Balancing itchy and dry scalp

Dry, burning scalp with feelings of tension, redness and excruciating itching - it is usually particularly bad in winter. Constant scratching of the often flaky skin surface further worsens the condition of the sensitive scalp and can trigger local inflammation that is difficult to heal.

What are the main causes?

There are many causes of itchy scalp and dry dandruff, and a distinction is made between external and internal factors. Possible causes can be allergies or infestation by pests such as head lice, mites or fleas. Skin diseases such as eczema, neurodermatitis or psoriasis are also often accompanied by an itchy, burning and dry scalp. Hormonal changes, side effects of medication or long-term emotional stress such as grief, fear and worry can also upset the balance of the sensitive scalp. An unhealthy lifestyle with one-sided malnutrition or smoking can make the symptoms even worse.

In the vast majority of cases, however, harsh shampoos, conditioners, styling products, permanent waves, chemical dyes or tints are the cause of itchy, flaky or burning scalps. Chemical hair treatments contain a variety of known allergens and sensitizers. These are primarily skin-irritating aromatic amines, resorcinol, halogenated organic compounds, synthetic surfactants such as sodium laureth sulfate, but also aggressive foaming agents such as sodium coco sulfate, which are used as the primary surfactant in almost every natural cosmetic shampoo. Preservatives such as parabens, PEG emulsifiers, silicones and allergenic fragrances can also be the cause of dry, flaky and red scalps, itchy or burning.

Tips: How can you effectively prevent an itchy scalp?

The key to a balanced scalp without painful itching is proper care. With our following tips, you can usually bring red, itchy, burning and dry scalp back into balance and at the same time promote healthy hair growth:

• Avoid shampoos with aggressive surfactants
  Do not use harsh shampoos with surfactants that contain sulfates. Unfortunately, you will also find drying foaming agents such as sodium coco sulfate as the primary surfactant in almost all natural cosmetics shampoos. You can tell this because the ingredient is declared at the top of the ingredients list. Sodium coco sulfate is partly of natural origin and is certified as natural cosmetics. However, this ingredient dries out your scalp unnecessarily, irritates it and makes it oversensitive. Instead, prefer mild and skin-friendly organic shampoos with skin-friendly, wash-active amino acids (disodium / sodium cocoyl glutamate), which we use as the main surfactant in maximum concentration in all myrto organic shampoos. The buffering effect of the amino acid surfactant stabilizes the skin's natural acid mantle. This improves the scalp's ability to retain moisture and regenerates the protective skin barrier of your scalp.
• Soothe your scalp with an organic scalp serum without alcohol and fragrances
  To bring your oversensitive, itchy or burning scalp back into balance, we also recommend the myrto organic scalp treatment T with anti-inflammatory organic hemp oil and schizandra extract. Beta-glucan from oats also soothes and strengthens the protective skin barrier. This scalp serum is free of alcohol, emulsifiers, preservatives and fragrances. It is therefore particularly well tolerated by highly sensitive, itchy and irritated scalps.

• Reduce the heat when drying your hair
  Do you dry your hair with a hairdryer? Set the temperature to the lowest possible setting and make sure that the hot air does not dry out your scalp unnecessarily. In general, air drying is of course the best way to keep your scalp happy and balanced.
• Pay attention to your diet
  Last but not least, a balanced diet with plenty of fresh fruit, vitamin-rich vegetables and fiber-rich whole grain products - preferably from organic farming - is important for your health and that of your scalp. Especially in winter, your body needs an extra portion of vitamin C, which citrus fruits naturally provide at this time of year. What could be more soothing than a hot lemon with ginger when it's storming and snowing outside in freezing temperatures?