Here’s something you need to know right now (if you didn’t already) Scalp care is skin care.
Your scalp is after all, an extension of your skin and while it may often be forgotten about (like that weird cousin that always comes around at Christmas), it should always still be included in your beauty routine.
Healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp and so should be as front and centre in our beauty regimens as our faces.
Why is scalp care important?
Because, if left neglected things like dandruff, itching, flaking or other unwanted concerns will start rearing their ugly heads.
These are often telltale signs that you probably need to take better care of your scalp.
In very severe cases, not looking after that sensitive skin on your head that’s exposed to the sun and other environmental aggressors can even cause things like hair loss.
One of the best ways to look after your scalp (besides good nutrition) is to incorporate scalp-targeted products and ingredients into your healthy hair routine.
With a bunch of excellent and advanced-formula scalp care products now on the haircare market, maintaining your scalp has never been so easy.
If your hair care doesn’t include scalp care, you need to rethink your healthy hair routine pronto!
It’s as simple as scrolling to the end of this article and adding one of our favourite scalp care products to your cart.
Your hair will be much better for it. Trust us.
But first, some expert advice and tips to give you the tools for creating the best environment for your scalp!
Why Is It Important to Have a Healthy Scalp?
Healthy hair and scalp care go hand in hand; it’s not just about levelling up your ‘hair game’.
In episode 52 of our award-winning Beauty IQ Uncensored podcast, Dermatologist Dr Leona Yip answers why looking after your scalp is of the utmost importance (and all your other scalp care questions) in detail.
She says, “Conditions that affect the facial skin, can also commonly affect the scalp, such as eczema, psoriasis, acne etc. So looking after the scalp is just as important as facial skin.”
Dr Yip attributes an unhealthy scalp to four main causes:
1. Scalp barrier dysfunction.
“What this means is if the oil seal on the scalp (made up of barrier proteins and lipids like ceramides), if that’s not working properly, the scalp tends to be prone to dryness, flaking and some irritation. And that can lead to conditions like scalp eczema.”
2. Immune mediated inflammation.
"This can lead to “conditions such as scalp psoriasis.”
3. An abnormality in the scalp microbiome balance.
“This could lead to conditions like scalp dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis and folliculitis.”
4. Sun damage.
“This is something a lot of people don't tend to think about. Lots of people don’t think about wearing hats, and it’s really important because the sun can cause generalised redness on the scalp that can be stingy, burning or itchy. It can also cause sun spots and skin cancers in the longer term.”
Keen to learn more about scalp health? Listen to the whole podcast episode with Dr Yip below:
