Causes Of Dry Scalp And Oily Hair
A dry scalp is mainly characterized by itching and flaking, and it could be a sign of pruritus (1). It occurs when your scalp is not properly hydrated. Scalp flaking is mainly caused by sebaceous activity (2). The sebaceous glands produce sebum, a complex oil containing triglycerides, fatty acid, wax esters, squalene, cholesteryl esters, and cholesterol. When there is less sebum secreted, the scalp becomes undernourished and starts flaking. A reduction in sebum production can be caused by quite a few issues like:
Over-shampooing Fungal or bacterial infections Weather conditions Thermal damage from styling tools Hair dyes Improper hygiene and health care
On the other hand, oily hair is a sign of overproduction of sebum. Excess oil production may hinder hair growth by clogging the pores on your scalp. Hair thinning is commonly associated with excessively oily hair. A dry scalp paired with oily hair is fairly very common, and it is usually seen in people with straight hair. If you have straight hair, the sebum travels down the length of your hair easily, leaving your scalp dry and your hair too oily. Another suggestion is that there might be too much dirt and product residue built up in the pores of your scalp. These clogged pores push sebum down the length of your hair, leaving the scalp dry. Scroll down to check out the symptoms of this type of combination hair.
Symptoms
If you have a dry scalp with oily hair, you may notice the following symptoms:
Small white flakes on your scalp. Your hair always looks flat. You wash your hair every other day due to greasiness. You may notice redness or small bumps on the scalp.
These symptoms can be quite bothersome, so you may want to treat them. Check out the next section for are some treatment options that you can try!
Treatment
The best treatment for a dry scalp is to moisturize it with deep conditioners, oils, and hair masks.
Keep your scalp moisturized by oiling it regularly, around least twice a week. You can also warm up the oil a bit for better results. Use deep conditioning treatments specifically made for the scalp. These treatments will contain concentrated ingredients that nourish and hydrate the scalp. You can also try hydrating hair packs and masks that contain ingredients like aloe vera, glycerin, avocado, etc. as they moisturize the scalp.
To treat oily hair, use refreshing and cleansing products.
Use hair masks that contain rosemary and other sebum-balancing ingredients. You can use dry shampoos to remove excess oil from the hair strands instead of shampooing your hair regularly. Instead of washing your hair too often, you can shampoo your hair once or twice a week and co-wash products the other days. Co-washes and conditioning cleansers dont completely dry out the scalp like regular shampoos might. But they don’t completely cleanse the scalp, which is you need to use shampoo at least once a week.
Does having a dry scalp lead to dandruff? Find out in the next section!
Can A Dry Scalp Cause Dandruff
Dry scalp and dandruff are two completely different scalp issues that are commonly mistaken for each other. Dandruff is commonly caused by an oily scalp. The oily scalp allows the fungus Malassezia furfur to grow, which causes dandruff. A dry scalp normally does not cause dandruff. If you do notice dandruff flakes on your scalp that persists even after treatment, then it might be seborrheic dermatitis or chronic dandruff. There may be cases when too oily hair or an extremely dry scalp might be a sign of some other condition. Scroll down to the next section to find out when to see a doctor.
When Should You See A Doctor?
Please consult a doctor if you notice any of the following:
If the dryness on the scalp is paired with severe redness or inflammation and hair loss. If the dryness on the scalp persists even after applying hydrating packs, serums, masks, and deep conditioning treatments. Your hair is starting to thin out with excess oil. You start experiencing hair loss.
What vitamin deficiency causes dry scalp? Check out the infographic below to learn what you should do to restore harmony to your scalp and hair. Deficiencies of vitamins B and D may cause dry scalp issues, leading to hair loss (3). Why do I still have dandruff after washing my hair? Dandruff can be caused by a dry scalp, excess sebum, and fungal infections. Washing your hair with regular shampoo may not treat dandruff. You need to use an anti-dandruff shampoo. Washing your hair too often can also increase dandruff. Why is my hair oily but I still have dandruff? If you have fine hair (and even in some wavy hair types), the oil from your scalp travels easily to your hair, making your strands oily. But your scalp remains dry, causing flaking.
