The scalp is a little more delicate than you think. We learned this with our series of interviews with some of America’s top hairstylists. The general consensus was that while everyone was looking at the health of the hair – it was the root that was what everybody should be focused on. Jana Lee – a hair stylist and trichologist from Savannah Georgia was probably the most insightful with regards to explaining the role that the health of the skin pore or hair follicle plays in creating and managing healthy hair. Here is a summary of what she said on the latest in how and why sebum build-up and plugs can wreak havoc on the health of your scalp and hair.
Jana Lee believes that what you with regards to your hair is simply a reflection of how healthy the scalp and hair follicles are. Most of this is what you cannot see. After studying hair and doing too many to count hair microscopic analysis she learned that without a doubt there is a lot of buildup that occurs at the hair root and also at the opening of the hair follicle. These are often referred to as sebum plugs but they are more than just plugs. They are a breeding ground for the small mites, fungus and oftentimes yeast and bacteria and this is what causes a domino effect that is very tough to get corrected with the traditional hair care products on the market. Let us explain.
What Is A Sebum Plug On the Scalp?
Scalp oils are a very important part of a healthy hair and scalp process that uses sebum to hydrate and protect both the hair and also the exposed layer of skin Hydration keeps the skin from cracking and allowing microbes to penetrate into the skin. So while normally sebum is good it can become a bit of a problem when it becomes excessive or stagnant – which means that it needs to be cleansed away after a period of time. The scalp gunk or white junk o the head that most people are having problems with is a result of the mixing of sebum, sweat, yeast, candida, fungus and sometimes bacteria. This mixture can change from person to person and sometimes it can change within the same person. Depending on how long the white scalp gunk or buildup occurs many different problems can occur. Symptoms will include the white waxy buildup or flaking and often times it can be crusty or hardened sebum that is more difficult to remove. The main thing to focus on the follicles must be cleansed and opened for health to occur. The balance of the scalp meaning the ph level must also be brought back to a more acidic level as the skin’s ph level is intended to be at 4.5.
Cleansing the Sebum plugs and Scalp Pores
Removing the scalp sebum plugs will allow the flushing of the rest of the bacteria and fungus that is staying inside the follicle. It will take special herbs for this. The most common known herbal complex for this is Zincplex. Herbs like thyme, sage and fenugreek are just a few that are often used together along with burdock to flush and maintain scalp health. The traditional dandruff shampoos or even clarifying shampoos WILL NOT remove the sebum plugs nor will they help to remove the buildup at or inside the hair follicle. How to clean scalp pores is the question that everyone with scalp problems should be asking. The answer is with detoxifying herbs like thyme, sage, ivy, burdock and the one mineral that works so well for achieving overall optimal scalp health which is Zinc PCA. Check out the newest Zincplex complex of herbs to see if the herbal treatment for the scalp might be exactly what you need for lasting, long-term healthy scalp and hair solutions.
