Some casually touted “beauty concerns” actually can be the manifestation of mental health concerns as well.
Mental health and beauty are deeply connected and symbiotic.
Your skin influences your mental well-being, and your mental well-being affects your skin.
While it’s not always related to mental health struggles, it certainly can beand is in many cases.
What is scalp picking?
Scalp picking is simply the act of, well, touching and pulling at your scalp.
There are a few reasons one might find themselves doing this.
Or if yours is due to tight hairstyles, make a run at loosen it up a bit.
So when we’re talking about scalp-picking causes and triggers, the same applies to general skin picking.
Aftercare, however, will be different given the nuanced skin that is the scalp.
What is dermatillomania?
to the point of tissue damage or distress.
And it’s more common than you might think.
Skin picking is even more common for those struggling with other mental health conditions simultaneously.
Why might someone pick at their scalp?
Mental health triggers.
To repeat: Skin picking is not always intentionalyou can fully pick at your skin as an unconscious habit.
Skin picking can also be a trauma response in children and adults.
Scalp irritation or discomfort can be a physical trigger for scalp picking.
Especially if you wear tight styles often, this can quickly become a habit.
Irritating ingredients.
If your scalp is itchy, you’re naturally going to want to scratch it.
Product buildup.
This can make the scalp itchy and uncomfortable and serve as an easy tugging point.
Scalp pimples.
Just as breakouts on the face can be tempting to pick, so canthose on your scalp.
Skin picking vs. hair pulling.
That being said, trichotillomania (which can happen on the head, lashes, brows, etc.)
and dermatillomania are both compulsive disorders often triggered by mental health conditions like stress and anxiety.
What pros recommend: The replacement method.
“Which thereby increases the time from the obsession to the compulsion.”
Or, you’re able to opt for gentlescalp massage.
This is the first step to easing scalp pickingmore tips to follow.
Stress management techniques.
Scalp and skin picking are more often related to mental health and less often to do with beauty.
So the first step to tending to your mental health is to work on lowering levels of anxiety.
Here, a few general relaxing techniques to explore:
Breathwork.
you’re able to do this anywhere, anytime.
Breathwork comes in many different techniqueshere area few to explore and their benefits.
How to keep the scalp irritation free.
Here, a few tips.
Loosen up your hairstyles if you’ve got the option to.
Tight hairstyles can irritate the scalp and even lead to targetedhair loss, known as traction alopecia.
Switch to hypoallergenic hair products.
If you have damaged skin on the scalp, Heavey recommends avoiding alcohol and fragrance.
In addition, exfoliating ingredients like salicylic acid and tea tree may sting the broken skin.
Look for organic, hypoallergenic hair products.
Skip sticky products.
Hairspray, hair gel, some dry shampoos, or any other sticky products should be avoided for now.
If your hair is sticky, you’ll be more tempted to pick and pull at the scalp.
The only products you put on your hair or scalp should be soothing and softening.
Practice regular scalp care.
Just as you wouldn’t put irritating ingredients on damaged facial skin, the same goes for the scalp.
Instead, use hypoallergenic and clean hair care products and scalp treatments, like the Act+Acre soothing serum.
Let the skin on your scalp fully heal before going for any kind of exfoliation or strenuous hairstyles.
When to see a doctor.
), then you should see a mental health professional if you’ve got the option to.
These professionals can help you pick and choose safe and effective topical products to encourage healing and minimize irritation.
The takeaway.
If you want to dive more into scalp care 101, we’ve got you coveredstart here.
