Dealing with a Dry Scalp
Posted on September 12th, 2006 by garyPosted in Beauty
If you have white flakes on your clothes, you are not alone. Dandruff is found in more than one million women. The quicker you take action against it, the less likely the problem with continue.
The skin covering the head, the scalp, like other skin on your body has three different layers. The thin outer layer is the epidermis. The next layer consists of blood vessels, hair follicles and nerves. The last layer is made up of fat-filled cells and nerves. Seborrheic dermatitis or dandruff occurs when an overgrowth of yeast-like fungi stimulates the epidermis to produce cells more rapidly than usual. An overgrowth of yeast causes cells to move to the scalp’s surface at an accelerated pace. This results in shedding of flakes of dead skin.
If you scalp is persistently itching and flaking it may need help. If you see redness at your part and hairline, your scalp can be inflamed. If you always have the urge to scratch it, that is a sign of dandruff. It may also be very sensitive to the touch. When you run your fingers through it or brush it, it may feel tingly.
Although healthy scalps produce cells too, an overgrowth of yeast is triggered by a number of factors including hormonal imbalance and genetics. It is important to manage stress as anxiety aggravates inflammation. Try washing your hair daily for a week with your regular shampoo. The flakes you see may just be styling product build up.
To get rid of chronic flakes, use a conditioning anti-dandruff shampoo with anti-fungal tea tree oil or zinc. Follow with a regular conditioner. If an over the counter shampoo does not work after two weeks of use, see a dermatologist who may prescribe a stronger yeast-killing shampoo along with an antihistamine to calm the inflammation.
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