Signs You Have an Unhealthy Scalp

Your scalp is an area of the body that requires constant care and attention to keep it in a healthy state. However, the latest data collected in 2019 revealed that around 31% of UK consumers never bought hair care products, which shows that many people might not be giving their scalp the love it needs to keep it healthy.

An unhealthy scalp can lead to many issues, so we’ve put together a handy guide on how you can spot the signs of this. We hope this will help you identify any of the problems and put them right for a healthier head of hair in the future.

Your scalp is flaky

An unhealthy scalp may cause you to develop seborrheic dermatitis – or dandruff as it’s more commonly known – which causes flaking. One common reason for this occurring is your sensitivity to certain hair products, so you may need to change them to prevent this from happening. Buying sulphate-free shampoo is a good way to prevent dandruff because it won’t strip your skin of natural oils, which you should find beneficial.

Experiencing hair loss

Hair loss is extremely common with the average person losing anywhere from 50 to 100 hairs each day without even noticing. This can happen when showering, drying your hair, or even putting clothes over your head. However, excessive hair loss could be caused by an unhealthy scalp and lifestyle choices.

Fortunately, there are some changes you can make and new products to introduce to your hair care to prevent this loss and even help it grow back. This includes getting more sleep, massaging the head, and using hair-thickening shampoo when you’re washing your hair.

The itching won’t stop

An itchy head is another major sign of an unhealthy scalp and this itch can be created by many issues. These issues can include a build-up of hair products, dandruff, allergic reaction to a product or it could be a medical condition like dermatitis, psoriasis, Lichen planopilaris, and eczema.

Fortunately, there are some home remedies that you can use to reduce the itchy symptoms. These include:

• Rinsing your scalp with apple cider vinegar
• Rubbing organic coconut oil on your head
• Massaging a mixture of peppermint oil with either water or olive oil into your scalp
• Meditating

Redness on your scalp

If your scalp appears red, it could be a sign that it’s unhealthy. The redness can be caused by allergic reactions, harsh chemicals, or even sunburn. The latter can be easily prevented with the right suncream or a hat but allergic reactions can be more difficult to prevent. If you suspect a hair care product is causing an allergic reaction, be sure to stop using it immediately and switch to an alternative with healthier ingredients.