So, what’s going on in that head of yours? Or, more to the point, underneath that head of hair? If you’ve started to notice hair loss and thinning hair, don’t worry — you’re not alone. We’re “hair” to tell you that there are many factors that contribute to overall scalp health and the eventual loss of hair — and that it can most certainly be treated! (And we’re going to stop with the hair puns now, we promise.) We take so much care when it comes to our skin … so, really, the same should apply everywhere else on our body, too (like our scalp, for example!). Keep reading to discover the causes of poor scalp health, thinning hair, and the steps you can take to get your tresses back on track.
So, What’s Happening On Your Scalp, Anyway?
The skin on the scalp contains a large amount of hair follicles, which create a surface with many different folds and nooks. According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, the scalp contains about 100,000 of them! It’s constantly adapting, shedding, and growing new skin cells — and its denser nerve network also makes it super responsive to things like temperature, touch, and mood.
Because of this, your scalp changes pretty frequently, which can lead to problems like hair loss, hair thinning, and flaking. When the scalp pH fluctuates too much, the scalp can begin having issues.
Additionally, the sebaceous glands on your scalp produce sebum (oil) to help lubricate the scalp. When these glands either under or over produce sebum, many different issues can begin to happen to your hair and scalp, such as:
- Damage at the cuticle
- Roughness
- Inflexibility
- Breakage
- Pitting
- Dullness
- Acne
- Cysts
What Causes Poor Scalp Health?
Even though your scalp goes unnoticed under your luscious locks, it still needs a lot of TLC. A healthy scalp will be clear of flakes, irritation, dryness, and redness. If you’re noticing any of the below, you may be suffering from poor scalp health.
Dry, Itchy Skin.
If you’re experiencing dry scalp, you will notice irritation and flaking in the form of loose, white, powdery flakes. This can be caused by anything from extreme weather situations (think blustery winter temperatures or hot, dry air), an allergic reaction, or contact dermatitis from products you’re using (like shampoo, conditioner, gel, or hairspray).
Dandruff.
Different than dry scalp, dandruff is characterized by skin cells that are either white or yellowish in hue. This happens when your scalp produces too much oil, which causes an excess of skin cells to build up and then shed. Dandruff can be caused by a variety of factors, including:
- A scalp disorder, like psoriasis or eczema
- An excess of a yeastlike fungus called malassezia
- Not washing your hair frequently enough
- Hormones
- Stress
- Age
- Temperatures changes
Excess Oil and Product Buildup.
When the scalp isn’t thoroughly cleansed on a regular basis, product buildup starts to occur around the hair follicles. This can happen because of overusing hair products and scalp products (like dry shampoo, hairspray, and heavy hair oils). It’s important to properly clean the scalp so that this buildup doesn’t cause clogged hair follicles.
Hair Damage.
Oxidative stress — AKA the release of free radicals, which damage the structure of skin cells and break down the components of skin — can contribute to poor scalp health. This happens when the natural antioxidants in your body are outpaced by free radicals, leading to hair thinning and hair loss.
Lack of Hair Washing.
While washing your hair every day isn’t necessarily the way to go and can actually strip hair of its natural oils (maybe you only need to wash once a week, perhaps) — you definitely do still need to wash your hair. Washing hair too infrequently causes products and natural oils to build up around the hair follicles. This causes inflammation and, eventually, a lack of hair growth, which leads to hair thinning and hair loss.
What to Do When You Notice Hair Thinning and Hair Loss.
If you’re noticing hair thinning and hair loss, don’t worry! First, let’s get to the root of the issue. (Okay, now we’re done with the scalp puns.)
When your hair follicles start to shrink up, your scalp becomes dry — and that causes even more damage to the hair follicles, making it a vicious cycle of dryness. As this happens, the hairs become gradually thinner until they just stop growing completely.
Hair loss is a result of many different factors, including:
- Genetics
- Hormonal changes
- Aggressive styling techniques
- Dietary changes
- Medications
- Temporary illnesses
- Genetics
- Hormonal changes
- Aggressive styling techniques
- Dietary changes
- Medications
- Temporary illnesses
How to Treat Your Scalp and Get It Back On Track.
So, you’ve noticed hair loss or hair thinning, and you’re ready to treat your tresses right. Here’s what you can do.
Exfoliate.
Want to get that healthy head of hair back? It starts with exfoliating your scalp! Scalp exfoliation is a key component of a healthy scalp, and comes from massaging and sloughing away dead skin cells on the regular. We recommend adding a scalp scrub into your routine 1-2 times per week.
Don’t Add Too Much Moisture.
If you’re noticing dryness on your scalp, adjust your moisture situation. Be sure you’re washing your hair frequently, and avoid hot water if possible (lukewarm water is fine!) to allow more sebum to remain on your skin. Try not blow drying your hair also, so that you don’t wick away too much moisture from the scalp with harsh heat.
Keep It Away from the Sun.
Sunshine is lovely, except when harmful UV rays start affecting the skin! If you’re planning on being in the sun for a long period of time, be sure to wear a hat or sunscreen to protect your scalp.
Massage.
In our opinion, there’s basically nothing that feels better than a scalp massage. And not only does it feel good, it does good! We recommend gently massaging the scalp regularly, which helps maintain healthy blood circulation and delivers important nutrients to hair follicles that help promote hair growth.
Try a Treatment.
Healthy-looking hair starts with a healthier scalp. (And, if you ask us, a facial-like treatment for your scalp sure sounds like heaven!) The Hydrafacial Keravive™ treatment is a first of its kind, a three-step treatment that includes both an in-office component and a 30-day take-home spray — resulting in healthier, thicker, fuller-looking hair! The three steps of the vortex technology are:
- Purify: Extracts dirt, oil, and impurities from your scalp and hair follicles.
- Nourish: The Keravive Peptide Complex Solution delivers a hyper-concentrated blend of biometric growth factors and skin proteins that exfoliate, hydrate, and nourish your scalp and hair follicles, promoting a healthy scalp and healthier, fuller-looking hair.
- Protect: Daily use of the Hydrafacial Keravive Peptide Complex Spray enhances your in-office treatment and delivers daily hydration and nourishment to your scalp and hair follicles.
This unique, relaxing treatment is designed to cleanse, exfoliate, nourish, and hydrate the scalp for healthier and fuller-looking hair, and it’s ideal for all skin types and hair types. We recommend three monthly in-office treatments, which include the topical take-home spray for use between treatments and 90 days after the final treatment.