Improve Dry Scalp This Winter With Polytar’s Tool To Prevent Itchy Dandruff

We spend each morning and night applying every lotion and potion under the sun to our faces and necks. But when it comes to our scalps, we think that simply washing it every few days is enough.

While our awareness of scalp health has made some strides over the last few years, we’re still blissfully unaware of what is going on beneath our hair, according to medicated scalp shampoo brand Polytar.

According to research done by the brand, 54% of people believe their scalp is healthy, and 88% claim to feel confident in how to clean their scalp.

However, 75% continue to experience scalp conditions like itchiness, eczema, or psoriasis – so clearly something is going wrong along the way.

To help you better understand your scalp health, Polytar has launched a free scalp calculator, which asks you 13 questions about your scalp, gives you a scalp health score out of 100, and offers personalised insights into how to improve it.

Built by trichologists, the calculator will ask you about your symptoms, diagnosed scalp conditions, triggers, patterns, environmental factors and protective behaviours that you might have not even considered.

In fact, it’s quite common for people to not recognise the impact of scalp conditions on their overall wellbeing, says Amy Hunt, a registered trichologist and hairdresser.

“A common misconception I see as a trichologist is people assuming they have a healthy scalp, when in reality they may be experiencing ongoing low-level issues,” she says.

“This is often because their symptoms, such as mild flaking, irritation or oiliness, have been consistent over time, so they view it as ‘normal’. In many cases, there is a lack of awareness around what a truly healthy scalp should feel and look like, as well as how to properly care for it.”

Scalp health isn’t just about your hair looking good, though, it can also impact your hair’s health.

“Scalp health is fundamental, as it directly impacts hair growth, comfort and overall hair quality, yet it’s often overlooked in everyday routines,” Hunt explains.

So you don’t have yet another thing to think about when you’re in the shower, Polytar’s calculator offers simple and practical tips that can easily be integrated into your everyday routine.

Having suffered with painful scalp psoriasis flare-ups for five years, Ross Berridge, 37, says using the calculator helped him understand his triggers.

“[The calculator] made me realise how frequently I get flare-ups and symptoms,” he says.

“It also made me think of some of the triggers for these, including hard water and sweat from exercise, that I hadn’t considered.

“Psoriasis is often a vicious cycle, where the impact on your mental health can make it worse.

“Learning to accept it is the first step. Finding out what triggers it is the second. The third is building a routine that mitigates the triggers and provides a proactive and reactive safety net.”