White Flaky Patch On Scalp' title='White Flaky Patch On Scalp' />Read about home remedies for psoriasis and psoriasis treatments. Also read how to cure psoriasis naturally with proven home remedies. Itchy Scalp Pictures, Causes and Treatment. Unwashed Hair. When the hair especially oily hair is not washed frequently enough, skin cells may build up on the scalp and cause itching and dandruff. Prevention is therefore by simply maintaining good hygiene and washing the scalp hair at least once a week. Dry Scalp Skin. Dry scalp skin lacking the protective oil layer, is vulnerable to infections, and easily gets irritated. From the top of the head or hairline skin cells in the form of white dust dry dandruff may shed. Common causes of dry flaky scalp are Frequent hair washing with hot water and aggressive shampoos. White Flaky Patch On Scalp' title='White Flaky Patch On Scalp' />Holding hair dryer close to the head. Cold windy weather in combination with dry air from indoor heating. Prevention is by using shampoos for dry hair. Stress. Stress is a common cause of itch. Scalp, face, and neck are often affected. Neurogenic Excoriation. Scratching from psychical reasons may cause itchy scalp scratches neurogenic excoriations. Dry, Flaky, Red Skin around Nose, Mouth and Crease Causes and Treatments. Home Allergies Itchy Face and Facial Rash Causes, Treatment, Pictures Itchy Face and Facial Rash Causes, Treatment, Pictures. Posted by Jan Modric. Dr. Reddys Mintop Hair Fall Solution. I visited my dermatologist and he recommended this to me and I have been using it since then along with some vitamin. Dandruff, Caused by Fungi or Seborrheic Dermatitis. Dandruff are whitish, greasy, thin skin flakes, few millimeters in size, appearing in the hair and falling onshoulders. The scalp skin is itchy and may be reddened. The common cause is fungus Malassezia furfur formerly known as Pityrosporum ovale that normally lives on the scalp, but may overgrow on the greasy scalp, irritating it and causing scaling. Dandruff may be related to seborrheic dermatitis, where irritated oil glands produce excessive amount of oil, resulting in an inflamed reddened scalp. Besides the  scalp, the eyebrows or eyelids, skin on the sides of the nose, behind the ears, and in the groin may be affected. Photo-754.jpg' alt='White Flaky Patch On Scalp' title='White Flaky Patch On Scalp' />Dandruff usually does not appear before puberty, and it is more often in males, perhaps due to stimulation of oil glands by male sexual hormones. Diet poor in B vitamins, zinc, and essential fatty acids may also cause dandruff. Cold weather and indoor heating during winter may aggravate scalp scaling. Treatment of Dandruff. Treatment of dandruff depends on the cause. Mild dandruff can be controlled by regular hair washing with gentle shampoos to avoid greasiness. Hot water should be avoided and hair rinsed well after washing to prevent scalp irritating. When regular shampoos do not help, over the counter medical shampoos can be tried 1 In malassezia fungal infection, shampoos containing zinc pyrithione, selenium sulfide or ketoconazole are usually effective. Tea tree oil, a component of several natural shampoos has antiseptic and anti fungal properties. In seborrheic dermatitis, shampoos containing coal tar or salicylic acid may help. Several weeks of hair washing every day, and keeping shampoo on the hair for at least 5 minutes every time may be needed to get rid of dandruff. Prevention of Dandruff. Alcohol based hair styling products should be avoided, since they dry up the scalp. Regular exposure to sun but not sunbathing may help in treating fungal infection. Learning to cope with stress and avoiding saturated fatty acids and trans fatty oils may reduce oil glands secretion 2. Diet in Dandruff. Nutrients to avoid Simple sugars like glucose, fructose, since they lower vitamin B6 level. Are you experiencing dry skin on your ears Learn how to moisturize these sensitive areas and ease flaky, dry skin on your ears. Dandruff is often as symptom of seborrheic dermatitis, which typically occurs when dry pieces of your scalp flake off into your hair, notes CNN Health. A. Val. If your scalp is sensitive or already irritated, most shampoos can cause further irritation, and dandruff shampoos are the worst not only a lot of. Saturated fatty acids in meat and milk, since they increase oil gland secretion. Flash Text Files Resolume Dmx. Nutrients to consider good for healthy scalp skin Omega 3 and omega 6 unsaturated fatty acids. Vitamins B cabbage, A carrots, and E, but not as supplements, if blood levels are normal. Cradle Cap in Infants. Microsoft Office 2007 Free Download Full Version No Trial here. Picture 1. Cradle capsource WikimediaIn infants, especially in newborns, crusting and scaling may appear on the scalp. Condition, called cradle cap, is caused by overactive oil glands, and usually disappears by the first year of age. Treatment is by applying mineral oil or baby oil after shampooing, and rubbing the scales off with a soft brush. Cradle cap is harmless and non contagious, but may itch. Scalp Sunburn. Scalp sunburn can burn or itch. Affected skin is red, tender and usually start to shed after few days. To ease burning and itching, first get out of the sun, and wear light protective hat when you can not avoid the sun. Apple