When women think about hair care, there is one very important aspect that is often overlooked (or worse, not even considered at all): the scalp. When the scalp is healthy and in good condition, it is easy to forget that it’s there. But when various scalp problems emerge and start to bug you, that is when you realise that you have neglected proper care.
Thankfully, most scalp problems are curable and can be addressed using basic hair care techniques. Prevention and proper care or maintenance is still your best defense against scalp problems. But it is good to know that they can be remedied.

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Oily Scalp – This is one of the trickiest scalp problems to deal with, especially for those with long hair. Most treatments designed for oily scalp can result in over-drying of the ends. A good way to address this problem is to slightly alter your hair care routine, such as applying shampoo only in the scalp and conditioner to the ends of your hair. That way, the ends do not get too dried up yet the conditioner formula does not further aggravate the oily scalp.
Dry Scalp – Dry scalp often takes place during winter or in colder climates wherein you’re exposed to heated areas. There are several hair care products designed to address dry scalp problems so make your life easy and opt to use them. Deep conditioning treatments work best for those suffering from dry scalp because it not only treats the surface but also nourishes from deep within the cuticle layer. A scalp massage and applying moisturising lotion to the scalp is also recommended.
Dandruff – This scalp problem is the most common and misidentified one among the bunch. Dandruff is not similar to dry scalp because the former is a form of infection. Thus, keep your own hair car utensils to yourself and never share them. The first step in combating dandruff is to thoroughly rinse hair after applying products (i.e. shampoo or conditioner) and applying antiseptic lotions to the scalp. The best kind of shampoos for dandruff problem are those that contain selenium sulfide and zinc. For more tips on how to battle dandruff, you can read this in-depth article here.
Psoriasis – This condition is characterised by the formation of itchy, red patches on the scalp, which can be painful at times too. There are several products used to treat scalp psoriasis such as lotions, shampoos, creams, pills, or injections (depending on the extent of the condition as per diagnosis). Organic topical oils containing coconut and argan oils work best, though.
Do you suffer from any of these scalp problems? How do you address them?
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