After becoming concerned about gray hair, many people may feel itching or discomfort on their scalp.
"My gray hair is itchy..."
"After dyeing my gray hair, itching increases..."
"Something doesn't feel right with my scalp..."
In many cases, these problems are actually related to gray hair and itchy scalp.
Therefore, this time we will introduce in detail the causes of itchy gray hair and how you can take care of it yourself.
CONTENTS
Why does gray hair grow?
Why does gray hair grow in the first place? Let me introduce the mechanism.
Hair is originally produced and grown by cells called hair matrix cells in the hair root, and during this process, melanin pigments color the hair through the action of cells called melanocytes.For Japanese people, hair is colored black to brown. It grows as hair color.
However, if something goes wrong with these melanocytes and they are not functioning properly, the hair that is produced will grow without being colored, resulting in gray hair. .
All newly created hair is originally pure white, and gray hair is just like any other hair, just without color.
Possible causes of gray hair include:
・heredity
・Aging
・Eating habits
·stress
In some cases, there is not just one cause, but a combination of multiple causes, and it may be difficult to identify. There are some causes that cannot be avoided, such as genetics and aging, but just like with the body, there are cases where it can be prevented or alleviated depending on your daily habits and care, so please take a look at the care and habits that are lacking in you. .
Gray hair carries nutrients obtained from meals to the scalp and hair roots through the bloodstream, supporting hair production and growth. Therefore, it is very important to actively consume the nutrients necessary for hair growth through a well-balanced diet and to maintain habits that promote blood flow.
reference:Alopecia Q18 – Dermatology Q&A (Japanese Dermatological Association)
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What happens when the melanocytes that cause gray hair are reduced?What should I do to make it active?
Causes of itchy gray hair
We will also take a look at the reasons why gray hair feels itchy.
Difference between white hair and black hair
According to statistics, gray hair grows thicker than black hair. In addition, the cross section is often flat or irregularly shaped, which can irritate the pores when gray hair grows.
Gray hair is more prone to stiffness than black hair, which can cause more irritation. In many cases, the growth process and the characteristics of gray hair combine to cause itching.
Disturbance of the scalp environment
Although you might think that gray hair is the cause, there are cases where the itch is actually caused by disturbances in the scalp environment. The scalp, like your skin, is a delicate and sensitive area, so even the slightest amount of friction or irritation can easily cause irritation.
In many cases, your skin can be damaged by casual changes in your daily life, such as shampoos and styling products that don't suit your skin, or excessive exposure to UV rays.
In addition, if nutrients are not delivered to the scalp due to lack of hair care or nutritional deficiencies, or if the scalp is not kept clean, the scalp environment will be disturbed. This can lead to scalp problems such as excessive sebum secretion, dirt and sebum buildup in the pores, and irritation.
In some cases, scalp problems can cause inflammation and cause itching.
Irritation due to gray hair dye
Gray hair dyeing uses a chemical reaction that occurs when two chemicals, 1 and 2, are mixed together to bleach and color gray hair, adding color to the gray hair. This hair dye contains ingredients that can irritate the scalp, such as alkaline agents and hydrogen peroxide.
People with sensitive skin can use it without any problems, but people with sensitive skin or atopic dermatitis are particularly susceptible to irritation. Gray hair dyes contain more dyes than regular hair colors to ensure that the color is more intense on gray hair, and this dye can also cause irritation.
Therefore, even if you don't feel any discomfort such as itching when you dye your hair, you may notice itching on your scalp after you start dying your gray hair.
reference:Skin damage caused by hair dye | Japanese Dermatological Association
What to do when itching occurs
If you are already experiencing itching, try the following methods to treat itching.
moisturizing the scalp
If your scalp is dry or the balance between water and oil is disrupted, you are more likely to experience itchy scalp symptoms. To maintain the moisture balance of your scalp, use a moisturizing lotion to replenish your scalp with moisture.
If you don't have the right amount of both moisture and oil, you won't be able to maintain the scalp environment and problems will occur, so you need to be careful. You can use any moisturizer, but since there is a lot of hair growing on the scalp, it is difficult to use one with a hard texture, so I recommend a lotion type with a loose texture.
massage with oil
If the itching does not subside with water alone and there is no improvement, use a hair oil for the scalp to add oil to the scalp and keep it moisturized. Gently massage it into your scalp and let it absorb into your scalp to promote stagnant blood flow.
There are many types of oils, but if you use one that is not suitable for you, it may cause irritation or increase itching, so try using oils for the scalp or jojoba oil that are gentle and moisturizing to your skin and do not clog your pores. I recommend what you get.
