Dry scalp and face

Many women know firsthand what dry skin is and the discomfort it causes. Unfavorable ecology, low humidity, wind and stress destroy the protective barrier, and the skin loses its ability to retain moisture in the cells. This is how dry skin appears, and at the same time – peeling and itching.

Dry scalp

The scalp is a kind of indicator of the health of the body. Therefore, if there is discomfort, it is very important to find out the cause and eliminate it. Moreover, sometimes it is not enough to simply wash your hair, since shampoos, apart from cleansing, do not provide any benefit to the scalp.

Dry scalp is often accompanied by redness, itching, flaking, burning, and dandruff. The last symptom is not just a cosmetic defect, but a sign of a skin disease.

Often the cause of dandruff is a fungal infection, hormonal imbalance or immune system dysfunction. In this case, the doctor prescribes medication. If the cause of dandruff is dry scalp, you can try to get rid of it yourself. But first you need to find out the reasons that caused dry scalp.

Causes of dry scalp may include:

1. warm and excessively dry air in the room, especially in the bedroom;
2. prolonged exposure to low or high temperatures;
3. very frequent use of electric curling irons or hair dryers;
4. violation of optimal water balance;
5. poor nutrition;
6. use of inappropriate shampoos, masks and balms.

These are the causes of dry scalp, which can be eliminated by providing the necessary skin care and temporarily refusing to use hot styling products. It is recommended to improve your diet and include foods rich in high fatty acids in your diet.

Dry facial skin

Under the age of 20, dry skin, as a rule, does not cause trouble: there is no oily sheen, no pores are visible, acne and pimples do not bother you even during adolescence, and the skin has a pleasant pale peach tint.

After 20 years, dramatic changes occur. In the absence of careful and proper care, dry facial skin appears - the skin becomes rough, less elastic, there is a feeling of tightness, irritation, cracks, and even “lichen” spots.

The skin becomes sensitive to the sun, cold wind, air, and strong temperature changes. Due to the absence or lack of nutrition and hydration, early premature aging begins, especially in the area around the eyes and nasolabial folds.

Therefore, it is important to choose the right care, taking into account its characteristics and needs for nutrition and hydration.

Causes of dry facial skin

It is necessary to begin caring for dehydrated, dry skin on the face by identifying the causes that caused it. The most common cause is disruption of the normal functioning of the sebaceous glands.

If there is not enough sebum secreted, this deprives the skin of natural protection from the negative external influences of the environment, which also ensures skin elasticity. As a result, the upper stratum corneum becomes loosened, the skin loses moisture, and the aging mechanism begins.

Other reasons that cause dry skin are disruption of the gastrointestinal tract and endocrine glands, various diseases of the nervous system, lack of vitamins, frequent use of soap for washing, prolonged exposure to the sun, and work near hot stoves.

To care for dry skin today, there are a lot of different products that can give the skin the necessary hydration and nutrition. If there is no improvement, it is recommended to visit a dermatologist.

What does dry hand skin indicate?

The skin of the hands is associated with the condition of the body, living conditions, nutrition, and compliance with care rules.

If one of the listed conditions is violated, the skin of the hands will be dry, rough, wrinkled, and will quickly begin to age.

In addition, a woman’s age can be determined by her hands, since they receive heavy loads and experience various negative external influences.

Causes of dry hand skin

The skin on the back of the hands is very thin, and its epidermis contains a fairly small amount of water. At the same time, there are fewer sebaceous glands in the dermis of the hands, unlike the skin on the face or back, for example.

Therefore, the skin on the hands is less protected and any external aggressive influences (detergents, cold, sun rays, etc.) further dehydrate and degrease the skin on the hands, causing it to peel and become cracked. The process is especially noticeable after the age of forty, when the skin of the hands gradually becomes thinner and sagging appears.

Internal causes, such as nutritional disorders and chronic diseases (in particular the gastrointestinal tract), also have a negative effect on the skin of the hands.

These reasons can provoke a persistent disruption of important metabolic processes, which cause dryness and early aging of the skin, and not only on the hands. These are the common causes of dry hand skin, but many of them can be eliminated on your own, acting not only from the outside with creams, but also from the inside by adjusting your nutrition.

Proper nutrition as a method of solving skin problems

Dry and flaky skin indicates that the body is experiencing a lack of some vitamins or minerals necessary for normal metabolism in the body. Proteins, which contain fish, meat, dairy products, beans, soybeans, and beans, are sources of amino acids, which are the building material of body cells, including skin cells.

