There is little worse than a dry, itchy, or painful scalp. You can do little to take your mind off of the discomfort. In this situation you probably have many questions. Such as, how did it get this bad? Why does your normal shampoo seem to make it worse? And, how do you make the pain and itchiness stop?
If you suffer from sensitive skin for any reason, then it is possible that you could end up in the scenario described above. But, this does not have to be a permeant problem. Today we discuss our picks for the best shampoos for sensitive scalps. We also give a buyer’s guide that can help you get your scalp healthy and happy fast.
Contents
- 1 What cause a sensitive scalp?
- 2 Symtoms of a sensitive scalp
- 3 What does hypoallergenic mean ?
- 4 How to choose a shampoo for sensitive scalps?
- 5 Ingredients to avoid
- 6 Ingredients to look for in a shampoo
- 7 Top five best Shampoos for Sensitive Scalps 2020-Comparision table
- 8 Top five best Shampoo for Sensitive Scalps 2020
- 9 How to use Shampoo properly
- 10 Other treatments for sensitive scalps
- 11 Do you need to have a sensitive scalp to use these shampoos?
- 12 Final words
What cause a sensitive scalp?
Sensitive scalps can be caused by more things than you probably suspect. Here are some of the most common conditions that can result in a sensitive and uncomfortable scalp.
Dandruff
Dandruff is an extremely common issue. It occurs to many people worldwide and creates the tell-tale white flakes on your hair and shoulders. When dandruff gets bad, it may even look like it’s snowing outside. Dandruff doesn’t just cause unsightly whites spots on your clothes. Often it creates an itchiness that is hard to ignore.
Most dermatologists believe that dandruff is created by an overgrowth of the fungus Malassezia. All humans have this fungus on their skin. But, in times of stress or illness it may flare up in certain individuals. Often dandruff will go away on its own without medical intervention, but with the use of the proper products its symptoms can be managed well.
Acne
Acne on the scalp and the hairline is rare in most individuals. However, it can occur because of clogged pores or certain diets (a high sugar and high carbohydrate diet has been linked to acne outbreaks). This can open the door for yeast, bacteria, or fungi to get into your pores as well. All of these things can cause acne outbreaks.
You know you have an acne problem is you see a lot of red pustules on your scalp of your hairline. Depending on the severity, these red bumps can hurt or be itchy. When they are on your scalp, you will need to use specially formulated shampoos and conditioners to help clear up the outbreak.
Allergies
Many things can give people an allergic reaction. Sometimes it can occur because of the weather or season (many people have pollen allergies). But, you could also have an allergic reaction to hair care products you are currently using.
Allergic reactions are a problem for your scalp in a couple of ways. First, they can cause migraines and tension headaches. If you’ve ever had them, you know that most people will do whatever necessary to find a solution for these painful episodes. Removing a source of the allergy will reduce the symptoms.
Second, an allergic reaction can actually trigger a sensitive scalp. If you are allergic to a certain product, especially an ingredient in your favored shampoo, your scalp can suffer significantly. Thus, if you can’t seem to find the cause of your sensitive scalp, we recommend trying a new hair care product.
Naturally sensitive skin
Some people are just born with sensitive skin. Also, some medication causes skin sensitivities, but this version of skin sensitivity will go away eventually.
You can test if you have sensitive skin in a variety of ways. First, if your skin burns a lot or quickly, you probably have sensitive skin. Also, if you press your fingers with a medium amount of force onto your check and it leaves a red mark, you probably have sensitive skin.
Sensitive skin is not its own condition like most of the other mentioned here. Instead, skin sensitivity makes you more prone to these conditions and increases the likelihood that you will have a sensitive scalp sometime in your life.
Frequent styling
If you style your hair often, especially if you use a lot of products your chance of having a sensitive scalp increases. As mentioned above, allergies are a common cause of sensitive scalps. Thus, the more product you have in your hair the more chance you have of having an allergic reaction. Also, if you don’t wash your hair correctly or enough, using many products can cause a problematic buildup on your scalp, which can also cause sensitive skin
Psoriasis/ Seborrheic dermatitis
These are both condition that affect your scalp and need to be diagnosed by a doctor. Both conditions are marked by red and scaly skin. However, with psoriasis the redness is covered with dry scales while in seborrheic dermatitis the red skin is covered in greasy-looking scales. If you have either of these conditions, you should follow the treatment protocol given to you by your doctor, but the shampoos listed below can give some relief to your symptoms.
