Choosing a Shampoo for Scalp Acne
As with most acne, scalp acne results from many of the same causes –
bacteria, clogged pores, scalp infections and excess oiliness. Choosing a
shampoo that addresses these issues is pretty important for controlling or
eliminating breakouts.
If you suffer from scalp acne, one of the best ways to treat it is to
select your shampoo carefully. It is important to remember that in most cases
scalp acne is due to your hair
being overly oily or dirty. When this happens,
your pores will become clogged, trapping oil and bacteria inside. The blockage
isn’t always due to oily or dirty hair; sometimes it is simply hormones,
genetic factors or stress that cause the problem. No matter the
cause of the
issue, however, unclogging the pores is the answer and there are plenty of
shampoos designed to help do just that.
Good Features
When you are looking for a shampoo to treat scalp acne, you want to look
at the ingredient list carefully. You will notice that salicylic acid is an
incredibly common ingredient and that is because it works to treat acne
anywhere and when used on
scalp bumps and acne, it won’t dye your hair (like benzyl
peroxide might). This acid is great at exfoliating the skin in the scalp and by
doing so it will loosen up any dead skin cells, freeing your pores. Some
dandruff shampoos, specifically those that contain zinc, can also help as they
will reduce the inflammation associated with the acne.
Zinc
Zinc shampoos have become pretty popular in the past few years –
primarily due to their success in treating several hair and scalp issues. Zinc
naturally regulates/controls the amount of oil secreted by the sebaceous glands
in the skin and scalp. The reduction of excess oil reduces the likelihood of
bacteria or fungus forming on the scalp. Zinc also works well to unclog
follicle pores and to reduce inflammation and irritation – all issues related
to scalp acne. Products like
Follicleanse, Follicleanse ME and Healthy Hair Plus’
Dandruff shampoo contain Zinc or other
natural ingredients that help to regulate excess oiliness.
Tea Tree Oil
One of the best ingredients to look for in a hair cleanser to fight
pimples is tea tree oil. This is a great option as it is completely natural and
also works to fight germs. This means it will attack the bacteria that cause
the acne in the first place. At the same time, the lack of chemicals means that
it won’t cause any further irritation and it won’t make your hair oilier.
Bad Features
When looking at your shampoo options, you also want to pay attention to
how heavy or oily a product is. Keep in mind that any hair product that is oily
or heavy will increase the blockage of your pores, making the problem worse
instead of helping it. If you don’t know how to tell if a product is heavy or
oily, just try looking for something that says it is for a sensitive scalp as
this will be lighter and gentler. Another option is to avoid using conditioner
on your scalp and just apply it to the ends - this generally helps with
scalp acne, pimples & bumps.
Products
One of the best natural products to treat scalp acne
is Kiehl’s Tea Tree Oil Shampoo. As you can guess from the name, the active
ingredient in this product is tea tree oil but it also contains other extracts
as well as humectants. Another great option is Neutrogena T/Sal Therapeutic
Shampoo (Scalp Build-Up Control). The main ingredient in this product is
salicylic acid which can help exfoliate the skin of your scalp, loosening dead
skin cells and unclogging pores in the process. This means that it is also
great for psoriasis or dandruff in addition to scalp acne. If you want
something that will eliminate build-up (such as dandruff) and therefore open up
the pores, Head & Shoulders is another option that is easy to find with the
main ingredient of zinc pyrithione.
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