Table of Contents
When you think about the areas of the body you’ve long been told age first and require extra preventative skin care to keep them looking youthful, where does your mind go? The neck? The eyes? The hands? While all these areas are extra sensitive to sun damage and premature aging, I found out recently through an event with renowned hair-care brand, Olaplex ahead of its first ever scalp-care launch that—believe it or not—the scalp actually ages faster than anywhere else on your body.
It takes a lot for something to shock me as a beauty editor, but this scalp fact truly blew my mind. When you think about it, though, it makes sense. What part of your body is closest to the sun and exposed most often to environmental aggressors? The head! You may now be thinking, “why should I care?” If no one even sees your scalp, who cares that it ages faster? Well, healthy hair starts at the scalp, so if you’re chasing luscious, healthy strands, you may want to give scalp anti-aging the same attention you give to skin anti-aging. Ahead, everything you need to know about scalp aging, from why it happens to how to treat it.
Why does the scalp age faster than the rest of the body?
While we may not talk about it as much as scalp health experts would like, the research surrounding the scalp’s heightened sensitivity to aging is well-backed. Studies from both the NIH and Wiley and International Society for Bioengineering and the Skin have found quantitative evidence supporting the fact that the scalp ages faster than the rest of the body, but why? As the R&D experts at Olaplex explain, “The scalp ages faster due to its lower barrier function, making it more vulnerable to free radicals. It also has a higher concentration of sebaceous glands, leading to increased oil production that attracts pollutants. This buildup can cause inflammation, disrupt the scalp’s microbiome and accelerate damage over time.”
Dr. Garshick adds that not only is the scalp more susceptible to aging and disruption from environmental aggressors, the area is often neglected when it comes to daily care. “The scalp is sensitive to aging as is the rest of our skin but it is often neglected. For example, the scalp may not be as easy to protect against UV exposure, and while the scalp may be different from the rest of the body given the presence and type of hair follicles, it still is skin and similar to skin elsewhere on the body, meaning it requires similar care and protection.
What are the most common scalp aging symptoms and concerns?
Since the scalp is so overlooked in common beauty practices, Dr. Garshick is no stranger to scalp health- and scalp-aging related concerns in her office. “Seborrheic dermatitis is one of the most common scalp issues and is characterized by flaky patches in the scalp that are often itchy,” she explains, “Treating this may include a combination of anti-dandruff shampoos and topical prescriptions as well as increasing the frequency of shampooing.” Contact dermatitis is another common scalp issue Dr. Garshick treats, and can appear as flaky red patches and often occurs “as a reaction to coming into contact with an ingredient, such as hair dye or a hair product and can make the scalp very itchy.”
In a similar way to the rest of the body, Dr. Garshick explains that psoriasis can affect the scalp and usually presents itself as thick, scaly plaques. “Folliculitis is another common scalp health issue and can appear as whiteheads in the scalp and may be asymptomatic, painful or itchy,” Dr. Garshick adds. “This may respond well to a topical antibiotic and antibacterial wash.”
How do you protect the scalp from the effects of aging?
While you may now be thinking that you can never step foot outside the house again without a White Lotus-inspired sun hat on, there are plenty of products and treatments targeted at scalp health and overall scalp longevity, namely Olaplex N°.0.5 Scalp Hydrating and Anti-aging Scalp Serum Treatment ($44). “This treatment focuses on both prevention and repair,” the Olaplex team explains. “It combines anti-inflammatory ingredients, microbiome-supporting compounds and targeted antioxidants to protect the scalp from aging and environmental stressors.”
Dr. Garshick adds that “It is important to protect the scalp from the harmful effects of UV exposure through the use of sunscreen and wearing a hat. Additionally, similar to caring for the skin on the rest of the body, it can help to use ingredients that support the skin health including ceramides and niacinamide.” One of Dr. Garshick’s favorite products for protecting scalp health and longevity is Dove Scalp + Hair Therapy Density Boost Serum ($10), which is “a leave-in serum known to improve overall hair density with 90 days of use while also helping to moisturize the scalp and strengthen the roots,” she explains.