Cool with ice packs
When your scalp is itchy, you tend to scratch it too much or touch it with care. To help ease the itching, wrap a towel around an ice pack or apply a soft ice pillow.
Cooling the scalp cools the scalp, calms inflammation, and reduces blood flow to the scalp, which can reduce itching. If it's too cold, it can irritate your scalp, so use a towel or gauze to moderate the cold.
If severe itching persists, seek medical attention
If you try to treat the itching and the symptoms do not improve at all and get worse, please consult a medical institution.
Please visit your doctor and have your symptoms checked. It is important to be careful not to force yourself to cure the condition on your own, as this may actually make the symptoms worse or prolong the healing process.
Habits to avoid itching
If possible, you don't want to suffer from itchy scalp. We will also introduce preventative measures that can be taken to prevent itching.
Make the gray hair dyeing cycle a little longer
If you try to cover gray hair that inevitably grows back quickly, you will end up dying your gray hair faster. This increases the burden on the scalp, leading to inflammation and itching.
You can reduce the risk of graying your hair by reducing the frequency with which you dye your hair, so try to postpone it for as long as possible and see how it goes. If you can't resist it, it is also effective to use a gray hair dye shampoo or treatment to cover your gray hair until the next time you dye it to buy time.
Choose a gray hair dye that won't put a strain on your skin
Regular hair coloring has a high possibility of irritating the scalp. One way to prevent itching is to change the way you usually dye your gray hair to one that is less harsh on your skin.
There are some gray hair dyes that do not put a burden on your skin, such as:
・Henna
This is a 100% plant-based gray hair dye that is applied using dried henna powder. Since the raw materials are plants, there is no need to worry about allergies, and this gray hair dye is gentle on the skin.
・Hair manicure
Hair manicure is the process of dyeing gray hair by coating each strand of hair with color. It only colors the surface of the hair without bleaching the inside of the hair, making it a gentle gray hair dye.
If hair nail polish gets on your skin, it will be difficult to remove for a while, so the agent is applied using a fine-toothed comb while being careful not to get it on the scalp, so there is little stress on your skin.
・Gray hair dye shampoo & treatment
Gray hair dye shampoo and treatment is a color that colors gray hair by simply using it as a shampoo and treatment.
Since the base is shampoo and treatment, there is less damage to the scalp and hair, making it less likely to cause itching symptoms.
Since the dye is thinner than regular gray hair dye, the dye will be lighter after one use. Therefore, when you start using it several times in a row and layering the dye, it will gradually become darker and your gray hair will be dyed more firmly.
It's easier to do it yourself at home than other methods, so it's recommended for people who don't have time to go to a beauty salon.
adjust one's lifestyle
If your lifestyle is disrupted, blood flow to your scalp will deteriorate, making it difficult for nutrients to reach your scalp. Additionally, excessive stress or lack of sleep can further impede blood flow to the scalp.
The scalp environment can be either good or bad depending on your daily casual habits. If you adjust your daily habits such as eating, sleeping, exercising, and stress, it will be easier to keep your scalp in good condition.
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5 lifestyle habits that are kind to your scalp! From diet and exercise to the right shampoo
Incorporate regular scalp care
Unlike hair care, there are fewer people, especially women, who take care of their scalp on a regular basis. Scalp care not only prevents itching and inflammation, but is also an important part of hair care as it affects the health and beauty of the hair that will grow in the future.
The scalp is also the part of the body that secretes the most sebum, so much so that even after shampooing, sebum will come out again within a few hours. Sebum remains on the scalp and oxidizes over time, making it difficult to remove with regular shampoo.
If left untreated, it can irritate the scalp and cause inflammation.
To prevent this from happening, it is effective to take care of your scalp regularly to remove sebum and dirt that cannot be removed normally.
We recommend using a scalp shampoo instead of your regular shampoo to help keep your scalp clean and free of dirt. Scalp care may seem difficult, but start by using scalp shampoo two or three times a week.
Summary
There are many things that are related to gray hair and itching, and there are many cases where the scalp becomes itchy just because gray hair is growing. However, the itching may be caused by areas unrelated to gray hair, making it difficult to identify the cause.
Therefore, if you maintain a good scalp environment on a regular basis, you can greatly reduce the chance of itching symptoms occurring, so please reconsider your usual care.
Gray hair dye shampoos and treatments are also items that affect the scalp environment.
In particular, Kiwami's gray hair dye shampoo and treatment is characterized by its amino acid-based cleaning ingredients and additive-free formula, which are gentle on the scalp and give hair a natural shine.
Try a scalp-friendly gray hair dye for even more savings with a regular purchase.
When you look around the store, there are so many different items on sale that it can be difficult to decide which one to buy. If you are unsure, please try Kiwami's shampoo.
