What Is A Scalp Detox? Why Scalp Care Is Just As Important As Skin Care

When we think of skin health, we often place an emphasis on the face. But the condition of your complexion isn’t the only gauge of healthy skin. The body and scalp are equally important when it comes to maintaining a healthy skin barrier, and ensuring these are balanced can even help to mitigate common issues that can also appear on the face.

And just as the right skincare routine can help to keep blemishes at bay, or the right hair care routine can keep your strands strong and shining, the right scalp care routine can support overall scalp health and prevent common scalp conditions.

A Fresh Start for Your Scalp

Scalp care doesn’t need to be complicated. It’s all about the right mix of products and healthy skin care habits. When it comes to products, this means finding the right shampoo, conditioner and other treatments formulated for your scalp concerns and hair goals. When it comes to healthy habits, this means proactively keeping your scalp clean and balanced, facing scalp concerns head-on as they arise, and developing a routine that prioritizes overall scalp health.

Why Scalp Health is Essential

For starters, the health of your scalp determines the health of your hair. A healthy scalp sets the foundation for proper oil production, hair growth, and prevention of hair loss, and it all starts with the health of your follicles. When the hair follicles are clogged by common scalp issues (i.e. product buildup, excess oil, or dead skin), it can lead to more serious problems such as dandruff or scaly rashes.

• Product Buildup

Product buildup stems from the products used in our hair care regimen. Shampoo, conditioner, styling gels, sprays, and more, all leave behind residue that can accumulate over time if not properly removed.

• Excess Oil

The scalp naturally produces sebum, an oil that keeps hair and skin moisturized. An overproduction of sebum can cause fungal overgrowth and scaly patches.

• Dead Skin

Like the rest of the body, the scalp naturally sheds dead skin cells. Without regular exfoliation, dead skin cells can accumulate, potentially blocking the follicles and future hair growth.

Dandruff can be the result of one or all three of the above scalp issues. If the scalp is too dry or too oily, it creates an environment where fungus can thrive and lead to flaky, irritated skin. Proper scalp care—cleansing, exfoliating, and managing oil levels—all help to control dandruff.

Additionally, autoimmune conditions can cause skin cells to multiply faster than normal. This leads to a buildup of thick, scaly patches. Each of the above can exacerbate these conditions by further clogging the scalp and irritating the skin.

Detecting an unhealthy scalp

Identifying an unhealthy scalp starts with recognizing common signs of imbalance and irritation. Some key symptoms to look out for include:

• Excessive Dryness

Dry, tight scalps can lead to irritation and increased flaking. This is often caused by insufficient moisture, over-washing, or using hair products that are too harsh.

• Oily Scalp

If your scalp and hair get greasy quickly after washing, it may indicate an imbalance in sebum production. Overactive sebaceous glands can clog pores and lead to acne or fungal infections on the scalp, hairline and more.

• Itching or Irritation

Persistent itching is often a sign of irritated skin. It can result from dryness, product buildup, dandruff, or common skin conditions. 

• Redness 

Red, inflamed scalps also signal uncomfortable skin or infection. This can stem from allergic reactions to your products, excessive scratching, or conditions like psoriasis and folliculitis.

• Flaking and Dandruff

White or yellow flakes on the scalp or in the hair is a common sign of dandruff and scaly patches. This excessive shedding of the skin cells occurs when the scalp is either too oily or too dry.

Additional symptoms range from odor (indicating buildup or bacterial overgrowth), bumps or pimples in the scalp, excessive hair loss or thinning, and sensitivity or pain in the scalp. If you notice one or more of these symptoms regularly, it may be time to re-evaluate your hair and scalp care for a gentle, more balancing solution.

How Lytic Gel Cleanser Can Help

You’ll want to look for scalp care formulas that cleanse without irritating or over-drying the skin. Avoid anything that leaves the skin feeling tight or stripped of its natural oils. A versatile product like Epionce Lytic Gel Cleanser provides complete scalp-to-toe care and works similarly to a clarifying shampoo. This multitasker not only removes impurities like dirt, oil, and buildup, but helps maintain the pH balance of the skin, making it ideal for scalp detox. 

Lytic Gel Cleanser also features a number of ingredients that work to soothe irritation and calm the skin.

Lavender Extract: Offers antimicrobial and soothing properties. It can help to prevent bacterial and fungal infections, regulate sebum production, soothe uncomfortable skin, and its calming scent can even aid in stress reduction.

Marsh Mallow Root Extract: High in omega-3, it contains more monounsaturated fatty acid than olive oil. This helps to calm the visible appearance of redness in skin, promotes hydration and healing, and helps strengthen the skin’s natural barrier.

Menthol: Derived from mint oils, menthol has cooling, soothing and stimulating properties, reducing irritation, improving circulation, and providing a refreshing feeling to the skin.

A good scalp detox routine will incorporate a clarifying step before shampooing and conditioning. This pretreatment will act as a clarifying shampoo, helping to control dandruff by removing oil buildup and gently cleansing irritated or sensitive areas prior to treating the hair itself. An added benefit? Lytic Gel Cleanser can also be used all over the face and body to gently refresh and calm skin.

Maintaining a Healthy Scalp

Alongside a detoxifying scalp product and hair care routine, a few healthy habits can help to ensure your scalp is set up for success. 

• Scalp Massages

Massage is a great way to improve circulation and boost lymphatic drainage. When targeted to the scalp, it can stimulate blood flow to the hair follicles, helping strengthen the roots and promote healthy hair growth. Utilizing scalp massage in the shower with Lytic Gel Cleanser will help to exfoliate away dead skin cells, dirt, and product buildup, unclogging the follicles and promoting overall relaxation.

• Sun Protection

Protecting the scalp and follicles by using sun-protective hair products or hats is important to maintaining its integrity, preventing damage, and promoting hair growth. This is especially crucial if the scalp is exposed via thinning hair. Limiting sun exposure prevents sunburn (reducing the risk of skin cancer), dryness, and the weakening of the scalp’s skin barrier. 

• Hydration

Keeping the scalp hydrated begins with avoiding harsh products that strip away moisture, but additional lifestyle factors like avoiding over-washing and limiting hot water and heat exposure can help. Eating a healthy diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids, biotin, and vitamin E is also known to have nourishing effects on our skin.

By treating our scalp with the same care reserved for our complexion and body, we can foster healthy skin and a balanced barrier from head to toe. Prioritize balance and protection over harsh reactions and exposures, and you’ll notice a happy, healthy scalp and thriving hair.

Interested in learning more about Epionce’s approach to healthy skin? Contact one of our Epionce Pros — trained skincare professionals who will provide in-person guidance tailored to your needs. Find an Epionce Pro Near You