Severe Itchy or Flaking Scalp? Is it Seborrheic Dermatitis?

Dealing with dandruff (aka seborrheic dermatitis)

Seborrheic dermatitis is considered a type of eczema and commonly appears on the upper back, nose or scalp. On the scalp, it may appear as light dandruff or as a larger dry patch of flaky skin and may also cause itching. Other signs include:

• Redness on the skin or scalp,

• Moist, greasy or swollen skin,

• Light crusty flakes,

• Skin feels itchy or burns.

People of any age can develop seborrheic dermatitis including infants where it is called “cradle cap”.  More men than women report having seborrheic dermatitis, but anyone can suffer one or more attacks.

The fungi that contribute to outbreaks belong in the yeast family No one knows what causes or triggers for seborrheic dermatitis, but it is not contagious. No one can catch it from touching you.

Treatments and cures for severe dandruff

There is no "cure" for seborrheic dermatitis, but treatments are available. Your physician or dermatologist will examine the affected areas, determine the cause and prescribe a topical or oral treatment. 

To reduce the frequency or length of an outbreak, avoid harsh chemicals on your hair. Keep hair moisturized. 

Ask your doctor about medicated shampoos to treat seborrhoeic dermatitis on the scalp. These shampoos work by reducing the number of yeast living on your scalp.

Always consult with a physician and have an appointment so your doctor can visually inspect and possibly take a small sample of dandruff from your scalp to properly diagnose your condition.

Never self-diagnose or use untested treatments which could have unexpected and potentially harmful side effects.

Dandruff What to do About It

Overview:

Everyone has dandruff--at least some form of that pesky, itchy, flaky annoyance occasionally or on a more regular basis. It can become frustrating when the flakes become obvious on that favorite dark shirt or sweater, let alone the feeling you want to scratch your head raw to get relief.

Theses flakes on your scalp are a natural shedding of skin that happens all over our body. By ignoring these obvious symptoms and annoyances you are allowing the scale to build up and become itchy.

The culprits causing this malfunction of the scalp are  usually found in our daily routine:
   
Hairspray, gels, mousse, dry shampoo and conditioners can all leave a residue clogging oil and
    sweat glands that are working 24/7 trying to evacuate toxins from our body!

    Shampoo has thickening agents that leave a coating that may not be noticeable at first, but
    combined with sprays and gels clog the pores blocking those natural salts and oils from
    traveling down the hair shaft where they belong.

Treatments and Cures:

   
    First: Try switching shampoos by alternating with a clarifying shampoo. This will remove chemical build up on the hair and scalp. Shampoo more often at least twice a week. More often is better. This washes away chemicals and toxins like chlorine.

    Second:  Use conditioner only on the ends keeping it off the scalp. Leave-in conditioners are perfect for long tresses.

    Third: If you feel dry patches try a coconut or olive oil treatment. Warm the oil in the microwave and apply to those areas for twenty minutes. Shampoo it out with a quality shampoo.

    Fourth: Dandruff shampoos with a zinc base are very effective and not stinky like tar shampoo or drying to the hair ...followed by a dandruff conditioner.

If your scalp itch persists after following some of these suggestions it maybe time to check with a dermatologist. It might be eczema or psoriasis.

 

 New Trends In Hair Color!

You may have noticed a big trend in hair color is to intentionally dye hair roots a darker or several darker shades than the rest of your hair.

This two-tone trend is sometimes referred to as “ombre” while darker or two-tone ends are often called “balayage” in the professional world of color.

You’ll see both of these trends on this year’s red carpets.

Balayage, is also known as hair painting. The contrasting hair color is painted on to create a graduated, natural-looking effect from end to root and is all about creating beautiful blends of multi-dimensional color. This technique is sometimes only applied to hair below the roots creating amazing highlights, while the crown or roots may be a darker complimentary color.

Before

Ombré is a very popular trend in hair color you’ll see everywhere right now. Open any magazine and nearly every celebrity has some degree of Ombré recognizable by hair that is darker at the root, and blends into a lighter shade as it reaches the ends. 

It is very important to use an experienced colorist for either or both of these techniques as choosing the right tone for your skin and matching the various colors can take a wrong turn. In other words, “DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME” unless of course you are willing to live with the results, good or bad.

After

Take a look at this before and after to see how the right color and colorist can turn gray into WOW!

Talk to your stylist about how these techniques will look on you with your style. 

Either look amazing on long hair but can also make an angled bob look fresh and contemporary. Regardless, as in any remodel, including your hair, talk to a professional.

Have questions about these techniques on your hair or thinking of going for a new style, give me a call at Boston Cutters Salon for Color at SE 17th and Hawthorne at (503) 239-7529.