If there are not enough proteins, the skin becomes dry and flabby. Fats are no less important because they also participate in metabolism.

Carbohydrates (porridge, vegetables, fruits) provide a person with energy to carry out all necessary biochemical processes. In addition, minerals and vitamins (especially A, E, B, D, K) are also necessary for the skin of the hands. For prevention, it is recommended to take vitamin and mineral complexes twice a year in courses.

Many factors can affect the condition of the skin of the face, head and hands.

But all of them can be successfully eliminated so that you can always enjoy your reflection in the mirror!

Lush, voluminous, shiny hair is the dream of every girl. How to achieve this if you have dry scalp? We share tips for restoring beauty and health to your hair.

1. Signs of dry scalp
2. Causes of dryness
3. How to solve the problem of dry scalp
4. Care Tips
5. Precautionary measures
6. How to wash your hair correctly
7. Dandruff and methods for its elimination
8. Ingredients for dry scalp care
9. Tools Overview

Signs of dry scalp

Brittle and dull hair, the desire to scratch your head are characteristic symptoms of a dry scalp. To see if this is really your problem, answer these five questions.

Do you often feel discomfort, itching and tightness of your scalp?

Are you worried about dandruff?

When combing, do the strands become electrified?

Is your hair brittle, dull, thinning?

Does the feeling of tightness return quickly after washing your hair?

If your scalp is dry, your hair will suffer from dryness © iStock

Causes of dryness

“Scalp type is most often an innate characteristic, since hormonal levels and the activity of the sebaceous glands are primarily associated with genetics,” says Elena Eliseeva, medical expert at Vichy. But sometimes dry scalp can be caused by:

unbalanced diet;

incorrect choice of care products;

thermal effects of styling devices;

diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, nervous and endocrine systems;

allergies, skin diseases;

non-compliance with drinking regime.

A dry scalp can feel itchy and tight © iStock

How to solve the problem of dry scalp

If the condition of your scalp leaves much to be desired, it’s time to take action. Sometimes it’s enough just to reconsider your lifestyle and change some habits.

Include foods rich in healthy fats in your diet: nuts, fatty fish, cheese, vegetable oils, avocados, eggs, red meat.

Watch your drinking regime - the daily norm is to consume 1.5–2 liters of clean still water.

Avoid drinking caffeinated drinks as they dehydrate you.

Eat less sweet and salty foods.

Skip the hair dryer.

Consult a trichologist to rule out scalp diseases.

Care Tips

“If the scalp is just dry, then care is not much of a problem. The main thing is to develop the right strategy,” says Elena Eliseeva.

Choose the right cleanser

Pay attention to sulfate-free shampoos. “Their detergent base is too weak for normal scalps,” explains a Vichy expert. “But for those who suffer from a lack of sebum, it is quite suitable, since it does not destroy the already unstable hydrolipidic film.”

It is good if the shampoo contains ceramides, vitamins B3 or B5, as well as natural oils rich in essential fatty acids.

Cosmetics with natural oils are suitable for dry scalp © iStock

Use extra hair care

Don't ignore masks, balms, and leave-in products designed specifically to solve your problem. These products contain substances that provide the scalp with the necessary components to maintain optimal moisture levels.

Scalp type is usually hereditary © iStock

Precautionary measures

When washing your hair, the water should be warm, but not hot. Rinse your hair with cool water. Due to temperature changes, the hair cuticle will close, trapping the active components of care products inside.

Be careful when using a hair dryer. Avoid too hot air and watch the blowing angle: drying at a right angle or from bottom to top leads to dryness. “The air flow coming from the hair dryer should pass along the strands, and not press the hair to the head,” explains Elena Eliseeva.

Beware of the sun's rays. Hair suffers from UV radiation, becoming dry and brittle. In summer, don't forget about your hat.

How to wash your hair correctly

“If your scalp is dry, the frequency of washing does not matter,” Elena Eliseeva is sure. — If the shampoo is mild enough, you can use it as often as needed. Usually a couple of times a week.”

Squeeze a little shampoo into your palm and whip into foam, diluting with water. Apply to scalp. Lather gently, as if you were doing a gentle massage: the habit of scratching and scratching the skin with your nails can cause irritation and increase peeling and itching.

