Healthy scalp, healthy hair
We spend plenty of time and money on our skin and hair, yet our scalp is often overlooked.
The scalp has approximately 100,000 hair follicles¹ and sebaceous glands,² and keeping it healthy plays an important role in helping hair strands look and feel their best.³
Lack of proper scalp care can lead to dandruff and other problems such as an itchy, bumpy and oily scalp. If left untreated, inflammation of the scalp can affect hair loss and retention.²
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Symptoms of an unhealthy scalp
Stress, dry shampoo, pollution and product residue are a few factors that can contribute to an unbalanced scalp. So it’s crucial to cleanse the area with nourishing ingredients that are kind to your skin.
Key symptoms of an unhealthy scalp to watch out for include itchiness, irritation and dryness. Scalp issues are also linked to rough hair, reduced shine and hair breakage.
One of the most common conditions that irritates the scalp is dandruff, which affects over half the world’s population during their lifetime.⁴ Characterised by itchy, dry, and flaky skin,⁵ it’s principally caused by a fungus called Malassezia globose.⁶
How to get a healthy scalp
Avoid oxidative stress – this is the disturbance in the balance between the production of free radicals and antioxidant defences.⁷ It’s detected in dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis and ultimately alopecia.⁸
Oxidative stress is typically caused by pollution, microbes, UV radiation and even some cosmetic products.
Using hair care treatments filled with natural ingredients and antioxidants will help keep your scalp and hair clean, while lessening the effects of oxidative stress.²
Products with active agents can also help manage and treat the scalp. They do this by reducing microbes and oxidative stress, and controlling Malassezia fungus levels.²
Shampoo gently – wash, tone and exfoliate regularly, but gently. Massage the hair care formula into the scalp to increase circulation, avoid inflammation and remove excess or dead skin cells.
Eat more antioxidants – eating antioxidants in fruit and vegetables can also help neutralise free radicals, known for generating oxidative stress. Aim to eat a wide variety of produce to get a range of natural antioxidants. Each has different benefits that extend beyond your hair.
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Benefits of a healthy scalp
With a healthy scalp comes healthy-looking hair.³
Through a combination of gentle cleansing, massage, and an antioxidant-rich diet, you can help optimise growing conditions for your hair by keeping the base foundation healthy.
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¹Kemmett, D. (1988). Diseases of the hair and scalp, British Medical Journal, 296
²Trüeb, R.M., Henry, J.P., Davis, M.G. & Schwartz, J.R. (2018). Scalp Condition Impacts Hair Growth and Retention via Oxidative Stress, International Journal of Trichology, 10(6)
³Schwartz, J.R., Henry, J.P., Kerr, K.M., Mizoguchi, H. & Li, L. (2015). The role of oxidative damage in poor scalp health: ramifications to causality and associated hair growth, International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 37
⁴Elewski, B.E. (2005). Clinical Diagnosis of Common Scalp Disorders, Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings, 10(3)
⁵Harding, C.R., Moore, A.E., Rogers, S.J., Meldrum, H., Scott, A.E. & McGlone, F.P. (2002). Dandruff: a condition characterized by decreased levels of intercellular lipids in scalp stratum corneum and impaired barrier function, Archives of dermatological research, 294(5)
⁶Grimshaw, S.G., Smith, A.M., Arnold, D.S., Xu, E., Hoptroff, M. & Murphy, B. (2019). The diversity and abundance of fungi and bacteria on the healthy and dandruff affected human scalp, PLoS ONE 14(12)
⁷Betteridge, D.J. (2009). What is oxidative stress?, Metabolism, 49
⁸Bickers, D.R. & Anthar, M. (2006). Oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of skin disease, Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 126
