Scalp Issues?

Dandruff, Psoriasis, Seborrhea, what exactly is causing your scalp issues. Well first of all let me make my disclaimer. I write this as a cosmetologist, which means I'm licensed to perform hair and scalp treatments, not to diagnose scalp disorders and is only written from my 20 years of servicing clients with disorders and to enlighten you on this subject from my experience.

So what are the white flakes that I can't seem to get rid of that cause my scalp to itch so much? Good question, I hear it everyday in the salon. Although I recognize alot of these symptoms unfortunately in most cases it is beyond my control to treat them. Click here for some photos of scalp disorders

Lets start with dandruff...simply put it is the shedding of dead skin combined with sebum (oils), and debris from styling products. Your scalp is the skin that covers your head and should be cleaned on a regular basis just as you would clean your body. Your body shed skin cells daily and we help to remove these cells by bathing regularly. In African American salons most clients only shampoo when they visit their stylist weekly, bi-weekly, or even longer. The reason is usually to try and maintain styles that they cannot simulate at home. But unfortunately two weeks of dead skin cells become unattractive and carries a foul odor.  Imagine if you didn't wash your feet for, or under arm, or any body part for a week or more, you would definitely experience some dead skin, itching, and discomfort.

Sometimes its confused with dry scalp which can be tight and itchy, but not with flakes. Sebum is a natural oil that your scalp produces. Try messaging your scalp on a regular basis to increase blood flow and production of sebum to help alleviate it, but if you must use oils avoid heavy petroleum based products, mineral oils, and silicones. A good light oil that won't clog your follicles is Mizani's Supreme Oil.

Psoriasis and seborrhea also appear dry, flaky, and itchy but in fact tend to be inflammatory, when lifted off the scalp usually still have a red patch left behind. Psoriasis is more white and scaly and can extend beyond the hairline to the forehead, behind the ears and sometime on different parts of the body. Seborrhea is more yellow and pasty like a thick crust that often bleeds when you scratch to much. To loosen these scale before a shampoo, try a light oil, message, the gently lift with a comb or brush, this will prevent you from breaking the skin. What causes these disorders range form allergies to products, food, vitamin deficiency, hormonal imbalances, and auto-immune disorders. 

Although there is no cure, there are over the counter shampoos and conditioners that will help alleviate the symptoms from shampoo to shampoo but tend to dry the hair out. Scalp Care by Mizani offers the two clinical recommend ingredients to help control the flakes, salicylic acid and pyrithione zinc but also contains ingredients that soothes and balances the scalp without drying out the hair.

I recommend cleansing your hair at minimum on a weekly basis to help keep your scalp issues under control and avoid using heavy products on your hair to mask your flakes. Always consult with a physician for medical advice regarding you scalp issue.

Mizani products are available at Tame Salon www.tamesalon.com