Delving into the intricacies of scalp health, we sought guidance from Samantha Stewart, MIT, a Trichologist and scalp expert with three decades of experience at The Spencer Clinic of Trichology. With distinguished qualifications from the Institute of Trichologists, including the prestigious John Firmage Award, Samantha is a revered figure in the field.
As a tutor and board member at the Institute, she fosters excellence in trichology education while championing advancements in hair care. Named ambassador and resident trichologist for Hair Gain in 2023, her journey exemplifies dedication to transformative hair solutions. Learn with us as we uncover her insights into common scalp health queries…
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FAQS
How can I combat hair loss or thinning?
Firstly, if you are suffering from hair thinning it’s important to get the correct diagnosis and prognosis of your hair loss (the predicted course of the hair loss) from a trichologist or dermatologist, so the correct treatment plan can be advised. It is important to fully understand how a hair loss treatment is going to work for you and whether the treatment is going to improve or stabilise the hair loss; this is a key factor that is often overlooked.
Hair loss can be exacerbated by inflammation, so using products that help decrease this and keep the scalps microbiome balanced can help boost the effectiveness of hair loss treatment. As the scalp is the live medium from which our hair grows ensuring it is healthy will decrease scalp inflammation, scaling and irritation. The regular use of a scalp exfoliating ointment containing salicylic acid will help remove sebum, dead skin cells and product build up on the scalp.
Using well formulated scalp topicals such as the hair gain foam can help strengthen the scalps barrier function, improve scalps hydration and helps keep the scalps microbiome balanced whilst also helping to decrease hair shedding and strengthen the hair shaft to reduce breakage.
A balanced diet rich in essential nutrients can support hair health and hair loss treatment. Consuming adequate protein, iron, vitamins, and omega-3 fatty acids can help strengthen the hair as it grows. Adding scientifically formulated hair supplements such as hair gain hair capsules can further aid healthy hair growth and if specialist hair loss treatment is required for chronic hair loss, hair gains capsules perfectly support this.
Can certain hairstyles or tight braiding damage my scalp?
Yes, certain hairstyles such as tight ponytails, braiding, extensions or any form of restrictive hairstyling can damage the scalp by causing inflammation.
If these styles are continued for a prolonged period of time, they can lead to a condition called traction alopecia. Traction alopecia is a form of hair loss that occurs when there is prolonged and repeated tension or pulling on the hair follicles.
The chronic pulling can damage the hair follicles over time, leading to hair loss. It’s important to recognise the signs of traction alopecia early and take steps to prevent further damage. Once hair follicles are severely damaged, they cannot recover, making prevention and early intervention crucial.
How can I achieve thicker, fuller-looking hair by taking care of my scalp?
We have to understand that we cannot make our hair thicker than it is genetically, but if hair has become finer or less dense than it used to be, depending on the type of hair loss that the individual is suffering from, there are many things that can be adopted to help restore or give the appearance of fuller hair. It is important to get a diagnosis of what has caused the change in density before embarking on treatment.
Making sure the scalp is healthy and has a balanced microbiome will help to promote healthy hair growth. There have been lots of studies that show that chronic scalp inflammation and an unbalanced scalp microbiome can exacerbate chronic hair loss conditions. Using well formulated products can help with the aesthetics of the hair, volumizing shampoos and styling products can help give the appearance of fuller hair.
Can specific scalp treatments help with issues like dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, or psoriasis?
There are specific treatments available for scalp issues like dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, and psoriasis. These are necessary to help control these conditions. It is important to get the correct diagnosis for the scalp condition that you are suffering from as this is key to getting these chronic conditions under control and knowing what triggers can exacerbate them. Just using an over the counter anti dandruff shampoo will only treat dandruff and is not as effective at treating the more chronic conditions such as seborrheic dermatitis and will not treat psoriasis.
Are there natural or chemical-free options for treating scalp concerns?
There are lots of natural and chemical free treatments for treating scalp concerns but as always, the correct diagnosis is key in fully understanding what the correct type of treatment is for the exact scalp condition you are suffering from.
When treating any scalp conditions, for example dandruff, it’s really important to target the underlying cause of the condition. Using a product that helps to decrease the presence of the scalp yeast malassezia, excess sebum and the increase in skin cells that cause flaking. Treating these root causes will help decrease the dandruff. Natural products that contain ingredients such as tea tree which has antimicrobial properties, salicylic acid which helps to exfoliate the scalp to remove, microbes and flaking and can help to keep the scalp condition dandruff under control.
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Coming Up Next
22nd May – Samantha discusses emerging scalp trends and interests.
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