cider vinegar, or after sun lotions applied on the scalp may ease burning. Cool shower may provide temporary relief. Painkillers as aspirin or ibuprofen help ease the pain. Lotions with anesthetics should be avoided since they may cause allergic reaction. In strong sunburn, oral corticosteroids may be needed to reduce swelling. Acne. Acne on the scalp usually appear on the hair border. Acne vulgaris are treated with common anti acne ointments. Folliculitis. Folliculitis caused by bacterium Staphylococcus aureuscauses red bumps with occasional pus filled centers on the scalp. Common cause is auto infection from other parts of infected skin. Treatment, if necessary is by over the counter antibacterial shampoos, or in severe cases with oral antibiotics by mouth. Several other types of folliculitis may affect the scalp. Scalp Ringworm Tinea CapitisTinea capitis is fungal infection of the scalp mostly seen in pre school children 3 7 years of age, but can also occur in adults. It is caused by group of fungi that normally live on the skin dermatophytes but may overgrow in certain circumstances. Tinea capitis may present as itchy, scaling area of hair loss, black dots parts of broken hair in the scalp skin, yellow crusts favus or rough, thickened inflamed area kerion. Lymph nodes on the sides of the back of the neck may be enlarged. Tinea capitis is contagious, so other family members should be examined in suspected cases. Therapy is by prescribed anti fungals by mouth such as griseofulvin or terbinafine for 4 6 weeks 3. Scalp Ringworm Pictures. Source of images 2 5 Samuel Freire da Silva, M. D., atlasdermatologico. Tinea Amiantacea. Tinea amiantacea Amia is a fish species with silvery skin is another rare type of fungi that causes itchy scalp. Silvery skin scales are attached on the base of the hair thus gluing hair in tufts. Head Lice Pediculosis capitisPicture 6. Head lice Pediculosis capitis source Samuel Freire da Silva, M. D., atlasdermatologicoHead lice may cause intense itch of scalp, neck, and shoulders due to allergic reaction to lice saliva. Adult louse is white or grey, about 2 mm long, and may be found on the hair by inspection and using a special lice comb. Lice eggs nits, are white, about 0. Anyone with the hair can get head lice, but children are mostly affected. Treatment of Head Lice. Over the counter anti lice powders, lotions, or shampoos, containing pyrethrins or permethrine should be tried first. Head lice are highly contagious, so close head to head contact and sharing caps, headphones, and the like with infected persons should be avoided. Bed linen, clothes, and all items that were likely in contact with infected person should be washed, or if this is not possible, sealed for two weeks, what will kill the lice and eggs. If over the counter products do not help, prescription lotions containing malathion or lindane should be used. Detailed instructions from CDC about treating head lice. Chickenpox and Shingles Herpes zosterChickenpox in children may appear as itchy, red, crusting rash all over the skin, including the scalp. Picture 7. Herpes zoster shingles affecting the shoulder, neck and scalpsource Samuel Freire da Silva, M. D., atlasdermatologicoShingles represent reactivation of Herps zoster virus acquired during chickenpox, that remained dormant in roots of spinal or cranial nerves. Dandruff vs Dry Scalp, Whats The Difference This post contains some partner links to products I love, which help support Brighter Sides See footer for more info. DANDRUFF VS. DRY SCALP WHATS THE DIFFERENCE Weve all seen the commercials for Dandruff shampoo where a nice man or woman in a dark colored shirt is caught in an embarrassing situation with unsightly little white flakes of scalp snowing down onto their shoulders. Oh, their friend or colleague will assure them, try this shampoo and your flakes will be gone But is that true No. Yes. Well, maybe. You see, its not quite as simple as that. The flakes we see on their shoulders arent usually dandruff theyre dry scalp, and yes there is a difference. Unfortunately these commercials cause people to misidentify their problem, and often mistreat it, possibly making it worse. Lets go over a few of the major differences between Dandruff and dry scalp. I should also make it clear before we get into the thick of it that your hairstylist may be able to give you their personal and professional opinion on what scalp condition you have, but Dandruff can only be diagnosed by a doctor. I am not a doctor, and certainly can not diagnose you online. DRY SCALPWell start here, since this is what the majority of people who think they have Dandruff actually have. Dry scalp is characterized by small, white flakes of scalp. It can be caused by severe dehydration and over shedding of the scalp, using poor quality shampoo and conditioner which are stripping your scalp of its natural oils, over washing your hair, washing your hair with hot water, or change in the seasons. It may also be accompanied by itching and irritation. Here are some ways that you can combat dry scalp. Note that dry scalp can also be genetic, in which case there isnt a whole lot to be done about it1. Make sure to drink plenty of water. I often forget to do this, especially in the winter time. This wont directly solve dry scalp problems, but staying well hydrated is important