What Does a Healthy Scalp Look Like?

The scalp is one of the few parts of the body that doesn’t get frequent care or treatment. Though it’s easy to forget about the scalp and focus on hair only, it should be treated with the same love as the rest of the skin. The skin, including the scalp, is the largest organ on the body.

Like the rest of the organs, our scalps help protect us from the world. A healthy scalp means a healthy barrier between our internal organs and outside dangers. As a bonus, a healthy scalp also usually means healthy hair. But what does a healthy scalp look like?

What is a Healthy Scalp?

Every part of our body has a microbiome, and so does our scalp. The microbiome consists of healthy bacteria, fungi, and microorganisms that help our body function properly and keep it healthy. 

Our scalp microbiome also contains many organisms that work hard to keep the scalp and hair healthy. When there’s a balance between these organisms, you will have a healthy scalp. 

However, when, for any reason, this ecosystem is disrupted, and one type of microorganism takes over, the scalp becomes unhealthy leading to thinner hair, hair loss, disturbed hair growth cycle and common skin conditions.

What Does a Healthy Scalp Look Like?

Now that we know the secret behind a healthy scalp let’s discuss what it looks like. A healthy scalp is free of flakes and does not discharge flakes when the hair is brushed.  Other common signs of a healthy scalp are:

• Not itchy
• Pain-free
• No inflammation
• No redness
• Not too dry
• Free of excess oil buildup
• Healthy hair growth cycle
• Normal hair shedding
• Hair is soft, supple, and full of life

A healthy scalp is also one that has a balanced pH level usually, between 4.5 and 5.5. A normal pH level allows it to function properly and have healthy hair growth. 

Signs of an Unhealthy Scalp

The scalp is adept at sending warning signs when it is unhealthy. These warning signs come in the form of symptoms, including:

• Dry skin
• Scalp acne or small bumps
• Tightness
• Itchy skin
• Flakes and scales
• Red patches
• Inflammation

The hair can also serve as a cue for when the scalp is in trouble. If the hair begins to fall out, changes texture, or gets greasy or limp after less than a day without a wash, it’s likely that the scalp is not healthy.

Healthy Scalp Vs Unhealthy Scalp

What Causes an Unhealthy Scalp?

Like other skin, the scalp can be sensitive to everyday things like 

• Stress
• Poor eating habits
• Pollution
• Harsh products such as sprays, shampoos, and oils. 
• Overwashing the hair can dry out the scalp, other contributing factors to scalp drying are irritating ingredients in shampoos like sulfates, alcohol, and parabens. 
• Not washing hair enough can lead to a buildup of grease and grime, clogging hair follicles and causing dryness, breakage, and even hair loss.

An unhealthy scalp can also be a sign of common skin conditions like dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis.

Dandruff can affect both adults and children alike. Dandruff is characterized by skin flakes on the scalp or in hair, eyebrows, or in facial hair like beards and mustaches, 

Seborrheic dermatitis, sometimes referred to as “cradle cap,” is most common in young children. Cradle cap is a skin condition that causes reddened skin, white or yellow flakes, and other rash-like symptoms.

What Color is Your Scalp Supposed to be?

When we talk about redness on the scalp, which is a prominent symptom of scalp issues, we know that it will make your scalp look red, at least in some areas. But exactly what is the color of a healthy scalp?

Let’s take a look at different scalp colors and what they mean:

Skin colored

If the color of your scalp is close to your skin color, which is whitish for people with lighter skin tones and brownish for people with darker skin tones, and shows no signs of flaking, itching, or redness then you have a healthy scalp. 

It is the one that is not too oily or dry, soft to the touch, and of this color then you have a perfectly healthy scalp.  

Yellow

The overproduction of sebum on the scalp, which clogs the pores and hair follicles, is what makes it look a little yellow. It is also a sign of oxidative stress on the scalp. 

