Have you ever noticed that your hair appears droopy and lifeless when you have a dry scalp?
This is because the condition of your scalp has a direct effect on your hair. On the scalp, your hair can get impacted even prior to emergence. Healthy scalps are crucial for hair growth as they provide not only the necessary nutrients but also an incubatory environment that fosters new hair regrowth. Unhealthy or neglected scalps can cause things such as dryness, irritation, and even hair loss - all leading to decreased levels of new hair regrowth.
This article will showcase the difference between healthy and unhealthy scalps and how to better care for yours.
Why does it matter?
Did you know that your scalp is more sensitive than the skin on your face? It has much more hair follicles, sebaceous glands, and sweat glands but less barrier function compared to the skin elsewhere in your body.
To illustrate how important it is to take care of your scalp, let’s take garden work as an example. You cannot just plant seeds in the dirt and expect them to grow. Instead, the ground needs to be tended round the clock to ensure the seeds can flourish there. Your hair root system needs attention in that same way too!
Indeed, there is ample evidence from studies that have established a link between scalp health and hair growth and quality. Your follicles produce sebum, which moisturises the scalp and protects it against infections. A healthy scalp leads to healthier hair growth and vice versa. The regressive effort could end up delivering worse than just suffering scalp health.
For instance, your pre-emergent hair can be negatively impacted by the oxidative stress prevailing in an unhealthy scalp. Research has asserted that such conditions can be due to the incubatory environment, specifically the metabolic activity of resident microbes. Also, a disrupted microbiome found in an unhealthy scalp can lead to dandruff, eczema or psoriasis-related conditions.
In short, the scalp conditions significantly affect natural hair growth and retention. Consequently, with appropriate scalp care, you may garner fundamental benefits for hair growth and its quality.
Unhealthy scalp symptoms
Most of the time, the scalp can go ignored since it is not always visible. A person typically pays attention to scalp care only by caring for the hair atop it, but a lot of what happens underneath shows through your locks. From dandruff and psoriasis to dryness and grease, a wide variety of scalp issues can affect the condition of your hair before anything else catches up.
Some common symptoms of an unhealthy scalp that you may easily recognise:
- Itching
- Burning skin
- Dandruff
- Flaky scalp
- Extreme oiliness
- Acne or bumps on the scalp
- Excessive hair loss
If you’re experiencing any of these problems, it may be time to change things up and start focusing on your scalp health. However, recognising some of these telltale signs does not necessarily equal scalp care negligence. In some cases, chronic conditions are notorious culprits behind disrupted scalp function.
Also, you can experience multiple symptoms simultaneously. It is essential to fathom the root cause of your condition because many disorders and diseases can share similar manifestations on the scalp.
When you suffer from a dry scalp, for example, this could also mean that there are other things going on with your body. Dryness and itchiness could be the outcomes of conditions like atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, or simply because you live in an area where the weather is too cold during winter and not humid enough. Even improper hair care products that have an excessive amount of detergent can result in scalp dryness.
Regardless, treatment boils down to finding the root cause while ensuring an adequate scalp care routine alongside healthy habits.
Read more about The Influence Of Scalp Condition On Hair Health And Pre-mature Hair Loss.
How can I take better care of my scalp?
Taking care of your scalp consists of a few substantial steps. Using a moisturising lotion for dry scalp, washing hair with a shampoo and conditioner that cause low levels of irritation, and applying a proper hair washing method that avoids irritation can effectively improve the scalp condition.
During hair washing sessions, you should use circular motions so that the shampoo can reach all over the head. Meanwhile, it's beneficial to massage the head - it stimulates blood circulation, thus strengthening your scalp wellness and encouraging better hair growth.
It might also be worth taking note that some particular types of products are geared towards solving specific problems for people with different scalp issues. You may need to find products appropriate for your scalp condition as no two people share exact needs when it comes to caring for scalp skin and hair.
Besides, here are some tips for improving your scalp care routine:
- Wash your hair gently and in circular motions
- Introduce Omega-3 vitamins into your daily routine
- Consider hair washing frequency according to your individual needs
- Use haircare treatments specially formulated for scalp health
- Cover your scalp when swimming or experiencing sun exposure
- Employ scalp care products in your daily routine
The bottom line
The growing interest in caring for hair deep from the root has brought the idea of scalp health back to the forefront. Be reminded that, just like your face, improper care of your scalp skin can lead to dryness, irritation, and other undesirable issues.
A healthy scalp is a key to healthier hair, which is why scalp health is so important. Make your scalp a priority; not only will your scalp skin look and feel better, but luscious hair with better retention and growth will also follow. Suppose you notice any of the symptoms of an unhealthy scalp, like redness, irritation, itching, hair loss, flakiness, or dandruff - it’s time to take a closer look at how you care for your scalp and level up your scalp care routine. Support a healthy scalp through your everyday habits, and always use scalp-friendly shampoos, conditioners, and hair care products.
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