Do your finest to keep away from hair care merchandise with heavy fragrances, alcohol, sulfates, paraben preservatives, and harsh chemical compounds, Nicole Negbenebor, MD, a dermatologic surgeon and director of the Pores and skin of Coloration Clinic on the College of Iowa Hospital in Iowa Metropolis, Iowa, tells SELF: “These elements can irritate the scalp and trigger burning, dryness, and irritation.”
All the time use conditioner after washing, Dr. Oyerinde says: “A number of the shampoos created particularly for dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis are usually drying, so should you don’t situation afterward, you should have extra brittle hair, which might result in breakage and issue retaining size.” Attempt Head & Shoulders Royal Oils Moisture Renewal Conditioner or Exederm Eczema Care Day by day Conditioner.
2. Don’t add further hair oil.
“We create our personal sebum, our personal oil, that moisturizes the scalp,” Dr. Oyerinde says. So though you might love your jojoba and castor oil, it’s pointless. The truth is, the yeast that causes seborrheic dermatitis feeds on them and may develop, which might worsen scalp eczema, Dr. Oyerinde says.
Go for a water-based moisturizer (and apply it to your strands, not your scalp), Dr. Oyerinde says. And don’t use an excessive amount of: Dr. Negbenebor says a pea- to dime-size dollop for skinny hair and a bit extra for thick hair ought to be sufficient.
3. Go simple on styling merchandise and scorching instruments.
Attempt your finest to chop again on how typically (and the way a lot) you utilize hair spray, gel, and pomade, as an extra of merchandise in your scalp can result in flare-ups. And watch out relating to high-temperature gadgets. “Use styling instruments with warmth sparingly and, should you do, use them at decrease temperatures,” Dr. Negbenebor says.
4. Watch out with locs, braids, and weaves.
Hairstyles like braids, cornrows, crochet braids, locs, and weaves all pull on the scalp and trigger rigidity, which might harm your hair follicles.
In terms of weaves and extensions, “ask your stylist to keep away from inserting [them] too near the scalp to scale back irritation,” Dr. Negbenebor says. And ensure they’re not tremendous tight.
In case your hair is in locs, keep away from an excessive amount of retwisting to reduce further rigidity in your scalp, as Dr. Oyerinde recommends. “Attempt issues like utilizing a gel to tie down versus retwisting each time you are feeling like your edges aren’t as laid as you’ll need them to be,” Dr. Oyerinde says. Then, ensure you (or your loctician) aren’t palm rolling or interlocking too tightly.