for our skin because we are often moving in and out of heated or air conditioned buildings, which can suck moisture from your skin. If youre well hydrated on the inside, your whole body will function better, and your hair and skin will look and feel better since your body will be more easily able to turn over new cells. Switch to a professional shampoo and conditioner. Many drugstore brand shampoos have harsh cleansing agents which will strip your hair of the natural oils that it needs to stay hydrated. Beware of claims that drugstore products are p. H balanced. This means nothing. They are allowed to make this claim no matter what because everything that is water soluble has a p. H, it doesnt necessarily mean that it is the same p. H as your hair and skin. Most professional products ARE balanced to the p. H of your skin unless they are meant to serve a certain purpose like clarifying shampoo for swimmers. A couple of good professional products are Paul Mitchell Instant Moisture Shampoo and Instant Moisture Daily Treatment, and Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Special Shampoo and Conditioner. One of my favorites for dry scalp is Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Hair and Scalp Treatment. The tea tree is soothing for itchiness, and the treatment should be massaged into your scalp and has little beads to help exfoliate dead skin cells so that they dont fall off later, when you dont want them to. The tea tree treatment isnt necessary to use every day, and you want to make sure to rinse it out thoroughly. I should also mention that although Paul Mitchells Tea Tree products are fairly color safe, anything with tea tree oil has the potential to fade color, so if you have your hair colored, you probably wont want to use tea tree products every day. Overuse of tea tree products can also be drying, so, everything in moderation. Wash your hair less often and with cooler water. Hot water strips the natural oils from your skin causing it to feel tight and dry. I know a lot of people love to take scalding hot showers, but its really terrible for your skin and can cause all kinds of irritation and problems down the road. Also if you think you have a dry scalp, and you wash your hair every day, try to cut it down to every other day at the most this will give your skin a chance to create the oil that you need to protect your skin and re balance its own natural p. H. Related 7 Ways To Have Healthier Hair4. Gently brush your scalp before washing your hair. Use a brush that has bristles which are close together and not too stiff. A boar bristle brush or vegan sisal hair brush are your best bet. Brushes with nylon bristles like this work too, but they tend to be more stiff and can scratch or irritate your scalp if you arent gentle. Start brushing at your hairline and work around your head, making sure to brush all areas of your scalp. This will help loosen dead skin cells which are ready to shed off so that you can wash them out. DANDRUFFDandruff is usually characterized by larger, greasy or waxy flakes or clusters of skin cells and are usually yellowish or grey. They may come off in your hair brush or stick to your hair or scalp, and are accompanied by itching. Dandruff, unlike dry scalp, is usually associated with a fungal or bacterial infection of the scalp. If you have dandruff, you should clean your brushes, combs, hats, towels etc. The type and cause of Dandruff can only be diagnosed by a medical professional. Here are a few things you can try to help combat Dandruff, but be sure to check with your doctordermatologist, especially if it is accompanied by severe itching, bleeding, or oozing. Shampoos and conditioners which contain Tea Tree oil can be effective against dandruff caused by infection because tea tree has natural anti bacterial and anti fungal properties. I recommend Paul Mitchells line of Tea Tree products, including Tea Tree essential oil. As one commenter suggested, dilute any essential oils with water instead of applying directly to your scalp. Or you can add a couple of drops to your shampoo before use2. Cut down on styling products, especially if they are greasy or waxy. Too much product and improper shampooing creates build up on your hair and scalp, which can cause dandruff, or make it worse. Dont scratch. Scratching can damage your scalp, making it vulnerable to infection. Extreme damage to your scalp and follicles can result in hair loss which may be permanent. Of course, see your doctor Your doctor will be able to properly diagnose your condition and recommend or prescribe products and routines to manage your Dandruff problem I hope this helped to clear up some of the misconceptions you may have had about dandruff. Remember, I am a cosmetologist, not a medical professional. This article is meant to be informative, based on the information that I have, but I absolutely can not diagnose you. You are welcome to leave a comment to share your experience and suggestions, but since the comments and emails regarding this post have become numerous, I will no longer be responding to them individually. P. S. You might also like these popular posts 7 Ways To Have Healthier Hair. How To Clean And Maintain Your Blow Dryer. Of My Favorite Makeup Products Now. Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest. By Kelsi Eldredge.