Scalp skin: why it is as important as the skin on your face?
Scrubs, cleansers, toners, moisturisers, sunscreens, serums – the list goes on and on! We do so much for the skin on our face to prevent ageing, peeling and breakouts. By comparison, we do so little for the skin on our heads. But why? Turns out, we’re skipping our scalp skin which is just as vulnerable.
Beneath the surface, face skin and scalp skin are essentially the same, but above the surface, the differences between the two are more obvious.
THE SKIN ON YOUR SCALP
Unlike the skin on your face, the scalp is (usually) covered with thick, long hair. This makes he skin on your head prone to more problems than your face, such as dryness - and it’s the reason why your scalp needs special care.
The hair on the scalp creates a warm, dark and humid environment, where microbes like Malassezia thrive.
It also provides plenty of oils, which Malassezia breaks down for energy.
The irritants it produces during this process cause dandruff. The presence of hair also makes the scalp harder to clean than the skin on your face. This may lead to dry scalp skin or increased grease.
YOUR SCALP MICROBIOME
Not sure what a microbiome is or what it’s doing on your scalp? The good news is, we’ve been looking into this for a while, so we’re happy to guide you through it.
You may have heard of the microbiomes in your gut that help break down food and release energy. A “microbiome” is the natural ecosystem of microscopic bacteria and yeasts that exists in an area. Of course, since the conditions on your scalp are different from your gut, the types of bacteria and yeasts that live there and their behaviour are different. Here’s what you need to know:
When the microbiome on your scalp is balanced, your scalp will look and feel healthy, but when the balance is upset you can experience itch, irritation, redness and dry skin on the head.
A lot of people think that washing their hair is just about the hair itself - but their scalp is just as important, if not more so. You can read more on dry scalp and dry hair in this article.
Taking care of your scalp should be a top priority if you’re aiming for healthy-looking hair.
At Head & Shoulders, we’ve led over 30 clinical assessments in the last 10 years to better understand how to keep it in good shape.
We’ve even discovered new ways to detect changes in your scalp condition, like measuring histamine (a compound involved in immune responses) to see how irritated or inflamed the skin is and measuring how well your skin holds on to essential moisture.
SIGNS A SCALP NEEDS EXTRA CARE
When your scalp isn’t in good shape, you might notice:
itch
irritation
dry skin on the scalp
flaking
redness
If your face was dry, you’d apply a lotion - but that’s not as easy on the dry skin on the scalp.
A great place to start is with a good scalp care routine. That’s why our experts at Head & Shoulders developed DERMA XPRO, a new skincare-inspired, dermatologically tested, three-step scalp ritual which is powered by a clinically proven anti-dandruff ingredient, to provide you with something more than just moisturisation:
protects you from dryness and flakes*
nourishes and increases flaky scalp protection
helps you retain moisture for up to 72h
reinforces your natural skin barrier
strengthens skin on the head
protects skin from irritants
creates a good foundation for healthy hair
The benefit of caring for your scalp is that it will be comfortable, flake-free and your hair will look fantastic. Make skincare for your scalp a priority and enjoy hydrated, healthier, fresher looking hair.
*visible flakes with regular use
