First impressions are everything, and though not always accurate it takes anywhere between as little as a tenth of a second to a full 30 seconds to make a first impression.
And it’s not just simply what you say, or even your body language – other visual cues like your appearance help a stranger form a first impression.
As first impressions go, sporting a noticeably flaky scalp, with dead skin lingering on your shoulders, isn’t favourable and can be ultra-embarrassing. And if you’ve tried to banish the flakes to no avail, you might have been going about it in all the wrong ways!
How so? “Well, the symptoms of a dry scalp and of the clinical condition dubbed dandruff, are very similar, but are very much two different issues that need very different treatment protocols,” shares Ricardo Vila Nova.
Dandruff Defined
A condition that causes the skin on your scalp to flake, dandruff can affect around 50 per cent of the world’s population. “The exact cause of this condition is surprisingly unknown,” says Vila Nova. “But we do know that higher sebum levels, environmental aggressors, and harsh products can increase the likelihood of a person developing dandruff. This is due to the fact that all these elements can cause an imbalance of the scalp, which can trigger a yeast named Malassezia to overgrow – causing skin cells on the scalp to divide too quickly. This leads to itching and large yellow hued and sometimes oily flakes,” adds Vila Nova.
Dandruff Treatments
Oily environments are where Malassezia thrive, so those with a naturally oily scalp, or people who don’t cleanse enough tend to develop dandruff over those with a regimented cleansing and hair care routine. “But equally some people are born with a sensitivity to this yeast, so even if their levels are normal, they still present with dandruff symptoms,” explains Vila Nova.
He recommends shampooing hair every day or at least every other day to stop sebum levels from creeping up too high, as this will keep yeast levels where they should be. He’s also an advocate of gentle exfoliation, be that daily massage, or by way of an exfoliating scalp serum, and of course regular Scalp Harmonisation treatments at 212.2 Ricardo Vila Nova Hair Doctors.
This ‘facial for your scalp’ tailored to your individual needs begins with a detoxing cleanse, followed by a deeply nourishing active-rich treatment mask, and massage to boost the transport of nutrients from root to tip.
However, if you are susceptible to regular bouts of dandruff, “then it’s important to use haircare that specifically targets this yeast overgrowth – think anti-microbial masks, toners, shampoos and conditioners that contain ingredients like sebum regulating witch hazel, exfoliating salicylic acid, hydrating hyaluronic acid and anti-microbial Piroctone Olamine,” adds Vila Nova.
Dry Scalp Explained
Just like the skin on your face needs attention, so too does the skin on your scalp. In the right dose sebum, the natural oil our skin produces, is highly beneficial at keeping our scalps well moisturised and our hair nourished. But hormonal shifts, harsh climates, age, and medications can drastically reduce sebum production, while the wrong type of shampoo can strip too much sebum from the scalp, as well as change the optimal pH of your skin.
When the pH of the skin is suboptimal this indicates that the skin barrier – a protective layer that sits on the skin – has been compromised, and a weakened barrier can’t effectively hold in water. Cue dryness.
“The skin on your scalp can also have a natural propensity for dryness because it’s not able to produce enough sebum to nourish your scalp and tresses. This makes it necessary to take extra special care of your skin,” shares Vila Nova.
If your moisture and pH levels fall below what’s required to keep your skin from becoming too dry, “you can expect your scalp to feel tight, and itchy, and you’ll start to notice small white flakes too,” adds Vila Nova.
Dry Scalp Treatments
You’ll need to take a multipronged approach to combating a dry scalp. “Gentle exfoliation once or twice weekly pre shampoo will remove flaky skin and give you a clear base to reinject hydration and moisture into,” says Vila Nova.
Be sure to ditch any products that leave your hair and scalp dry. “Tip, if your hair feels straw-like post cleansing then your shampoo is too harsh for you. Equally you don’t want a cleanser that is too gentle and doesn’t adequately remove your styling products. This is why a shampoo wardrobe is beneficial – you can make the most out of your clarifying shampoo when you have lots of product in your hair, but when you don’t, then you have another option that’s more appropriate,” says Vila Nova.
He also advocates for upping the ante on hair oils. “I use a blend of nourishing oils, including caster oil and rare Japanese Tsubuki oil within my personalised Active Fusion products. They effectively moisturise dry skin and are highly beneficial hair health actives,” shares Vila Nova.
To find out the status of your scalp book a consultation by contacting us using the link below.
