Scalp health is a crucial factor, as it works as the soil where hair grows. In this regard, a healthy scalp is essential to get shiny and strong hair and to reduce risks regarding premature shedding.
Here, you learn how you can prevent your scalp from external or internal challenges and protect your hair from unwanted hair issues.
Before any detailed or critical understanding, better to address a basic question: why does scalp health matter?
First and foremost, a well-nourished and healthy scalp empowers the anagen phase of hair growth, developing stronger and longer hair, while eliminating clogged hair follicles. However, scalp care routine matters, as it prevents seborrheic dermatitis, dandruff, and complex scalp conditions, maintaining hair shine and texture.
Considering this, the lack of sebum production, dandruff, and inflammation stand for scalp health issues, highly driven by water and air pollution.
Since scalp health awareness has increased in recent years, the scalp market has experienced a higher engagement, as the issues regarding pollution are inevitable, especially in urban settings. By 2035, it is expected that the global scalp health market will reach $18.7 billion, at a CAGR of 6.7%. However, the treatments have been more personalised (a key market trend) to maximise PRP results and provide dry scalp remedies.
So, how will you know whether your scalp is healthy or not? What should you be aware of regarding hair conditions? How to get rid of scalp dandruff?
Let’s find out.
Why Scalp Health Is the Foundation of Strong Hair
The philosophy of hair growth is based upon a single demand – nutrient-rich support. Hair follicles thrive on a healthy scalp, free of inflammation, clogged follicles, and poor blood circulation issues.
But, how does it act as a foundation?
Nutrient and Oxygen Delivery
Before any scalp care routine or dry scalp remedies, your scalp needs proper blood circulation, as it carries oxygen and vital nutrients to the hair follicles. Scalp health fuels the growth and hair strength.
Optimal Follicle Environment
An unclogged, clean scalp allows follicles to produce strong, healthy hair, and as the foundation, scalp help secures the spontaneity of growth by reducing dead skin cells or excess sebum.
Balanced Sebum Production
How to identify a healthy scalp? Check the sebum production, essential to prevent irritation, hair breakage, and dryness, and keep the hair strands hydrated.
Common Scalp Problems & What Causes Them
So, how does a scalp get affected and what are the consequences?
Dandruff
Pityriasis capitis, commonly known as dandruff, is the most common scalp issue. Small white or grey flakes of dead skin are often found in hair or on clothes, and are mostly visible if you have darker hair.
Seborrheic Dermatitis
A lack of scalp care routine causes a severe form of dandruff, known as seborrheic dermatitis. Grown from Malassezia fungus, while dandruff affects the scalp only, seborrheic dermatitis affects the lips, face, eyelids, or even the chest.
Often appeared as reddish-pink plaques with yellow-white scales. Lesions are found across the scalp (mostly symmetrical) and feel uncomfortable and itchy.
3-10 out of 100 adults (40-60 years old) are affected by this scalp issue.
Psoriasis
A chronic immune-mediated condition that often happens when your body is atypically immune responsive to a trigger. Scalp psoriasis quickly proliferates on the skin, developing a pink or red rash.
Tinea Capitis
A fungal infection of the scalp.
Caused by Tinea Capitis, known as ringworm, the scalp experiences inflammatory or non-inflammatory issues, leading to scarring alopecia.
Mostly affects children, but adults with low immunity are also affected by this.
Lichen Planopilaris
A scarring alopecia, caused by autoimmune activity and characterised by inflammation. Affecting the scalp, this is a lichen planus with no standard pattern. The symptoms include burning around the affected area, itchiness, and pain.
Scaling and redness are often present.
How to Maintain a Healthy Scalp
Removing oil and dirt is important to keep the hair hydrated and nourished. But remember, the treatment should be based on scalp issues and challenges.
Here’s our guide on how to maintain a healthy scalp.
Sensitive Scalp
If your skin is sensitive, be aware of irritation issues.
Use gentle products and cleansers to reduce discomfort. Moreover, clay-based shampoos or oatmeal, sunscreen, and scarves.
Note: Avoid styling products or perfumed shampoos, as these products irritate the scalp. Use hypoallergenic products and shampoos, and avoid hair dyes.
Dry Scalp
Complex scalp conditions, such as plaque or dandruff, cause dry scalp.
Use an oil mask to address flaky and dry scalp. These products can slow down the cell turnover rate and nourish your scalp.
For dry scalp remedies, better to choose hydrating shampoos and conditioners, as well as natural oils like coconut, jojoba, or Argan oil to keep your scalp moisturised.
Do not over-wash your hair; allow natural oils to build up.
