Medical Questions » Hair Questions » Question No. 457
| Question: | My problem is an extremely dry scalp, the discomfort of which is making me feel very distressed. I am a 63 year old lady, and have always endeavoured to take care of my crowning glory. The irritation is almost unbearable, particularly after shampooing. I am aware ageing does not help, but would you please advise as to the best solution? |
| Answer: | A dry scalp may be caused by excessive washing of the hair, particularly with medicated or perfumed shampoos and soaps. All soaps and shampoos tend to remove oil from the skin, and the first step in treatment is to recommend washing the hair no more than twice a week, and using a very mild baby shampoo. As you age, this problem often becomes more acute as the hair thins with age, and more of the soap or shampoo can penetrate to the unprotected scalp.
After washing, the gentle massaging of a small amount of baby oil into the scalp will help replace any lost oil, and thus reduce dryness and itching.
It will take several weeks for the scalp to recover, but if used consistently, most will return to normal.
In severe cases, gels or lotions containing a steroid can be prescribed by doctors to settle the scalp inflammation. These should only be used short-term until the discomfort and skin flaking have settled, and then the sensible, shampooing methods outlined above should be followed.
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