The scalp is an often neglected area of skin care. Shampooing and conditioning sometimes is simply not enough to give the skin the nourishment it needs.
Many people suffer from scalp problems ranging from dandruff and itchy skin to scalp psoriasis. Despite these concerns, there are several key ingredients which have beneficial effects on the scalp. These include salicylic acid and emu oil.
Dry scalp & Dandruff
Over half of the population experiences symptoms of dandruff or an itchy scalp at some point in their life. Just like dry skin anywhere else on the body, the scalp requires rehydration and nourishment in order to maintain a healthy state. Dandruff, as a condition, occurs when inflammation causes skin cells to stick together when shedding. The result is the falling of flakes from the scalp.
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a more severe skin condition which affects roughly 3% of the population. It is an inflammatory condition, characterised by symptoms of red scaly patches, itchiness and skin flaking. Causes of psoriasis are not fully understood, but it is clear that genetic and environmental factors play a part in contracting the condition. Although there is no cure for psoriasis, there are several treatments which have proven to be effective in aiding the symptoms of psoriasis as well as other scalp conditions.
Salicylic acid
Salicylic acid is a keratolytic treatment which is a common ingredient in skin care used to reduce inflammation and to increase the amount of moisture in the skin. This can be beneficial for dandruff as it dissolves the substances which cause skin cells to stick together. Salicylic acid achieves this by softening the skin’s keratin protein, thus, loosening dry and scaly skin.
Emu Oil
Emu oil has been found to host many benefits to skin and hair care. As a natural anti-inflammatory, it aids in relieving pain and discomfort tha is associated with chronic scalp issues such as dermatitis and psoriasis. Subsequently, emu oil can reduce itching, redness and scaling to vastly improve scalp health. Indirectly, this can naturally improve hair health; but emu oil can also improve hair shine and remove split ends.
Cortisone Creams
Many cortisone creams are used to treat skin conditions. Despite their effectiveness, it is essential to consider the unwanted side effects which these steroid creams may induce. Cortisone creams can think the skin, easier bruising and tearing of the skin as well as increasing the susceptibility to skin infections such as impetigo, herpes simplex and malassezia folliculitis. If you experience any of these side effects, or just wish to try something natural, skin care that uses salicylic acid and emu oil may be helpful in treating common scalp problems.
