Overview – Causes of Dandruff and Dry Scalp
Health

Overview – Causes of Dandruff and Dry Scalp

If you have donned a dark-shade shirt and see some while flakes on your shoulder while you are indoors, it is probably the dandruff or dry scalp in your hair that has slipped onto your shoulders. Dandruff is a condition that occurs when there is a large amount of dead skin cells on your scalp. These dead skin cells fall off onto your shoulders when you move around or when you scratch your head. Dandruff can be due to a dry scalp or even due to conditions like eczema or psoriasis. Let us look at the different causes of dandruff and dry scalp.

Dry skin
Dry skin is one of the major causes of dandruff. This type of dandruff, however, does not take very long to get healed. You can get rid of the dandruff with the help of some medicated shampoos that you will find easily at a medical store near you. Products that contain pyrithione zinc, salicylic acid, selenium sulfide, tar, and ketoconazole are ideal for removal of dandruff from your scalp. Directions of use and ingredients should be mentioned on the packaging to make it easier for you to choose a product.

Scalp Psoriasis
Scalp psoriasis is a skin condition in which scales and itchy, dry patches form due to skin cell build up. This condition will usually make the scalp look silvery and powdery. Scalp psoriasis will result in thick flakes of dandruff and will be accompanied by itching in most cases. It does not have a particular cause and cannot be completely cured. However, coal tar, light therapy, and topical corticosteroids can help in keeping the symptoms of psoriasis at bay.

Seborrheic Dermatitis
This is a common skin condition that usually causes redness, itching, and flaking. It is a condition that can affect any part of the body; when seborrheic dermatitis affects the scalp, it leads to dandruff. Just like dry skin on the scalp, this condition can also be treated with the help of the over-the-counter medicated shampoos. This condition, however, comes in different and slightly more potent form and requires a different kind of medication. If it is a stubborn case of this condition, you will need to help of some prescribed shampoos or steroid creams to achieve effective treatment.

Eczema
This condition is highly common among toddlers and young kids, but it can affect anyone. Just like the others, even this condition comes with itchy and dry skin on the scalp. You can start avoiding harsh soaps and scratching to get relief from this condition. Along with that, you can adopt a few moisturizers and prescribed steroid creams to gain relief. Stress is another causing factor of eczema; a stress-free life can help in making the condition better.

Along with the above mentioned conditions, Parkinson’s and HIV are also considered to be strong causing factors of dandruff. A poor diet or an unhealthy routine is another condition that can lead to dandruff or a dry scalp. Avoid using many chemicals in the form of hair serums, shampoos, and hair creams as they lead to a dry scalp or dandruff. Similarly, drastic changes in weather cause dandruff.