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  • Scalp irritation can be an unattractive nuisance, as it may result in unsightly flakes and annoying itchiness. Though a dry, itchy scalp is usually a sign of environmental irritants that you can easily remedy, in some instances an irritated scalp is a sign of a skin problem.

    Winter Weather

    If you notice that you have a dry, itchy scalp in the winter with tiny white flakes in your hair, your scalp may be suffering from the dry weather.

    Hair Products

    Your hair products may also dry out your scalp, causing itchiness and flaking. You may be shampooing too frequently or failing to thoroughly rinse the products out of your hair, in which case the flakes you see may be bits of leftover shampoo.

    Heat

    Too much heat--be it from hot showers or blow-dryers--can dry out your scalp and cause irritation. In these cases, let your hair dry naturally, and take short warm showers.

    Seborrheic Eczema

    A red scalp with scaling and peeling may be seborrheic dermatitis, a condition that causes extreme itching.

    Scalp Psoriasis

    Another condition that causes red skin and scaly patches is scalp psoriasis. However, unlike seborrheic eczema, psoriasis is often present in other places on the body besides just the scalp, and flakes are silvery in color.

    Source:

    Dailyglow: Treating a Dry Flaky Scalp; Daily Glow editors

    Mayo Clinic: How Does a Doctor Tell the Different Between Scalp Psoriasis and Seborrheic Dermatitis of the Scalp?; Lawrence E. Gibson, MD; Oct. 20, 2009

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