Hair & Scalp Care Resource Center - All Articles
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Hair & Scalp Care - All Articles

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Hair and scalp care means understanding your hair type, building a routine around how often to wash your hair, and working out what shampoos, lotions, and products to use. Some health conditions, like psoriasis, eczema, and dandruff, affect the scalp, so you may have extra considerations when coloring, washing, or styling hair, and may use additional products like scale softeners or medicated shampoos.

 Some factors, like genes, underlying health problems including thyroid issues, medication side effects, and stress, can lead to hair loss. However, protecting your hair from environmental factors like the sun and avoiding hair damage by choosing safer styling and washing methods can support healthier hair.

   Poll

How often do you experience scalp itching or irritation?

FAQ

How often should I wash my hair?

How often you should wash your hair depends on your hair type, lifestyle, scalp condition, and other factors. Overwashing removes too much of a natural oil called sebum, which protects your hair. However, avoiding shampoo can cause other problems.

Seborrheic dermatitis, scalp eczema, and scalp psoriasis are examples of common conditions that show symptoms on the scalp.

Maintaining a nutritionally dense diet, managing stress, and avoiding extreme styling practices can reduce the risk of hair loss for some people. However, preventing hair loss isn’t always possible depending on the underlying cause.

Keratin can repair damaged hair and panthenol may add moisture and shine. Natural oils like coconut, jojoba, and argan oil can also help moisturize the hair. Read product labels carefully to ensure they contain healthy ingredients.

The body needs many nutrients to make hair, and a nutritionally balanced diet supports healthy hair growth. Deficiencies in biotin, zinc, vitamins B, C, and D, iron, and folic acid can affect hair growth and contribute to hair loss.

Meet Our Experts In Hair & Scalp Care
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Everyday Health’s team of board-certified physicians and health professionals contribute to the creation and review of content, ensuring that the information is useful, up to date, and accurate.
Jacquelyn Dosal

Jacquelyn Dosal, MD

Medical Reviewer
Castle Connolly Top Doctor

Jacquelyn Dosal, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist practicing at The Dermatology House in Park City, Utah. Her areas of expertise include acne, rosacea, integrative treatments...

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Oyetewa Asempa, MD, FAAD

Medical Reviewer

Dr. Oyetewa Asempa is an assistant professor of dermatology at Baylor College of Medicine, and the director of the Skin of Color Clinic for Baylor's department of dermatology. She ...

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Susan-Bard-bio

Susan Bard, MD

Medical Reviewer
Castle Connolly Top Doctor

Susan Bard, MD, is a clinical instructor in the department of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medicine and an adjunct clinical instructor in the department of dermatology at Mount Sin...

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Michael Cutler, DO, PhD

Medical Reviewer
Castle Connolly Top Doctor

Michael Cutler, DO, PhD, is a cardiac electrophysiologist at Intermountain Heart Rhythm Specialists in Salt Lake City, Utah. His research interests include understanding the cellul...

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Amy-Spizuoco-bio

Amy Spizuoco, DO

Medical Reviewer
Castle Connolly Top Doctor

Amy Spizuoco, DO, is a board-certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist. Dr. Spizuoco has been practicing medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology, as well as dermatopatholo...

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Lydia-J-Johnson-bio

Lydia J. Johnson, MD

Medical Reviewer
Member of American College of Lifestyle Medicine
Lydia Johnson, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist. Her medical career of more than 20 years has included work in private practice and in an academic medical center, as well as ...
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Ross Radusky, MD

Medical Reviewer
Castle Connolly Top Doctor

Ross Radusky, MD, is a practicing board-certified dermatologist at the Dermatology Treatment and Research Center in Dallas. Originally from New York City, he graduated summa cum la...

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Blair Murphy-Rose, MD

Medical Reviewer
Castle Connolly Top Doctor

Blair Murphy-Rose, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in New York City and the founder of Skincare Junkie. She is an accomplished cosmetic, medical, and surgical dermatologist,...

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Dr. Sanober Pezad

Sanober Pezad Doctor, MD

Medical Reviewer

Dr. Sanober Pezad Doctor is a double board-certified dermatologist and internationally recognized leader in integrative and holistic dermatology. She is an anti-aging and regenerat...

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Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Scalp psoriasis: Shampoos, scale softeners, and other treatments. American Academy of Dermatology Association.
  2. How to stop damaging your hair. American Academy of Dermatology Association.

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