Your Most HEAD SCRATCHING SCALP ISSUES, Solved!

Most of us ignore our scalps - until something goes wrong. But the scalp is actually at the root (literally!) of healthy hair, and now there are countless scalp care products and treatments on the market. Delve into the most common scalp problems and see the best at-home solutions, recommended by the GH Beauty Lab scientists and top doctors.

- APRIL FRANZINO

Flaking

The most commonly known scalp problem, flaking "can be the result of dandruff or using certain hair products that cause contact dermatitis (which leads to irritation or psoriasis), among other factors," says Gaby Longsworth, Ph.D., a trichology-certified hair practitioner in Florida. Flaking can also be brought on by seborrheic dermatitis, an overgrowth of yeast that occurs naturally on the scalp, adds Mona Gohara, M.D., an associate clinical professor of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, CT.

Flake Fix: If you have mild to moderate flaking, minimize the excess yeast that can cause dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis by using an anti-dandruff shampoo containing zinc pyrithione, advises Dr. Gohara. For more severe flaking, which can result from issues such as psoriasis, see a dermatologist for diagnosis and treatment.

Our pick: GH Beauty Award winner Head & Shoulders Smooth & Silky Shampoo, $6, drugstores

Dryness