Dry Scalp

Causes, Treatments, and Prevention Tips

Many women struggle with a dry scalp. In fact, 50% of the general population experiences Pityriasis capitis — more commonly known as dandruff. This type of dry skin on the scalp can be really uncomfortable. While itching is the most common side effect, more serious skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema can also be connected to a dry scalp.

However, a dry scalp isn’t a death sentence. There are scalp treatments at your disposal to help soothe it.

Today, we’ll break down exactly what is causing your dry scalp, how you can combat those itchy flare-ups, and the different ways you can nourish your scalp to prevent dandruff in the first place.

What Can Cause a Dry Scalp?

Before we get into how to solve your scalp psoriasis, it’s helpful to understand where it comes from.

Like so many things when it comes to your skin, there isn’t one straightforward answer. Sometimes, a flaky scalp is actually the result of psoriasis — but dry skin on the surface of your head isn’t always connected to a serious skin condition. Sometimes, the cause of dandruff is a lot less alarming.

Most people who struggle with dryness in their hair find that their dry scalp is instead the result of their environment.

Dry Air

Humidity is one of the largest factors on your hair and scalp. In the same way that insufficient moisture in the air can cause your hair to fall flat or split at the ends, low humidity can also dry out your scalp.

Meteorologists typically measure the amount of moisture in the air by relative humidity. This percentage measures how much water vapor is currently in the air compared to how much water vapor the air could hold at a certain temperature. The average relative humidity of a room is between 30% and 50%.

However, when the relative humidity dips below 40%, your skin can start to lose water. This is because your skin has more moisture than the surrounding air. Without enough water, the skin cells on the surface of your scalp begin to dry out and flake away from the skin — causing the white flakes associated with a dry scalp.

Weather Shifts

It’s not just dry air behind your itchy scalp. Remember that relative humidity, unlike absolute humidity, also considers temperature. This means that the weather can also be the cause of your dry scalp.

When the seasons change and the temperatures cool, your skin is suddenly exposed to a lot more cold air than usual. Unlike the sticky air in the summer, which is hot and full of water, the air during the fall and winter seasons is denser.

“In addition, turning your heater on in your home can also significantly change the humidity level in the home, which can impact your scalp health,” notes Melinda Hany, Registered Nurse.

Because the molecules are packed closer together in cold air, there is less room for new water molecules to make it into the mix. This resulting low humidity is what makes cold air so dry.

Without enough moisture in the air, your scalp can start to itch or even crack in the cold temperatures.

Scalp Irritation

The weather isn’t always to blame for your dry scalp. Instead, sometimes, the cause of dandruff has nothing to do with the environment at all. Instead, it might be linked to your hair care routine.

Like skincare products, hair care products are meant to support your specific hair needs. They should be tailored to your hair type, and you can customize your routine to address whatever hair concerns you have.

Even the best intentions (and the best products) are not immune to potential side effects. Sometimes, haircare products can start to irritate your scalp.

An itchy scalp — also known as scalp pruritus — describes a type of scalp irritation in which the skin beneath your hair becomes extremely dry, often accompanied by an uncontrollable urge to itch. While many hair care-related factors can cause this itch, one stands out amongst the rest: overwashing.

One of the fastest ways to irritate your scalp is to wash your hair too often.

Like your skin, your scalp produces a type of healthy oil called sebum that protects the surface of your skin and locks in essential moisture. While washing your hair regularly prevents this good sebum from turning into excess oil and buildup that weighs down your hair, shampooing too often can strip away more sebum than intended, leaving your scalp vulnerable and dry.

Without this natural oil layer nourishing your skin, your hair can become overly dry, leading to dandruff and other side effects of a dry scalp.

Harsh Ingredients

Using too much of a hair care product on your scalp is one way to cause irritation and dryness. Another way to do this is by using products with harsh ingredients on your scalp.

Scalp skin can be particularly sensitive, so it’s especially important to use the right ingredients. Hair care products with too many aggressive chemicals can irritate your scalp and break down the natural oil surface of the skin, essentially stripping it of all its protection.

At best, you may notice your scalp itches more when using harsh shampoos or exfoliants. At worst, you might develop a kind of allergic reaction. Both can be the reason behind your dry scalp.

How Can You Manage and Prevent a Dry Scalp?

While white flecks in your hair can be a nuisance, they don’t have to be a lifelong worry. Most often, dry scalp (and the dandruff that comes with it) is a completely preventable condition. All you need to do to manage dry hair and a dry scalp is to learn how to take care of your head.

That’s right. We’re talking about scalp care.

Simply put, scalp care refers to how and what you use to take care of your scalp. Think of it like skincare on the top of your head. You can tailor scalp care to the specific needs of your hair and skin, just like you can with your regular skin care or hair care routine.

Many people think that scalp care is a part of your hair care routine — but this isn’t true. While the two are certainly linked, caring for your scalp is a separate act of self-care.

The best way to soothe a dry scalp (and take care of your scalp to avoid this dryness in the first place) is to bolster your scalp care routine. Supporting your scalp can include a mix of various lifestyle habits and treatment options specifically designed to target the needs of your scalp.

