Sensitive skin does not only affect the area around your hairline. Dryness and irritation can spread to the scalp as well. Having sensitive skin can harm your entire body.
It’s possible to experience irritation on your scalp even if you do not have sensitive skin anyplace else on your body. It’s also plausible that topical chemicals will penetrate to a greater extent on the scalp than they will on other parts of the body due to the number of hair follicles on the scalp.
So, how can you determine whether or not your scalp is sensitive? Symptoms can include things like itching, peeling, redness, burning, tingling, or pressure. Additionally, if your scalp is susceptible to extremes, such as being extremely oily or dry, it may be classified as sensitive.
Many factors can influence a sensitive scalp, but you can take some basic steps to avoid worsening the situation. If you’re someone with a sensitive scalp, there are certain things you should avoid.
Don’t Take Too Many Showers
According to specialists, the frequency with which you should shower is determined by your degree of activity; there is no hard-and-fast rule. However, if you’re not physically active, you can reduce your showers to a couple of times each week.
Exercising and taking a shower in the morning and then another after the gym should be done with caution to avoid wasting time in either situation. It may be necessary to shower two times a day; however, these showers should be relatively brief.
Keep It Short
Excessive water exposure can cause dry hair and skin. A longer shower also allows the water an opportunity for cleansers to become more destructive. The shower should be as short as possible.
When treating extremely dry skin and/or atopic dermatitis, it’s recommended that showers last no longer than five minutes. Maintain active showers and avoid standing underwater for long periods.
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Keep It Cool
Hot water draws out the natural oils from your scalp and causes it to age more quickly, so take a lukewarm — or even cooler — shower instead. Because excessive temperatures might irritate your delicate scalp, it’s an excellent idea to be cautious of the temperature of the water when you’re showering and washing your hair to avoid burning your scalp. So, choose lukewarm water that is neither too chilly nor too hot.
Some people recommend using freezing water to stimulate circulation to improve it. Except for avoiding super-hot temperatures, you must utilize whichever temperature seems most comfortable for you.
Don’t Wash Your Hair Too Much, But Also Avoid Washing Too Little
Washing your hair too often can damage your hair because it’s made up of dead skin cells; therefore, it doesn’t require as much washing as the rest of your skin. It would help to try and reduce the number of times you shampoo your hair.
Your hair type will determine the frequency with which you wash your hair. Washing your hair too frequently can be drying, which is especially problematic for people with colored or gray hair, which tends to be drier.
You can even spend a week without shampooing if you want to. Individuals with sensitive skin must avoid over-washing their hair, but they should also avoid waiting so long that they have buildup on their scalps, which is harmful.
Due to the growing popularity of washing hair less frequently, specialists warn that some folks are overdoing it, producing a dandruff buildup on the scalp. People often neglect to wash their scalps to avoid drying out their hair. This might result in an accumulation of scalp oils, which can cause redness and peeling.
Make it a point to wash your hair at least once a week.
Make Sure to Use the Proper Shampoo
Using the incorrect shampoo can aggravate your scalp by washing away any remaining oils, leading to increased dandruff and irritation. Are you perplexed by the variety of alternatives in the bath aisle? You might check into shampoos specially created to nourish the scalp three layers deep, resulting in beautiful hair and a healthy scalp.
Pay Close Attention to the Product Ingredients
Keeping an eye out for the product ingredients will help you get a grip on a sensitive scalp faster. Alcohol, fragrances, phthalates, and parabens are all known to produce red spots, stinging, and other unpleasant reactions in some individuals. The cleansing chemicals sodium laurel sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate, which are used to create a thick, foaming lather in most shampoos, are also not recommended for people with sensitive skin, according to dermatologists.
Because your scalp and skin are already sensitive, utilizing treatments with fragrance and alcohol will cause your hair to turn even more brittle and dry. The consequence is dry, frizzy, and damaged hair. It also causes inflammation, which leaves you with a dry, irritated, itchy scalp due to the damage done.
Sulfates should be avoided at all costs by those who have sensitive scalps because they dry up the hair and skin, causing pimples and rashes. Skin prone to allergies, eczema, or other irritations should avoid products containing sulfates because they’re a common trigger for flare-ups.
Exclude any hair care products that include harsh chemicals and hair treatments like bleach and dye from your routine. These chemicals have the potential to cause harm to the scalp skin and hair shaft.