A dry scalp doesn’t necessarily mean you have dandruff – find out how to fight dry scalp, and what to do if it is dandruff after all.
There are many possible reasons for a dry scalp. While dandruff is the most obvious, there are a lot of other possibilities.
One of the most widespread reasons is dehydration. It’s common knowledge that we should be drinking about eight glasses of water a day. But far too few of us follow through on this.
So how does drinking water help your scalp? And what do you do if your scalp is still itchy?
Your scalp needs water
Water, as you know, is integral to your health. What you might not know is how it affects your scalp.
Your skin- including your scalp – is a barrier between you and your environment, keeping the “good stuff” in (water, nutrients), and the “bad stuff” out (germs, pollution, irritants).
Like all the cells of your body, it needs water to be healthy. Without enough water, your skin can begin dry out and flake. Your scalp becomes unhealthy, “leaky” and less effective at doing its job.
If you’re prone to dandruff, a “leaky” scalp can allow irritants to penetrate scalp skin more easily, triggering or aggravating dandruff.
Drink the flakes away
To help solve dry scalp flaking, you need to make sure you’re drinking enough water. Eight glasses a day is the recommended amount – once you’ve hit your goal for long enough, you may find that your scalp will recover, helping your hair to become healthier.
Of course, if you’re suffering from dandruff you’ll need to complement the water-drinking with a shampoo that tackles the root cause.
A good hydrating shampoo can help moisturize and nourish your scalp and hair and treat dandruff at the same time.