Hair & Scalp Health
Dandruff, an itchy scalp, hair breakage and hair loss are all common hair and scalp problems.
Most of us have experienced dandruff at some point in our lives. We all know the tell-tale signs, such as white flakes on a black collar.
According to Eva Proudman, clinical trichologist and chair of The Institute of Trichologists, dandruff is a mild form of ‘seborrhoeic eczema’. “This is where the natural yeast found on the scalp becomes slightly overactive, causing white or grey loose scaling. Usually the scalp is not inflamed or itchy,” she says.
How do you treat it? Eva recommends a shampoo with active ingredients such as Ketoconazole, Piroctone, Salicylic Acid and Zinc Phyrithone, which can be bought over the counter.
Dandruff is usually a mild condition and will clear up quickly, but there are more severe cases, such as seborrheic dermatitis, which causes scaly patches, discolouration of the skin and stubborn dandruff. The best advice would be to consult your GP.
How often should you wash your hair? This is a debatable question and depends on your hair type. Stephanie Sey suggests at least once a week, especially if you have thicker curly hair, or every other day if your hair becomes oily. “Washing hair too much can cause dryness to the scalp and hair,” she adds.
Hair breakage is another common issue and may be caused by over-brushing, colouring, bleaching or overheating the hair. Over time, it weakens the hair structure and it starts breaking.
So what can you do about it? Stephanie advises a conditioning treatment that you can buy over the counter which is rich in moisture, good oils and emollients, hydrolysed protein and silk amino acids.
If you’ve noticed more hair in your brush or comb, a more prominent parting or a receding hairline, chances are you’re suffering from what is called pattern hair loss, which occurs to men and women. For many people this can be a shock, but there is help at hand. What causes male and female pattern hair loss or ‘Androgenetic Alopecia’? Eva Proudman explains it can be inherited or caused by sensitivity to androgens – male hormones. “Both the inheritance gene and the hormone sensitivity cause the hair to miniaturise and become thinner and thinner, until it is unable to grow,” she says.
Effective treatments include Minoxidil, Finasteride, Serenoa, Low Level Laser Light Therapy and Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy (PRP).
Another condition is excessive hair shedding or ‘telogen efflubrium’, which is caused by stress. Stephanie Sey says “It can be caused by a stressful incident such as bereavement, redundancy or divorce. The hair shedding occurs three months after the event.”
She advises working with your GP, trichologist or dermatologist to get to the bottom of the problem.
If you notice hair loss, don’t ignore it. Seek expert help as early as possible. As Eva Proudman says, “The sooner we see a condition, the more we can do to treat or manage it. If you lose your hair we can’t magically regrow it, but we can often improve what you have.”
“look after your scalp and seek advice if you have concerns”