While not a fatal or serious condition, dry scalp can be both annoying and embarrassing. Constant Itching, falling flakes, red and thick scaling, and visible white flakes on strands of hair are the primary symptoms of the skin problem. Dr. Rob Hicks of the BBC writes that fungal infections, environmental dryness and nutritional deficiencies can each cause the condition.
Salicylic Acid and Coal Tar
Scalp dryness may be related to an infection. In hair follicles infections, such as psoriasis, can cause the overproduction and rapid death of skin cells. The dead skin cells form the flakes that fall from the hair. Shampoos with salicylic acid or coal tar carry out the same purpose: treating the skin while killing the infection. Drugs.com reports that both salicylic acid and coal tar, when applied to the scalp, causes the skin to soften. This loosens the dead skin cells caked on the scalp, cleansing it and allowing it to heal. The shampoos can be used interchangeably to treat dry scalp.
Pyrithione Zinc and Selenium Sulfide
Dandruff treatments for the scalp are the most widely available and widely used for dry scalp. This class of shampoos include pyrithione zinc and selenium sulfide. Pyrithione zinc is the active ingredient in brand-name shampoos like Head and Shoulders, Selsun Blue, dandruff formulas made by other shampoo companies and most store-band dry scalp remedies. Selenium sulfide is found in shampoos carrying labels of "extra strength" and "maximum strength." A meta-review of shampoo ingredients in a 2008 issue of the "Journal of Drugs in Dermatology" states that pyrithione zinc and selenium sulfide offer both antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects on the scalp.
Ketoconazoles
The drug ketoconazole is the strongest formulation against fungal causes of dry scalp. When a scalp condition is caused by Malassezia yeast, a fungus, it can cause scaling and flaking. According to the "Journal of Drugs in Dermatology" article, ketoconazole stunts the growth of the fungus and works together with the cleansing agents to rid the scalp of the flaking. Ketoconazole, marketed under the brand name Nizoral, is available over the counter in one percent strength and in greater concentrations with a prescription.