Scalp Psoriasis
This inflammatory skin disease is addressed through light therapy, scale softness, medically approved shampoos, and topical, injected, or oral medications. Moreover, shampoos with salicylic acid offer symptomatic and temporary relief.
Scalp Eczema
Using topical steroids is beneficial to address scalp eczema issues, available in forms of shampoos and lotions. Scalp oils are useful to get relief, but using harsh chemicals or excessive heat can damage your scalp and hair.
Dandruff
This is a common issue, but sometimes it goes beyond control. So, how to get rid of scalp dandruff and make your scalp healthier?
Anti-dandruff shampoo, containing ketoconazole, zinc pyrithione, or salicylic acid, is the best and most effective remedy. Make sure that you balance the microbiome of the scalp (a dynamic and complex ecosystem of bacteria and fungi, dominated by Cutibacterium acnes, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Malassezia species).
Choose your shampoo based on professional advice. If you have wet or greasy dandruff, use both a shampoo for oily hair and a dandruff shampoo.
| Ingredient Type | Key Ingredients | Primary Benefits |
| Moisturizing | Coconut Oil, Hyaluronic Acid, Glycerine, Argan Oil | Deeply hydrates the scalp, prevents flakiness, and repairs dry skin. |
| Antimicrobial/Anti-fungal | Tea Tree Oil, Apple Cider, Ketoconazole, Neem, Vinegar | Fights fungi (Malassezia) and bacteria, reducing dandruff. |
| Exfoliating | Salicylic Acid (BHA), Glycolic Acid (AHA), Lactic Acid | Removes excess sebum, unblocks hair follicles, and eliminates dead skin cells. |
| Soothing/Calming | Oatmeal, Aloe Vera, Niacinamide (Vitamin B3), Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5) | Reduces inflammation and irritation, balances pH. |
Table: Key Ingredients and Their Primary Benefits to Use to Address Scalp Issues
How PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) Therapy Works Against Hair Loss
The hair PRP therapy uses a patient’s own platelets, as these are injected to stimulate hair follicles, enhance hair density, and boost blood supply.
Key Mechanisms and Effects
FGF and VEGF, growth factors found in platelets, lead damaged or inactive hair follicles to the anagen or growth phase.
It reverses the miniaturisation or shrinking of hair follicles, developing healthier and thicker hair strands, and increased vascularity in the scalp that secures proper nutrient delivery.
A fundamental treatment process for androgenetic alopecia or pattern baldness, and is effective in both men’s and women’s scalps.
Procedure and Results
The PRP capillary process usually takes 30 minutes to 1 hour, and 10-20 ml of blood, drawn from the patient’s body, is enough.
Patients need 3-6 sessions, with a gap of a few weeks, and the result becomes visible within several months.
Minimal downtime and safety are guaranteed, as the treatment uses the patient’s own blood.
Note: To maximise PRP results, increase your daily water intake 2-3 days before the treatment begins, and include green vegetables, vitamin B12, and iron-rich foods to support platelet production. Avoid alcohol and cigarettes, at least 2-3 days before the treatment.
Final Thoughts
Issues regarding the scalp, such as scalp psoriasis, dandruff, scalp eczema, and others, are somewhat normal, due to pollution and other reasons. Make sure you find the right remedies as per your scalp requirements. However, do not opt for any treatment without professional guidance, as it might damage your scalp extensively and affect your overall well-being.
Tired of consistent scalp issues? Looking for the best scalp health clinic? Visit our website to get to know about different treatements, releated to scalp health and book your appointment to get the best support from scalp health experts.
Frequently Asked Questions
The most essential nutrients for a healthy scalp include iron, zinc, protein, Omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamins B7, A, and C. These nutrients reduce inflammatory issues, empower the production of collagen, regulate oil glands, and promote blood circulation to prevent dandruff and reduce dryness of the scalp.
Using caffeine for hair growth is not a myth, but a proven reality. It stimulates hair follicles and promotes blood circulation when applied topically to encourage hair growth.
Under-washing or over-washing weakens hair strength significantly, and the use of harsh products or neglecting dandruff issues clogs follicles. Apart from these, towel drying or using conditioner directly to the scalp damages hair significantly.
Persistent burning, itching, or scalp pain is a major sign that you need professional support for your scalp. However, if you find that scaly, red, or bleeding patches do not heal early, or bald patches or hair thinning appear suddenly, it’s high time to get professional therapy. Be careful about excessive flakes or dandruff, or sudden changes in scalp texture, such as hardening or thickening, as these issues highly demand professional intervention.