Stay Hydrated

The easiest thing you can do to support your scalp health is to drink enough water.

Dry skin is the direct result of not having enough moisture. Whether it’s on the top of your head or the bottom of your feet, your skin needs water to function properly.

While topical products (like lotions and creams) are a great way to deliver added hydration to specific areas of your skin, nothing can make up for the original moisture source: drinking water.

If you don’t drink enough water, you can quickly become dehydrated — which can affect all of your organs, including your skin. In the same way that not drinking enough water can negatively impact your skin, drinking enough of it can have positive impacts.

“Adding a humidifier to your home can also help your skin stay hydrated, especially in the winter,” Hany highlights.

Incorporate Scalp Treatments

You don’t have to rely on lifestyle changes and home remedies alone to take care of your dry scalp. If you’re dealing with a particularly bad case of dandruff, don’t hesitate to incorporate a scalp treatment into your routine.

Scalp treatments, like skin treatments, are made to target scalp concerns at their core and improve not just the look and feel of your skin but also its health. There are dozens of different kinds of scalp treatments based on your skin needs, including treatments for dryness.

The Moroccanoil Dry No More Scalp Treatment is a professional scalp treatment made to heal your dry scalp and reduce flakiness by improving circulation and nourishing dry hair. Powered by natural antioxidants and salicylic acid, this treatment works to correct the imbalances behind your flaky scalp — relieving your skin’s irritation and revitalizing your hair’s texture in the process.

The Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal Tea Tree Cooling Hydration Mask is a high-quality hair mask with a powerful ingredient lineup that targets dry scalp. Made with tea tree oil, aloe vera, hyaluronic acid, and binchotan charcoal, this scalp care product is both hydrating and nourishing.

Try Hair Masks

Though hair care and scalp care are not interchangeable, they are interconnected. That means that supporting your hair's health can help support your scalp's health, too.

Hair masks are a simple but effective way to give your hair an extra boost of nourishment throughout the week. They work by delivering additional nutrients and vitamins that might be missing from your regular hair care routine. Especially if you struggle with dry hair, the right deep moisture hair mask can transform your hair — and your scalp.

The Act+Acre Conditioning Hair Mask works to smooth frizz, mend split ends, and heal hair breakage — all side effects of dry hair. With ingredients like shea butter and castor oil, this hair mask is a hydrator so powerful that its benefits can reach all the way to your scalp too.

The Oribe Moisture Control Deep Treatment Masque is another hair mask that deeply nourishes the hair to control unexpected dryness. This mask is made with both almond and coconut oil along with the Oribe Signature Complex to defend against signs of aging and keep your hair (and scalp) healthy and strong.

Opt for Gentle Shampoos and Conditioners

The answer to your dry scalp is always a new product or step in your nighttime routine. Sometimes, the best thing you can do to support your scalp is to swap out a current hair care product for a better one.

Especially considering how damaging the wrong shampoo is for your scalp, you should always opt for a gentle shampoo and conditioner on your hair.

Unlike other hair care products, these gentle formulas are never made with harsh chemicals that can irritate your scalp or dry out your skin and hair. Instead, they take your scalp’s needs into consideration and gently wash the buildup from your hair without stripping it of its natural moisture.

The Augustinus Bader The Rich Shampoo is made to be gentle on skin, making it the perfect scalp care product for those with dry hair. It’s made to be ultra-hydrating for even the driest of scalps, but it won’t weigh down your hair or lead to buildup on your scalp.

Try Not To Overwash

Remember that too much of even a good thing can be bad for you. While washing your hair is an essential part of both your hair care and scalp care routines, it’s important to not overdo it when it comes to cleansing.

The goal of washing your hair is to get rid of excess oil — not all oil. Some sebum is necessary for your hair! To avoid stripping your scalp of the natural moisture it already produces, be sure to shampoo and condition your hair according to the needs of your hair type.

Sleep With a Humidifier

Even if you drink water around the clock, you can’t combat the skin side effects of low humidity. That’s why many find that sleeping with a humidifier can help support a dry scalp.

Your skin — including the skin on your scalp — is at its most vulnerable when you’re asleep. This is the time when transepidermal (a.k.a. across the skin barrier) water loss is highest, meaning the potential for dry skin is also at its highest. A heavy-duty moisturizer can help protect against dryness on your cheeks and chin, but you can’t exactly lather your scalp in lotions. That’s why a humidifier can be so helpful.

By increasing the relative humidity in your bedroom, you can support hydration in your scalp while you sleep — and prevent dryness along with it.

The Canopy Humidifier Starter Set comes with a powerful dermatologist-approved humidifier and a sample of essential oils to pair it with for the best overnight skin hydration.

Soothe Your Scalp

While flecks of glitter might look good in your hair for a night out, white flakes definitely aren’t a trendy accessory. That’s why it’s important to take care of your scalp — to avoid dandruff from getting out of hand (and ruining your outfits).

Thankfully, proper scalp care doesn’t have to be complicated. In the same way that you can perfect your skincare or hair wash routine, you can build a scalp care routine that fits seamlessly into your life and will leave you with a nourished and never-dry scalp.