Most consumers want healthy, shiny hair. But for many, product buildup, dry flakes, and an otherwise unhealthy scalp can contribute to less than lustrous locks.
However, there is a trending haircare product that can help improve scalp and hair health. Glycolic acid based scalp exfoliators that shed off dead skin cells and help create conditions for stronger hair strands.
“Ready for a hair reset? If your strands are looking limp, dull, or don’t have the bounce they normally do—or you just can’t get that “clean feeling” no matter how many times you shampoo, a scalp scrub may be exactly what your mane needs.Think of a scrub as a necessary step in your healthy hair routine. Just like you would use an exfoliator for your face, a scalp treatment helps hair follicles to remain healthy, clears away build-up, reduces residue, and promotes hair growth,” Matilde Campos, a celebrity hair stylist, told Prevention.
A glycolic acid scalp exfoliator is an excellent aid to help reduce build-up and promote stronger, shinier hair.
The importance of the scalp
The scalp performs many important functions, including protecting the head from UV rays, and blocking the entry of pollutants, bacteria, germs, and other irritants.
Additionally, a growing body of scientific research has discovered that the scalp’s health is also related to the health of hair.
“Conventionally, the medical focus has been either on hair loss or the condition of the scalp in terms of specific dermatological diseases. Indeed, the proximate structural arrangement of the scalp and hair leads to an interdependent relationship between the two. While protective benefits of the hair to the scalp are obvious, the role of the scalp as an incubatory environment for the preemergent hair fiber has largely been ignored. In fact, there is a wealth of observational data on specific dermatological conditions of the scalp providing evidence for the role of the scalp condition in supporting the production of healthy hair.” – “Scalp Condition Impacts Hair Growth and Retention via Oxidative Stress,” Journal of International Trichology.
Scalp stressors
However, a wide variety of factors can negatively impact the health of the scalp and the health and appearance of hair.
Factors like pollution, damage from UV rays, irritation from products, hair dyes, and excessive heat can all harm the scalp.
But, perhaps the most common scalp stressor is product buildup. Old styling product, dead skin cells, and excess sebum can pile up on the scalp and have a negative effect on hair growth and appearance.
“Scalp buildup can cause hair loss if left untreated and the dead skin, oil, and sweat clog your hair follicles. This can lead to an uncomfortable condition called folliculitis. Folliculitis causes inflammation of the hair follicles that sometimes results in infection,” explains Healthline.
In order to remove buildup and improve scalp health, a glycolic acid scalp exfoliator is the perfect over-the-counter treatment.
Glycolic acid scalp exfoliators can help remove product buildup!
Gentle exfoliation
Scalp exfoliators fall into two categories: physical scrubs or chemical exfoliants. Gritty, manual exfoliators use small particles like salt to physically scrub away dead skin cells and product buildup.
However, most experts agree scalp exfoliators that use powerful chemical exfoliant glycolic acid are a more effective and gentler option.
“Manual exfoliators work by using gritty particles to remove excess cells from the skin’s surface, while chemical exfoliators like hydroxy acids work by dissolving connections between dead cells on the surface of the skin so the cells can be shed,” says Joshua Zeichner, MD, a New York City board-certified dermatologist. “AHAs can help improve flakes and reduce oil on the scalp, which translates to less greasy hair and improved flaking and even dandruff,” explains Well+Good.
For a gentle and effective scalp treatment, a glycolic acid based treatment simply can’t be beat.
Deep cleansing
Glycolic acid based scalp exfoliators are so effective because of glycolic acid’s small molecule size. Once applied to the scalp, glycolic acid works to penetrate the walls of the skin cell and loosen the bonds holding dead skin cells, excess sebum, and product buildup together.
By sloughing away the dry, dead skin cells, oil, dirt, and bacteria that can clog hair follicles glycolic acid works to throughly exfoliate and cleanse the scalp.
The end result? A cleaner scalp and better conditions to support shiny, strong hair strands.
More hydration, healthier hair
“AHAs can help improve flakes and reduce oil on the scalp, which translates to less greasy hair and improved flaking and even dandruff.”
Joshua Zeichner, MD
Additionally, glycolic acid scalp exfoliators offer another key benefit to consumers seeking shinier strands.
Glycolic acid promotes hyaluronic acid production, the natural substance that helps keep tissues moist.
“Epidermal and dermal hyaluronic acid and collagen gene expression were all increased in glycolic acid-treated skin as compared to vehicle-treated controls,” according to “Glycolic Acid Treatment Increases Type I Collagen mRNA and Hyaluronic Acid Content of Human Skin,” Dermatologic Surgery.
By stimulating hyaluronic acid production, glycolic acid can help to keep the scalp moisturized, hydrated, and healthy for longer.
Squeaky clean scalps
A scalp exfoliator formulated with glycolic acid is a fast-acting, highly effective haircare product that can help promote the health of the scalp and the health of the hair.