Other Reasons
Sensitive scalps can be caused by so many things that it is hard to list them all here. But, if you don’t have the conditions listed above and your scalp is still sensitive, you may have one of the following
Symtoms of a sensitive scalp
It is unlikely that you will not know if you have a sensitive scalp. But, for those people who might be wondering, the most common symptom is itchiness. A close second is pain and tenderness. The discomfort that is created by both the itchiness and the pain is annoying enough that you will not have a sensitive scalp without your knowledge.
Other less intense symptoms of a sensitive scalp include tingling, numbness, throbbing, or tingling. You also may notice peeling, flaking, or scaling of the skin on your scalp. Usually this is a sign of another condition. So, you should always contact your doctor to figure out the underlying cause of your symptoms.
What does hypoallergenic mean ?
Dictionary.com defines hypoallergenic as something “designed to reduce or minimize the possibility of an allergic response, as by containing relatively few or no potentially irritating substances.
You will likely see the term hypoallergenic often when looking at cosmetics and other body products. This term is a good indicator that what you’re buying has been tested for the condition you are trying to treat.
However, you should be careful in your decision. Just because something has a “hypoallergenic” label does not make it good for your scalp, just as something without the label does not necessarily cause harm. Use your own best judgement, and our handy buyer’s guide, when selecting your next shampoo for sensitive scalps.
How to choose a shampoo for sensitive scalps?
First of all, you need to know the condition that is causing your sensitive scalp. Some shampoos target dandruff and a dry scalp, while others focus on fixing a greasy scalp. Because the majority of sensitive scalp issues are caused by dry and flaking skin, sticking with a shampoo that treats that condition would be a good bet.
Also, as long as you stay with a product that is formulated to be gentle on scalps and includes some or all of the advantageous ingredients listed below, you should not experience an increase in symptoms. Discuss treatment plans with your doctor or dermatologist if you are overwhelmed by the decision.
Ingredients to avoid
None of the shampoos on our list include these ingredients. But, not all companies are as scrupulous or thorough as us. Therefore, you should think carefully about selecting any products with the following on their ingredient list.
Ingredients to look for in a shampoo
There are a few ingredients to stay as far away from as possible in the shampoo you pick for your sensitive scalp. But, there are a lot of add-ins that can help your condition immensely.
Top five best Shampoos for Sensitive Scalps 2020-Comparision table
Now that you know the important things to look for when treating a sensitive scalp, here are our top five picks for the best shampoos for sensitive scalps in 2020.
Products | Rating | Can use with colored hair? | Does Not Have | Active Ingredients | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
#1 | Yes | Sulfates or Parabens | Argan Oil, Almond Oil, Jojoba Oil, Botanical Keratin, Peach Kernal Oil, Camellia Seed Oil | 8 oz |
|
#2 | Yes | Sulfates, Parabens, or Silicones | Argan Oil, Shea Butter, Certified Organic Pomegranate, Hibiscus, Green Team Sea Buckthorn, Silk Amino Acids, Jojoba Oil, Botanical Keratin, Panthenol, Tea Tree Oil, Lavender Essential Oil, Rosemary Oil | 8 oz each |
|
#3 | Yes | Sulfates, Silicons, SLSs, Parabens, Synthetic Perfumes and Dyes | Coconut, Coconut Oil, Betaine, Sodium Methyl, Oleoyl Taurate, Mus/Clay Extract, Hydrolysed Wheat Protein, Citric Acid, Ethanol, Gotu Kola Extract, Rosemary Leaf Extract, Wormwood | 8.5 oz |
|
#4 | Yes | Sulfates | Argan oil, Avocado Oil, Jojoba Oil, Camellia Seed Oil, Botanical Keratin, Almond Oil, Coconut oil | 16 oz |
|
#5 | Unknow | Toxins, Chemicals, Sulfates, SLSs, Parabens, Silicone, DEA/MEA, Gluten, and Artificial Fragrance | Aloe Vera, Argan Oil, Chamomile, Olive Leaf Extract, Lavender Essential Oil, Soapberry, Coconut, Gotu Kola Leaf Extract | 11 oz |
Top five best Shampoo for Sensitive Scalps 2020
Now that you know the important things to look for when treating a sensitive scalp, here are our top five picks for the best shampoos for sensitive scalps in 2020.