Rinse your hair and apply the mask to the scalp and conditioner along the entire length of the strands.

Gently wring out your hair and wrap it in a terry towel, never rubbing it.

Remove the towel and let your strands dry naturally.

Dandruff and methods for its elimination

In the language of dermatologists and trichologists, dandruff is called “seborrheic dermatitis.” Among the main reasons for its appearance:

hormonal imbalance and metabolic disorders;

change in the scalp microbiome.

Microbiome is a broad concept that includes not only microflora, but also a set of microbial genes. If changes occur in the microbiome, this leads to the growth of the Malassezia fungus, which causes dandruff.

To get rid of the problem, the product should be used in a course of 2-3 times a week for a month. And as a preventive measure - once a week, combined with another mild shampoo.

One of the problems with dry scalp is split ends © iStock

Ingredients for dry scalp care

“There are several products to correct dry scalp,” says Elena Eliseeva. — First of all, shampoos. Their formula should be sulfate-free, with soothing and moisturizing additives (panthenol, niacinamide, allantoin)».

Sometimes manufacturers add to the composition ceramides or natural oilsto soften the scalp. And instead of the usual gel base, they use a cream base: the shampoo turns out to be thicker and more comfortable for dry skin.

Soothing, softening scalp masks that don't weigh hair down thanks to a lightweight formula based on... light silicones. Silicones evaporate when heated to body temperature, and only a thin protective film of ceramides and oils remains on the scalp, imitating the natural hydrolipid layer.

Tools Overview

Cleansing

Additional care

Nourishes hair, strengthens, adds shine. No weight effect.

Balms

almond, safflower and rose nourishing oils; arginine, glutamine, serine, cysteine ​​and proline

Masks

almond, safflower and rose nourishing oils; arginine, glutamine, serine, cysteine ​​and proline

Excessively dry hair and scalp can be a real problem. The curls get tangled, break, and don’t look very good. But appearance is not the only cause for concern, because dry hair can be a symptom of a serious illness.

Dry hair and scalp is most often just a symptom of some disease; it signals a disruption in the functioning of internal organs. But don’t sound the alarm ahead of time; dry hair can occur due to improper care. Let's figure out why hair becomes dry and what treatment the problem requires.

1 Reasons

First, let's be clear: very dry skin and hair are a serious symptom. If you don’t figure out the reason, you can be left without gorgeous hair.

As a rule, incorrect functioning of the sebaceous glands is responsible for dry hair and scalp. The healthy shine and elasticity of the hair disappears, it gets tangled easily, fragility appears when combing, and unpleasant sensations on the skin appear. Dryness can cause hair loss.

2 Internal reasons

To determine why your hair is dry, you must first check for the following diseases:

Anemia

This disease causes all cells to suffer from a lack of oxygen. Blood microcirculation is disrupted, hemoglobin levels decrease. Therefore, people with anemia usually look paler than healthy people. The skin becomes dry. In the scalp, the flow of nutrients to the hair follicles deteriorates, which worsens the condition of the hair.

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract

With various diseases of the stomach and intestines, the absorption of nutrients is impaired. This means that curls and skin simply have nowhere to get resources to maintain normal health. This can also cause dry skin and hair.

Kidney or lung disease

Many diseases of these organs may not have the best effect on hair quality. But in this case, this is not the worst of the consequences that can be encountered if the disease is neglected.

Sources in the mouth

It seems incredible, but foci of infection such as carious teeth or constantly inflamed tonsils can cause dry skin, including the scalp, as well as many other diseases.

Parasite activity

If you seem to be quite healthy and are wondering why your curls have become stiff, get tested for the presence of parasites in your body. Usually, a separate sample is taken to detect each type of worm. Parasites are so called precisely because they live off the resources of our body, which means that the carrier himself does not receive enough of these resources. Often brittle hair is the only sign of helminthic infestation.

Hormones

Hormonal imbalances are a common phenomenon. There is no need to be surprised if dry skin, fragility of curls, and cycle disruption occur simultaneously. In this case, you should consult a doctor, he will refer you for a blood test, which will allow you to find out for sure whether the hormonal balance is disturbed. After this, the doctor will select the appropriate treatment.