Pink

Your scalp usually appears pink when you are prone to allergy, have irritation, or have a disrupted hydrolipidic protective barrier, a protective layer on our skin that is made up of sebum, lipids, sweat, and water. It is a sign of a weak scalp with decreased circulation.

Red 

This is caused due to inflammation caused by certain skin conditions such as seborrheic dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, and ringworm. It is a clear red flag that your scalp needs help and proper care.

How to Have a Healthy Scalp?

If you are wondering how to care for your scalp to keep it healthy, here are a few tips that can help you:

Clean your scalp

In order to have a clean healthy scalp, you need to follow a proper washing routine. People with oily scalp may need to clean their scalp with a daily shampoo everyday, while people with dry scalp and thick hair can wash it 2 to 3 times a week.

Try out different routines to check out which one works best for you. While you are shampooing your scalp you need to take care of a few things to keep it healthy such as

• Don’t use hot water to wash your hair
• Avoid using any shampoo or conditioner that contains harsh chemicals.
• Gently massage your scalp with your fingertips to cleanse it properly.
• Don’t over exfoliate your scalp.
• Wash your scalp thoroughly, so that you don’t leave any shampoo residue behind. 

Avoid Harsh Products

While choosing your hair products, especially your shampoo you need to be very careful. Certain surfactants and chemicals that are used in shampoos, such as paraben, sulfate, and fragrances can irritate your scalp and make it unhealthy. 

So go for a daily shampoo that is free from these skin irritating chemicals and contains natural ingredients that can help soothe your scalp. 

Keep it hydrated

To have a healthy scalp and skin it is essential that you keep your body hydrated. Drink plenty of water to keep your body hydrated on the inside. And use a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner to keep the scalp hydrated. 

Massage it

Massaging will not only help you relax but also enhance the blood circulation in your scalp. Better circulation helps provide the hair follicles with all the essential nutrients and oxygen they need to work properly. 

It can help stimulate healthy hair growth and help you get rid of any flakes or dead skin cells accumulating on the scalp. You can massage your scalp with your fingertips or use a special cradle cap brush. 

Eat Healthy

What you eat has a direct impact on your skin and scalp. Eating a healthy diet that is rich in minerals, vitamins, and proteins can help you keep your scalp microbiome balanced and achieve a healthy scalp. 

Some nutrients like Vitamin B3, biotin, and iron are very beneficial for achieving a healthy scalp.

Get Flake-Free Healthy Scalp With Happy Cappy

Treatment for an unhealthy scalp is centered around calming rashes, reducing inflammation, and removing exposure to irritants and triggers, which can be achieved by:

• Gentle massage to remove flakes
• Avoiding harsh hair products
• Brushing hair before washing to loosen flakes and dead skin
• Washing hair daily with a gentle shampoo. 

You can use anti-dandruff shampoo to help you get rid of those dandruff flakes. Or using a special shampoo for seborrheic dermatitis can also go a long way toward soothing an irritated scalp and preventing future flare-ups. 

Dr. Eddie’s Happy Cappy Medicated Shampoo & Body Wash is a unique dandruff shampoo for kids made with FDA-approved ingredient Pyrithione Zinc 0.95% to help eliminate the symptoms of dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis. It also contains licorice root extract to soothe redness.

Conclusion

A healthy scalp is one that is free from flakes, inflammation, redness, itching, and oil-buildup. It is one that is not too oily or too dry. Maintaining and achieving a healthy scalp is easy–you can do it by regularly washing your scalp, eating healthy food, avoiding harsh chemicals and products, and keeping your body hydrated.

A unhealthy scalp is often caused by dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis–also known as cradle cap in babies. If you are experiencing any of these skin conditions then using a medicated Pyrithione Zinc shampoo can help you get rid of the flakes, scales, itching, and irritation associated with dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis.

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Dr. Eddie Valenzuela

Dr. Eddie Valenzuela is an award winning pediatrician and the founder and CEO of Pediatric Solutions, LLC.

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