1 Maple Holistics Argan Oil Shampoo
Maple Holistics packs their Argan oil shampoo with ingredients that are proven to help people with sensitive scalps. Argan oil comes from the Argan tree in Morocco and is proven to help skin health by moisturizing, exfoliating, and treating acne and stretch marks. You will also find almond, jojoba, and camellia seed oils, all of which calm irritation on your skin.
With so many high-quality and useful ingredients it is no wonder that of over six thousand reviews on Amazon, Maple Holistics’ Argan Oil Shampoo still has a 4.5/5 rating.
2 Maple Holistics Tree Oil Shampoo and Hair Conditioner Set
Yes, we’re including two Maple Holistics products on this list. This company makes high quality organic and natural beauty products to such a high standard that both their Argan Oil shampoo and tea tree oil shampoo deserve a place on this list.
Unlike our number one pick, the base of this shampoo is tea tree oil. Tea tree oil is one of the proven treatments for dandruff. So, that coupled with the many other sensitive scalp-helping ingredients—like lavender and rosemary extract—makes it extremely useful for anyone that needs a gentle and effective scalp shampoo.
Finally, this is not just a shampoo, but a shampoo/conditioner set. We haven’t discussed conditioners much in this article, but they are also important for scalp and overall hair health. That Maple Holistics provides a cost-effective set cuts down on the research you need to do.
3 Selenium Professional Comestics Natural Organic Shampoo
One of the main ingredients in Selenium Professional Cosmetics’ Natural Organic Shampoo is SAPROPEL extract, which helps treat psoriasis, itchiness, redness, and rashes on your scalp. As can be seen form the ingredient list, Selenium Professional Cosmetics include a lot of other ingredients that also help treat these conditions.
Thus, no matter what problem you are having with the skin on your scalp, this natural organic shampoo can help you.
4 First Botany Cosmeceuticals Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo
First Botany Cosmeceuticals has geared their Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo to the restorative side of scalp health. If you have a dry scalp or hair—especially if your hair is frizzy, then this is the shampoo for you.
All of the active ingredients in the product aim to help restore your hair and scalp by providing a lot of antioxidants and moisturizing. First Botany Cosmeceuticals believes in their product so much, that if you aren’t satisfied they will provide a full refund, no questions asked.
5 Tree to Tub Real, Organic Shampoo for Dry Hair
Unlike the other shampoos on this list, Tree to Tubs’ Real, Organic Shampoo for Dry Hair uses soapberry as its base. Soapberry is a shrub whose berries produce a soapy froth when crushed. It has a balanced pH of 5.5, which Tree to Tub claims is perfect for the human body. Soapberry is also an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial substance than can help sooth irritated scalps.
Tree to Tub harvests their soapberries sustainably in Taiwan and then gently extracts the saponin-rich essence. This provides you a green and healthy alternative to traditional shampoos that—in addition to the other ingredients like aloe vera and chamomile—works wonders on dry and itchy scalps.
How to use Shampoo properly
You use these shampoos in the same way that you would any normal shampoo or conditioner. None of the products listed above are for dry hair. So, you will want to start with wet or damp hair. Then
- Squeeze a small amount of the product onto your wet hair.
- Create a lather with the shampoo so that you are not touching your scalp too much while washing.
- Gently massage your head so that the shampoo reaches all parts of your hair and scalp.
- Allow the shampoo to sit in your hair for a couple minutes.
- Rinse with warm water.
- Apply a conditioning treatment (optional)
As you can see, none of these instructions are unusual. Many traditional shampoos even call for a rest period before you rinse them. So, as you can see, it’s not really the technique that makes the difference, but the products and its ingredients that will help your scalp to heal.
Other treatments for sensitive scalps
Finding the right shampoo and conditioner for your sensitive scalp is the first treatment option. However, there are a few other things that you can do to help your sensitive scalp.
Do you need to have a sensitive scalp to use these shampoos?
No, all of the ingredients listed in the above products are healthy for any person to use. In fact, because hypoallergenic and gentle shampoos use higher quality ingredients, some people prefer them over traditional products.
Many people even use these products on their children, who naturally have more sensitive skin. Although, you will want to make sure that it is a tear-free formula before shampooing very young heads. Some of these products have potential irritants that you don’t want getting into little eyes.
Final words
A sensitive scalp can be very hard to live with. The pain and itchiness can become extreme. Therefore, it is important that you nip the problem in the bud quickly. Choosing one of our picks for the best shampoo for sensitive scalps can set you on your way to a more comfortable and healthy scalp today
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