17. Dry scalp
If you find yourself struggling with dry scalp, it could be a symptom of diabetes. This is a symptom that won’t appear in isolation. It will occur in conjunction with other symptoms. Dry scalp and dandruff are not the same. They both present with an itchy scalp and falling white flakes. Dry scalp occurs when the skin gets irritated and flakes off the scalp. Dandruff is caused by an oversupply of oil on the scalp. The oil captures excess dead skin cells. They build up, and then they fall from the scalp. Before you jump to conclusions, take the time to figure out which one of the two you have. You can tell the difference by looking at the appearance of the flakes. Dandruff flakes are more prominent and look oily. The skin flakes shed when you have dry scalp are smaller and look less hydrated.
A dry scalp is the same as dry skin. A simple lack of moisture causes it. In fact, dry scalp is usually accompanied by dry skin on other areas of the body. Exposure to cold, dry air can trigger it. As you age, the skin on your scalp also dries out. An allergy to something your scalp came into contact with can also result in a dry scalp. It’s possible you may be allergic to the shampoo or styling gel you use. The reason that dry scalp may be diabetes indicates that the skin cells become dehydrated. When your glucose levels are high, the body responds by causing excessive urination to get rid of it. At the same time, the body is losing a lot of fluids. This is what results in excessive thirst which is a symptom of diabetes. It also results in the drying out of the skin and scalp.