The scalp, although often overlooked, plays a vital role in our overall well-being. It serves as a foundation for healthy hair growth, protects the delicate skin underneath, and even acts as an indicator of our overall health. However, many individuals experience various scalp conditions that can be not only uncomfortable but also detrimental to their self-confidence.
Whether you're dealing with dandruff, scalp psoriasis, itching, or any other scalp-related concern, finding effective treatment and resolution can significantly improve your quality of life. Fortunately, numerous tips and strategies can help alleviate these issues, allowing you to restore balance to your scalp and regain your confidence.
In this guide, we will explore practical tips and advice to treat and resolve scalp conditions. From natural remedies to specialized treatments, we will delve into a range of options that can help you find relief and achieve a healthier scalp. Additionally, we will address common misconceptions surrounding scalp conditions and provide insights into preventative measures to maintain long-term scalp health.
Remember, everyone's scalp is unique, and what works for one person may not work for another. It's important to consult with a healthcare professional or dermatologist to determine the underlying cause of your specific condition and develop a personalized treatment plan. With the right approach and a bit of patience, you can take control of your scalp health and embark on a journey towards a healthier, happier you.
So, let's dive into the world of scalp conditions, explore effective remedies, and discover the path to a rejuvenated scalp.
LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT THE SEBACEOUS GLANDS. I researched these because they also contain DHT in the sebum. The sebaceous glands sit at the base of the follicle and must maintain the right amount of sebum for greater functioning. Sebum is composed of fat, keratin, dead skin cells, and a high concentration of the hormone DHT. With the important role of hydration and protection, sebum is necessary for healthy hair to be maintained. Too much is not good, nor is too little. Balancing its production is, therefore, important to prevent conditions like dandruff or dermatitis .
Supplements to help with conditions would need to include: magnesium, copper, iron, selenium, zinc, sulfur, and vitamins A, B (from the biotin group), C, and E. It’s often the case that issues begin with certain skin irritations or dandruff. That’s how you know that there is an overproduction or an underproduction of sebum .
The skin cells on the surface of the skin are continually replaced, and if the overproduction or underproduction occurs, it can put the skin in that area into a troublesome pattern. An accelerated replacement of cells can occur with increased sebum production. The skin will try to keep up and then begins shedding cells before they reach full growth. The surface cells (made up of fat and dead cells) impede circulation, and this can suffocate and impede hair roots, leading to issues that can create untoward symptoms and limit hair cell growth in both the short and long-term. This condition is known as seborrhea .
The importance of regulating sebum is paramount because it contains DHT, which we already know creates hair loss, and eventually (at its worst) can cause balding in both men and women. The two types of seborrhea are “fatty” and “dry.” The fatty seborrhea condition is comprised by these constituents of the scalp: being scaly, itchy, oily, and having white/yellowish flakes that are obvious on the scalp. The dry seborrhea condition is comprised of dry, itchy flakes, with white corneal cells falling off that are known as dandruff .
There are 3 Major Causes of Seborrhea:
- Adolescent - This promotes more sebum via increased hormonal production during this time of life .
- Nutritional - Bad diet with an excess of fried or fatty foods, and the blood becomes full of excess fat, irritating the glands which then produce more sebum. Cutting out simple carbs, avoiding excess red meat consumption, sugars, dairy, and wheat is necessary. Replace these with complex carbs including brown rice, pasta, vegetables, white meat, seafood, soy, and beans .
- Nervous - Caused primarily by high levels of stress, thus, resulting in muscle tension and the lack of blood flow to certain areas, allowing DHT production to be rife, due to less oxygenation in those areas .
Alleviate Seborrhea by:
- Don’t scratch or itch the scalp because it irritates the sebaceous glands that produce more sebum
- Cutting the hair shorter can help increase its tonicity, and also reduces the increase and stagnation of sebum, improving the general health of the scalp
- The right shampoo is paramount, for PH incorporation that is fitting to the individual
The right shampoo is paramount. Using a good cleanser is important. Many people (1 in 5) are affected by shampoos that are too aggressive in nature. When talking about shampoo, it’s important we understand that the PH or alkalinity/acidity factor is vitally important. The skin reacts best to organic and natural products. We need to use shampoos without coloring agents or additives, which will help with the regulation of sebum and block DHT .
There are 3 types of hair; oily, dry and normal hair. As an example, oily hair is usually denoted by a person who also has oily skin, in general. It gets dirtier more often and needs to be constantly washed. The recommended shampoo for this type of hair is made up of factors that mean the shampoo is organic, natural, and derived from plant-based constituents. It should not contain parabens, foaming agents, sulfates, SLS, chemical agents, and/or SLES. These remove and compromise the hair follicles. Regular use of a great shampoo will alleviate dandruff and itching. A great shampoo will also support the sebum production, which is vitally important for issues of hair loss .
