13 Ways To Soothe A Dry, Itchy Scalp

We take care of our skin with serums and SPF galore, but when's the last time you really pampered your scalp, of all places? "Under all that hair, the scalp is skin like the rest of your body," board-certified dermatologist Robyn Gmyrek, MD, of Union Square Laser Dermatology tells Refinery29. For example, you may notice that you may experience itchiness or dandruff more in the winter, due to typically drier, colder air.

That said, weather isn't the only culprit behind a sad scalp — and not all flakes are created equal. "Another common reason for a flaky or irritated scalp is something called seborrheic dermatitis," board-certified dermatologist and LM Medical co-founder Morgan Rabach, MD, explains. As Dr. Gmyrek concurs, you can ID these flakes if they're larger than normal, appear white or yellow, and look oily.

If you're dealing with a textbook dry scalp, then switching to a gentle shampoo, adding a soothing scalp treatment, and eliminating any products with alcohol should be enough to get you to a healthier place. However, if you think you're experiencing seborrheic dermatitis, the derms suggest you try a medicated shampoo (twice or three times a week should do the trick) with an active ingredient like salicylic acid, ketoconazole, zinc pyrithione, or selenium sulfide.

Ahead, 13 shampoos and treatments that'll get you to a less flaky place ASAP.