Article #7

Dandruff Shampoo

When you suffer from a dry itchy scalp, there could be a number of reasons. It could be due to external influences such as the weather or even a buildup of the hair treatment products you use.

Health concerns, such as eczema, psoriasis, bacterial or fungal infestation could also be the culprit. Whatever the cause, a dry itchy scalp most often results in dandruff, and as the condition progresses, you could experience serious scalp sores and bleeding.
 

Commercial Ingredients

Regardless of the cause, dandruff and itching are embarrassing and you find yourself trying desperately to find a solution. There are a number of dry scalp treatments on the market that range from ingredients normally containing zinc, selenium sulfide, ketoconazole, or tar derivatives.

As much as you desire a permanent answer, experts say these treatments are simply a temporary solution to a problem that cannot be cured.

Dry Scalp Home Remedies

In spite of the large marketing push for commercial name-brand treatments, there are a number of dry scalp home remedies you can try that have proven effective. A combination of the following healthy, natural remedies may give you relief, and at a lower cost to you.

Hair Care - Stop using the hot water, hot curling irons against your scalp, and heated hair dryers! These dry out your scalp, especially in the winter months. Temper the water you use to wash your hair, avoid hot curling irons, and take the time to dry your hair naturally.

Shampooing - Learn to listen to your hair, and shampoo only when needed. Necessary moisture and oils are stripped from your scalp each time your shampoo. Ironically, excessive cleansing is unhealthy for your scalp, and you don't need to shampoo every day. Scalp oils are required to maintain a balanced ph for lubrication and to fight foreign bodies. Every time you shampoo, you reduce your natural oil defenses.

Massage - you can stimulate oil production from your scalp pores by massaging your head. This also serves to loosen the dead skin cells from your dry scalp, making it easier to wash them away. Oil stimulation promotes scalp health by assisting the release of blocked pores.

Oil Therapy - add oil to your massage treatment. This helps to immediately moisturize your scalp and aids in the stimulation of natural oil production in your pores. Some choices of oil you can use are regular household olive oil, herbal oils (such as lavender), and vitamins B or E oil.

Vinegar Rinse - apple cider vinegar contains alpha hydroxyl acids that regulate the ph level of your scalp. It is crucial to maintain a healthy ph to promote the scalp's natural tendencies for defense against bacteria and fungus. In addition, a vinegar rinse serves to dissolve the frequent build up of hair care products and conditioners. It is recommended you do not rinse it out, but leave it in your hair to fight bacteria and promote moisture on your scalp.

Yogurt Therapy - rub fresh yogurt on your scalp and leave it for at least 10 minutes before rinsing. This helps moisturize, along with battling any fungal infestation that may be present. It has even been said that if you whisk an egg into the mixture before using, it will help to further moisturize your scalp.

Weather - if you take a bit of extra care based on the season, you could do a great deal to reverse a dry scalp condition and help eliminate dandruff. In the winter months, conditioning and moisturizing your scalp is recommended. In the summer months, wearing a hat will help protect your head and hair against sunburn and a dry scalp. It is just as important to protect your head with a hat or scarf as it is to protect your skin with sunscreen.