Remedies and Tips To Cure Your Dry Scalp
Advice When Choosing the Right Itchy Scalp Shampoo
Almost every one of us has experienced scalp itchiness at some point in our lives and I am sure there were numerous well meaning snippets of advice from friends and acquaintances alike.
The most popular recommendation would have probably been to buy an itchy scalp shampoo of some kind. It might have worked immediately or you might have had to try several brands before you found relief, did you wonder why that was so? You may have had to try a couple of brands before you got it right because the kind of shampoo you may have bought was not the right treatment for your condition. The causes of scalp itchiness is varied which is why specific formulations and not a general itchy scalp shampoo formulation is needed for speedier and more effective results.
The most common causes of itchy scalps are seborrheic dermatitis or dandruff, lice, contact dermatitis and dry skin. One must identify which of these is the cause for the itchy sensation so that you can pick which product to use.
Is the itchiness caused by lice? These are minute parasites that live and multiply in ones hair and their bite causes the itchy sensation which is more frequent at the base of the neck and behind the ears. Lice are visible to the naked eye and a close inspection of the head will reveal them. Specially formulated medications like Rid or Nix that eradicate the lice and render the eggs ineffective are needed to stop the infestation.
Seborrheic dermatitis commonly called dandruff is another condition that can benefit from a specifically formulated itchy scalp shampoo. Dandruff is distinguished by an itchy scalp, and white flakes or dead skin that falls off and usually lands on our shoulders. It can be caused by oily skin, skin sensitivity, a skin disorder, yeast or fungus. There are many anti-dandruff shampoos in the market with different active ingredients. Some examples are Zinc pyritione an antibacterial and antifungal agent used by Head & Shoulders shampoo, Salicylic acid is found in Neutrogena Healthy Scalp Shampoo that sloughs off the dead skin, the active ingredient in the Nizoral shampoo is Ketoconazole, and it has antifungal properties that decrease dandruff originating from yeast.
Irritation or itchiness that begins when the scalp comes in contact with a fabric, chemical or product like shampoo or any object or animal is called contact dermatitis. Usually caused by chemicals or shampoo, avoidance of the product or the chemical will alleviate the condition.
Lastly, an itchy scalp shampoo can often come in the form of very gentle formulations because another cause of an irritated scalp is dryness. Sulfate-free shampoos like Lanza will reduce scalp dryness as they are milder than regular shampoos.