtain nutrients.

While you can take preventative measures such as wearing a hat when exposed to the sun, quitting smoking, and reducing your alcohol consumption, researchers add that adopting healthier lifestyle choices could possibly help your hair grow back.

‘Part of it is to manage what you can’, shares a New York City dermatologist. ‘The sooner you address it, the better your chances of recovering the former healthy state of the hair follicles’.

Prior research and clinical studies have also linked stem cells to balding, finding that some stem cells in the scalp are incapable of developing into the type of cells that make hair follicles. The discovery, published earlier this year in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, could give hope to men and women with hair loss, said the researchers in a release.