Tag Archives: dry scalp treatment

Dandruff or Dry Scalp?

dandruff or dry scalpLast week a young man with a thick head of hair, aged 23, came into our hair restoration clinic in Orange County desperately seeking clinical help. The problem? Although he had a beautifully full head of hair, it was riddled with white flakes. He said he didn’t know where else to turn. That he is in extremely good physical and mental shape, minds his fruits and vegetables, and always practices good hygiene. His personal and professional life cause him no undue stress and he rarely, if ever, doesn’t get a full nights rest. At first he thought he suffered from a temporary bout of dandruff, but as the weeks turned into months turned into years, the presence of white flakes only grew larger and more numerous. Giving up on styling his hair because it would result in chunks of white flakes clumping up on the top and sides of his head, he turned to wearing baseball caps and beanies almost everyday. 

It’s clear: the problem our young friend suffers from is dry scalp.

While both dandruff and dry scalp display similar symptoms, they are very different in nature, and require different treatments. Dry scalp usually stems from a lack of moisture in the air. Colder and drier climates often cause the scalp to suffer as such. From there, your scalp becomes irritated, causing skin to flake and shed. If your scalp is dry, skin on other areas of your body may be as well. Dandruff, conversely, is caused by excess oil which causes skin cells to build up and, overtime, shed – or flake off.

Combating Dry Scalp with a DHT-Blocking Shampoo

The first and immediate response to combating dry scalp is to wash your hair daily with a gentle, natural and DHT-blocking shampoo/conditioner mix that 

  1. Reduces the oil build up on the scalp
  2. Heals inflammation and redness
  3. Fights follicle miniaturization

The shampoo we stand behind and recommend is GroMD. When using GroMD’s patented DHT-blocking shampoo, the process of washing your hair is a bit different. The powerful ingredients in the shampoo need time to absorb into your hair and scalp, so it is important to let the lather sit for several minutes before you rinse out. In addition, GroMD’s DHT-blocking shampoo also acts as a conditioner. Using a DHT-blocking shampoo and conditioner is one of the best ways to deal with dry scalp, and when combined with minoxidil, pattern hair loss as well.

Dr. Amir Yazdan, MD, is an internationally renowned hair transplant surgeon, expert guest on Dr. Phil and The Doctors, creator of the GroMD hair restoration product line, ISHRS member, accredited member of the IAHRS and a visceral advocate for patient care. Learn more about Dr. Yazdan or read rave reviews from his patients.

Hair Loss Treatments for Individuals with Dry Scalp


It’s a commonly held belief that hair health and scalp health are intimately connected. Well, the truth is that the health of your scalp skin and of your hair are not particularly correlated. A healthy scalp certainly provides a nice foundation for healthy hair growth, but neither hair nor scalp have the potential to make or break the other. As it is not uncommon to hear patients expressing their concern that their hair loss is somehow connected with a dry and flaky scalp, we would like to assure you that this is rarely the case.
Naturally, having a flaky scalp can be distressing. Patients often feel particularly self conscious when their hair loss causes more of their scalp to become visible, especially if their scalp isn’t in the most healthy condition. The good news is that here at Modena Hair Institute we believe in comprehensive treatment that takes every individual patient’s needs into account. Not only will our cutting edge hair loss treatments restore the thickness and volume of your hairline, thus better concealing a flaky or dry scalp, but our experienced professionals will embark upon your hair restoration treatment with the utmost care and consideration so as not to aggravate any scalp related issues you may have. In line with our commitment to your general wellness we are also prepared to offer you some counsel on ways to improve your scalp health.
It is important to understand that, while a flaky or dry scalp is not often the underlying cause of hair loss, failure to treat dry scalp can worsen the condition of flaking. This is one of the many reasons why it is important that all prospective patients discuss their medical histories, and any and all personal concerns they may have, with our sympathetic specialists before embarking on any course of treatment. If you suffer from a dry or flaking scalp we’ll be sure to help you in selecting the best, most medically sound, treatment for your case.
Now, let’s have a look at some of the most common forms of hair restoration treatment and how they may affect the scalp.
Hair loss medications are drugs which slow the progression of hair loss and promote the growth of new hair. Sometimes these medications contain ingredients that can worsen dry scalp and may also cause itchiness or flaking. Patients should be aware of all potential side effects and be well informed regarding alternative methods of treatment. Some patients prefer to give hair loss medication a try, rather than opting in for surgical treatment, if such is the case, our doctors will evaluate the health and condition of your scalp and seek to provide you with a medication that will be less irritating on your scalp.
Hair loss surgery is, by far, the most effective and dependable method for giving you back the thick and healthy hairline you deserve. At Modena Hair Institute we offer a wide variety of surgical hair restoration treatments depending on our patients specific needs. Both donor strip harvesting and follicular unit extraction surgery may cause irritation to the scalp as well as increased dryness and flaking. However, rest assured that this is always temporary. Once your scalp has healed, it should swiftly return to its regular condition. Hair restoration surgery is significantly less likely to have a lasting negative effect on a dry scalp. While patients who take hair loss medications often suffer from adverse side effects through the entire course of their time on the drug, with hair restoration surgery any negative side effects to the scalp are limited to the recovery period.
Now, let’s talk about how you can keep that scalp healthy no matter what course of treatment you and your doctor decide is best.
Don’t forget to wash your hair frequently and to give your scalp a nice massage as you shampoo; it stimulates blood flow and improves scalp health. If you suffer from moderate to severe flaking of the scalp, consider picking up an anti-dandruff and scalp healing shampoo like GroMD. And above all, don’t scratch! Scratching your scalp can damage the skin and will only make flaking and irritation worse.
For more information about hair restoration treatment and how we can help you and your hair look their very best, be sure to contact our team at Modena Hair Institute. We want to help you achieve a fuller hairline and a healthy scalp so that you can live your very best life. Our specialists are waiting for your call!

Dr. Amir Yazdan, MD, is an internationally renowned hair transplant surgeon, expert guest on Dr. Phil and The Doctors, creator of the GroMD hair restoration product line, ISHRS member, accredited member of the IAHRS and a visceral advocate for patient care. Learn more about Dr. Yazdan or read rave reviews from his patients.