A 3-Step Process to Calm and Heal Your Dry, Itchy Scalp
The prevailing wisdom over the last few decades is that itchy and dry scalps are caused by fungal overgrowth that feeds off skin sebum (you may have heard of Malassezia as the infamous fungal offender). Whether your dry, itchy scalp is a byproduct of seborrheic dermatitis, eczema or other skin conditions, the treatment is typically to attack either the sebum or the fungus, or both.
Trouble is that sebum is important for skin health, and despite antifungals of every kind, far too many of us still go crazy scratching our scalps. Even high potency, prescription steroids don’t grant us relief.
.... FAR TOO MANY OF US STILL GO CRAZY SCRATCHING OUR SCALPS.
Perhaps it’s time for a new approach based on a critical analogy. Hand washing for hospital staff may be one of the biggest advances in medicine, right up there with penicillin and vaccines. But too much washing leaves hands dry and cracked, ironically creating a beachhead for the very microbes targeted by washing. Doctors and hospital staff interested in protecting their patients from infection must first and foremost make sure their skin is healthy and intact - and not just scrubbed.
Applied to the scalp, the same reality holds. Over-shampooing your scalp or using drying shampoos and anti-fungal treatments leads to the same problem as doctors who over-scrub their hands.
It actually worsens the problem.
Instead of successfully eliminating the fungus or sebum involved in itching, the scalp becomes sensitive and inflamed - actually injured - allowing microbes to flourish rather than perish. The scalp becomes dry, sensitive, red and certainly not more comfortable or healthy. Think about so many of the scalp treatments available today such as shampoos, tar, alcohol-based steroids, salicylic acid, etc. – they all strip the scalp of key oils and defenses against the environment and sun. As we hear over and over again in notes from our customers, these harmful interventions lead to scalp sensitivity and more itching. It’s all quite backwards.
HARMFUL INTERVENTIONS LEAD TO SCALP SENSITIVITY AND MORE ITCHING. IT'S ALL QUITE BACKWARDS.
SO WHAT'S OUR APPROACH?
For starters, the main focus is on creating a healthy scalp instead of nuking Malassezia (the fungus). This starts with hydration and healing. Then we add protection against the sun, environment, and aging with natural ingredients that fight free radicals, oxidation, and inflammation. Now we’re supporting your scalp (and hair growth by the way) from multiple angles. The result? Often immediate relief from itching and then continued improvement of scalp health over the life of product use. Unlike many of the medicated treatments, the longer you use ALÓN, the healthier and more repaired your scalp.
…YOUR MAIN FOCUS WOULD BE ON MAINTAINING A HEALTHY SCALP, NOT ON NUKING MALASSEZIA."
Step 1: NOURISH
Look no further than urea, a fantastic natural, gel-like molecule that holds moisture as well as possessing many favorable cell-signaling properties. Right from the get-go, your scalp dryness and scaling feels better. Hyaluronic acid adds incredible silkiness to the feel of ALÓN, adding moisture to your scalp and signaling additional healing pathways.
STEP 2: REPAIR
Key natural molecules in ALÓN bathe your scalp in healing comfort. Of these, Vitamin B3 has been associated with profound skin repair (and even reduction in skin cancer recurrence) for sun damage, acne, environmental stress and more. Additionally, melatonin and caffeine (both of which can also help with hair growth!) are strong antioxidants that help stop the inflammatory loop so harmful to your scalp.
Working alongside these molecules is bakuchiol, a powerful phytochemical known for its skin healing properties. Recent studies have shown bakuchiol to be an effective and gentler alternative to retinoids, reducing signs of aging and improving skin condition without the harshness.
For those suffering from an itchy scalp, bakuchiol offers a dual approach: it soothes inflammation and aids in healing.
Step 3: SHIELD
ALÓN is packed with other anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory molecules including Cholecalciferol (Vit D3), Ferulic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Glutathione, and Resveratrol in a final formula unmatched in its healing comfort while protecting against damage from ultraviolet light, stress, and the environment.
In the end, our natural formulas were informed by Mother Nature, who uses her natural molecules to protect and heal plant leaves exposed to massive amounts of sun while not showing a blemish!