Dry seborrhea

This is a fungal skin disease. It affects the hair, not necessarily the scalp, being localized in the sebaceous ducts. If the scalp is damaged, pink spots appear on it, and the skin becomes covered with scales. Washing your hair with cool water becomes unpleasant and it starts to itch. Seborrhea usually does not “touch” a healthy person; people get it when the body is already weakened. The reasons should be sought deeper.

3 External reasons

In addition to the above, there are other causes of dry scalp and hair. They are not so “scary”; you can easily cope with their elimination on your own. These include:

Errors in care

Due to improper hair care, your hair can suffer greatly. Many people think that oily scalps require drying agents and frequent washing. But this is the main misconception.

If you use too aggressive shampoos, intending to “dry” the scalp, the skin will respond with even more sebum.

This is the most common cause of the combination “oily roots - dry split ends.” As a result, you will get dryness immediately after washing, brittle hair, and an oily head by the evening.

There is the opposite problem - not washing your hair thoroughly enough. Some cosmetics, such as hairspray or hair gel, are difficult to wash off from your hair.

For better results, experts recommend rinsing your hair thoroughly with warm running water for at least ten minutes before applying shampoo. After this, thoroughly foam the shampoo, massage the scalp and distribute the product through the strands, and rinse thoroughly. It is important that the product does not remain on the strands or scalp; there should be no sticky feeling after washing.

Choice of funds

If you use products for oily curls on dry hair, you can only worsen the situation. You should opt for products for dry hair and scalp. As a last resort, take shampoos for all hair types. Dull and brittle curls will thank you if you also purchase moisturizing and nourishing masks for them and choose a good balm.

Coloring and bleaching

Everyone knows how the use of coloring agents affects the condition of the hair. The causes of dryness are often found in frequent or inept dyeing. This is especially true for those who like radical changes in appearance, for example, bleaching dark hair to platinum blonde in a short time can turn into a real disaster. The bleach penetrates deep into the hair structure and damages it.

Perms also have a negative effect on hair.

To avoid troubles in this field, entrust such manipulations as hair coloring to a master. Give preference to the choice of soft tint products, and in no case be partial with the procedures. If your curls are already damaged, you will have to give up dyeing and curling altogether for some time. Choose a non-aggressive shampoo, use moisturizing masks and balms.

Hot dryer and stylers

Another reason for the deterioration of hair condition. The problem is especially relevant for those who dry their hair every day. It’s very hard to give up reasonable time-saving and beautiful styling, but the result of this daily “labor” is usually not pleasing: dull, brittle hair.

If this is your case, consider changing your hair dryer and curling iron to a more “professional” one; they have several modes and are less damaging to your hair. Also, when drying and styling, you should use products with a thermal filter to protect your hair from the effects of high temperatures.

Dry air, dust, cold, sun, salt water

Even if you treat your hair with care and use suitable care products, you can still experience dry scalp and related problems.

External factors such as dry air (especially during the heating season), ultraviolet radiation, cold, and dust can harm your scalp. In hot and cold weather, you need to wear appropriate hats; in rooms with a dry microclimate, use air humidifiers. Chlorinated and salty water are also negative factors. After swimming in the sea or pool, you need to thoroughly wash your hair with shampoo and apply a moisturizing mask.

Poor nutrition

This reason has something in common with anemia. When a person does not monitor his diet, eats monotonous food poor in vitamins and minerals, a shortage of these very elements occurs. To correct the situation is quite simple - include more varied foods in your diet. You can purchase special biologically active food supplements and take them in a course according to the instructions.

Hairstyles

During recovery, you should be especially careful with your hair. It is best to go for a haircut that requires minimal styling effort; any graduated shape will do.

Do not pull your curls too tightly and try not to use tight elastic bands!

Experiment with mousse or low-hold hairspray. The main rule is minimum manipulation, maximum effect.

4 Solution

After consulting a doctor and finding out the causes of dry scalp and hair, you must follow the doctor’s instructions.

If the causes are internal to the body, treat them; if they are external, change your care.

The beauty salon can offer you a variety of strengthening and health-improving activities to choose from.

Mesotherapy is a procedure for introducing “vitamin cocktails” under the skin, in other words, improving the nutrition of your hair. Massage is a great way to increase blood circulation.

Keratin straightening is the filling of voids in the hair structure with the most natural material for it, which is called “keratin”. It is a protein, and since proteins are the building material for our curls, products based on it work wonders in the hands of a master.

Start taking care of your health in general, and very soon you will forget about dry hair.