Five tips for a healthy scalp - Posted by Epionce The Magazine

An often overlooked part of our skin barrier is actually the scalp. The scalp is actually an important part of our protective shield against the outside world. Consider it an extension of your skin, with its own microbiome and hair follicles to look after. A healthy scalp can be characterized by strong blood circulation, no flaking, redness or irritation, and a clean and balanced amount of oil.

As Dr. Carl Thornfeldt, founder of Epionce, states: “Scalp care is important. When it's abnormal, it can dramatically affect how people perceive themselves - just like other skin problems can."

So how can we ensure our scalp is functioning optimally for maximum skin barrier health and hair growth? Let's dive into our top five recommendations:

Understand your scalp

Did you know that the microbiome in your scalp is much thicker than the skin barrier on other parts of your body? Think how strong it must be to support the weight and upright position of over 100,000 hair follicles! "These follicles are the second fastest dividing cells in the body, so blood flow is significantly higher than other anatomical sites of similar size," says Dr. Thornfeldt. Due to the size and depth of the hair follicles that can end up trapping much larger amounts of microbes and pollutants, it is no wonder that the scalp can be prone to various diseases that can be a bit challenging to treat.

Exfoliate the scalp

Although exfoliation alone may not be effective as the only way to achieve scalp health, it is an important part of cell turnover. If you already have problems with your scalp, such as flaking, "peeling may be helpful when combined with other treatments for the underlying abnormal condition," notes Dr. Thornfeldt. The aim is to help clean out the hair follicles, and normalize cell turnover so that it does not become excessive or too little.

Use appropriate products for your scalp
The specific products you will use on a problem scalp will depend on the specific problem you are dealing with. But as a general rule, you should use products that can help maintain the scalp's skin barrier and help reduce redness, soreness and flaking. Like the skin barrier on your face and the rest of your body, it's the outermost layer of your skin that comes into contact with the outside world, so it's important to keep it safe from harsh chemicals, pollutants and the sun!

That means staying away from shampoos and other hair products with strong perfumes and harsh chemicals that will cause irritation and dryness, and avoiding overwashing your hair to allow the natural oils to build up a bit.

Our number one recommended Epionce product for a healthy scalp? Epionce Lytic Gel Cleanser! As a trusted leader in barrier care, we carefully formulate products to care for all areas of your skin without damaging the barrier. Our Lytic Gel Cleanser is an amazing cleanser, having won the NewBeauty Beauty Choice Award multiple times, the New Beauty Reader's Choice Award and the Shape Beauty Award. It effectively removes impurities and soothes problem skin without causing unnecessary irritation or dryness, making it a must for oily and problem skin types. Although a favorite cleanser for the face, Lytic Gel Cleanser also works wonders for the scalp.

The key ingredients help to cleanse and refresh, as well as remove stubborn dirt, oil and other impurities:

- Thanks to botanical-based menthol, it has a mild, cooling tingle that will leave your scalp clean and refreshed after each wash.
- Willow bark extract is a botanical form of salicylic acid that helps clean out hair follicles.
- Malvar root extract has been shown to help soothe irritated skin. It is high in omega-3 fatty acids, it contains more monounsaturated fatty acids than olive oil, and it helps calm the visible appearance of redness in the skin.
- Soothing lavender extract, a rich botanical source of flavonoids and antioxidants, can help calm irritation.

Dr. Thornfeldt's recommendation is to massage the scalp for one to two minutes after applying a scalp product to improve its effectiveness.

Protect your scalp
Like the face and the body's skin barrier, the scalp's barrier is also vulnerable to the sun's strong rays. Scalp flaking, thinning hair and irritation and redness are potential signs of a scalp that is adversely affected by the sun.

It is important to protect against both UVA and UVB by wearing hats with documented UVA and UVB radiation protection, in addition to staying in the shade. "Sunscreen sports gels with SPF over 30 and UVA protection are also very helpful," says Dr. Thornfeldt. "These preventions also help protect against hair loss because certain types of microbes, combined with UVA, can trigger irritation that starves the growing hair follicles."

Seek a professional opinion
If any type of irritation or peeling is associated with persistent itching, pain and visible redness, we recommend that you see your GP for prescription medication. Dr. Thornfeldt's recommendation for treatment after this first appointment is clear. "If there is less than 50% improvement after one month of treatment, see a dermatologist."

It is important to keep the delicate microbiome in the scalp in balance for healthy hair growth and an uncompromising barrier. Exfoliation, soothing irritation and protection can all help you achieve the lifelong healthy, youthful skin and hair you desire.

Posted by Epionce The Magazine.