What should you know about flaky scalp during winter?

Cold outdoor air and heated indoor rooms can leave the scalp feeling tight and itchy. Washing with very hot water or using strong cleansers may add irritation. Winter can also make an existing tendency to dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis more noticeable. Thick, silvery scale, soreness beyond the scalp or similar patches on elbows and knees can fit scalp psoriasis. Scaling with broken hairs or a bald patch needs attention because scalp ringworm can affect hair follicles. The season is a clue, not a diagnosis.

Use lukewarm water, a gentle cleanser and a thorough rinse. Keep showers comfortably brief and avoid scraping flakes from the scalp. If your scalp is dry, choose simple, fragrance-free products and reduce heat from hair dryers. When itch and loose scale suggest dandruff, a labelled anti-dandruff wash may be useful; use it consistently according to directions. A clinician can advise whether medicated shampoo therapy suits your pattern and hair type.

Book a review when flakes continue after the weather changes or after sensible home care, or when the scalp becomes very red, thickened or painful. Seek prompt care for pus, spreading warmth, fever, swollen glands, bleeding from scratching or areas of hair loss. A child with a scaly patch and broken hairs should be assessed rather than treated only with moisturising products.

Is winter dryness aggravating another condition? Should I use an anti-dandruff wash, and where should it be applied? Could any of my hair or skin products be worsening the itch?