Dry hair is denoted by the hydration of skin being off balance. Prolonged use of aggressive shampoo is harmful. Itching can be annoying. Here, we need a delicate product that rehydrates the scalp .
Normal hair is really balanced. So, it just needs a great shampoo with natural, organic, and balanced constituents to support the growth .
Let’s take a look at shampoos. These are important if itching, dandruff, and/or irritation are a problem. Treating these conditions is paramount, because these conditions can signify a presence of micro-organisms that feed on the sebum. They are scientifically called pityrosporum ovale and can live on the scalp, impeding your hair, and are a type of fungus. If these conditions are not dealt with, these micro-organisms can multiply and change the sebum they consume into acid fats, which irritates the sebaceous glands on a detrimental level. The scalp sheds even more, leading to damaged scalp and hair.
I’ll have a chapter later on with recipes on some natural shampoos you can make all natural but really you can use baking soda. baking soda, a substance easy to find in the grocery store. Add one tablespoon to a cup of hot water and stir in well. Place this mixture into a clean container. Using a well-washed old shampoo container works well. This is completely natural and works extremely well to alleviate conditions of the scalp associated with dermatitis or dandruff issues. In the shower, rub it on the scalp, and leave it on for about 4 minutes. It won’t strip your hair of vital nutrients. Make sure you rinse your hair thoroughly .
If you have dry hair, add a little less baking soda to your mixture, for oily hair you can add a little more. Trial and error might be necessary for your unique hair type. Once you find a great match, you can use it whenever a condition begins to plague you. This is a cheap way to fix the problem, and it works extremely well. Some people use it every day and others use it as an anti-dandruff shampoo twice a week. Most people find that it works wonders on their hair. In unusual cases, it might irritate skin in some instances. Do a test on a part of the scalp, first. You might need to use it for a fortnight to see results regarding the issue of dandruff. It has a PH of around 9. As an addition, a great natural conditioning product can be utilized by mixing natural apple cider vinegar and mixing this with water .
Personally, I avoided using shampoo - using only water and scrubbing to clean my hair (both to reduce sebum production and to avoid potentially hormone-disrupting chemicals being placed on my scalp). I used a boar bristle brush after my hair was dry to give it that clean and conditioned look, without poisoning my hair .
I wanted to mention the reason why I don’t need to use damaging conditioners, and why my boar bristle brush is the perfect solution because it very overlooked item in your arsenal . Since the 1800s, boar bristle brushes have been used to create shiny-looking, vital hair without the use of products. Boar bristle brushes were also seen on dressing tables during the first part of the 20th century as a commonplace regularity. Stars like Lauren Bacall, Rita Hayworth, Katherine Hepburn, and other magnetizing movie greats were able to obtain their pivotal, shiny hairstyles by incorporating the use of this brushing into their regime .
The benefits of Boar bristle include:
- Naturally Conditions the Hair This type of brushing is a conditioning treatment. While it does boast some great styling elements, it was originally designed to improve the texture and shine of hair before products even existed. The amazing structure of the brush carries sebum, which is the oil produced by the scalp, and right from the scalp to the end of the hair shaft. It works by coating each strand of hair with a very small amount of sebum, therefore, (quite literally) adding lustrous shine .
- Improves the Hair’s Texture It seems to help positively with regard to the texture of hair as well. The design and implication allows the hair to look great. If you have straight hair it will add volume and shine that bounces. If you have curly hair it will slightly loosen the curl and condition it .
- Reduces Frizziness Sebum is the most effective anti-frizz serum. By using the brush to lubricate each hair with sebum, you’ll notice a big reduction in the frizz factor !
- Stimulates the Scalp The brushing incorporates a meditative and relaxing feeling, overall. The brush feels wonderful on the scalp and stimulates the right blood flow to the hair follicles, which can also enhance hair growth, long-term .
- Reduces the Need for Products As your hair becomes shinier, more vibrant, and “beams out” from great health, it will feel softer and more conditioned with continued daily brushing, so that means you’ll no longer need to use products that take away the vitality and health of your hair .
- Reduces the Frequency of Needing to Wash Your Hair A boar bristle brush can help you maintain healthy and clean hair. It also prevents the oil buildup on the scalp, which weighs hair down and makes it look oily. You may find that you can reduce the frequency of hair washing to every two, three, four, or even five days at a time. Wow, what an amazing tool .
