How to manage DANDRUFF?

Dandruff occurs, essentially, when small bits of dry skin are shed from the scalp. You might spy these flakes in your hair or on your shoulders. Dandruff may make your scalp itchy, too. It’s a common problem, but it isn’t as simple as it seems. Dandruff is actually quite tricky to define because it overlaps with seborrheic dermatitis (a chronic form of eczema) and other skin conditions that lead to a scaly scalp. Most people focus on the flakes. Itching, on the other hand, may be the most uncomfortable side effect.[2]

Symptoms:

[1]

Flakes and an itchy, scaly scalp are the main symptoms of dandruff. White, oily flakes typically accumulate in your hair and on your shoulders and often get worse during the fall and winter months, when the air is dry.

Additional symptoms can include:

erythema, which is red patches on the skin of the scalp, and sometimes on the face
eyebrow dandruff
hair loss
dry flakes on the skin of the face

Causes of Dandruff:

Many factors can contribute to the development of dandruff, so pinpointing the exact cause of your itchy, flaky scalp can be difficult. Here are a few culprits like: [2,5]

Dandruff is caused when a type of fungus called Malassezia begins to grow on your scalp. However, this results in scalp damage and causes severe dryness.
Sensitivity to hair care products (contact dermatitis)
There is another type of dandruff wherein your scalp begins producing more oil and as a result, dandruff appears to be sticky and oily on your hair.
Dry skin may be the cause of your dandruff with the flakes are usually smaller and less oily than the flakes caused by Seborrheic Dermatitis.
Androgen hormones, such as testosterone, stimulate activity in the sebaceous glands which causes dandruff.
History of Other Skin Disorders like eczema, rosacea, psoriasis, or acne can trigger or worsen seborrheic dermatitis.
Oiling Your Scalp Certain oils applied to the scalp can cover the scale, but worsen the flaking and itching response
Irregular brushing and hair washing.
Not using shampoo constantly
Stress and any kind of mental illness

When to see a doctor?

Most people with dandruff don't require a doctor's care. See your primary care doctor or a doctor who specializes in skin conditions (dermatologist) if your condition doesn't improve with regular use of dandruff shampoo. [5]

How to get rid of Dandruff?

Dandruff treatments are ways you can get rid of or control itching and flaking on your scalp. The first two to try are brushing your hair and using a dandruff shampoo.[3]

Brush your hair from your scalp down with steady, firm strokes. This carries the oil away from your scalp, where the buildup of it and skin cells can cause dandruff. Moving it along the hair strands helps keep your hair shiny and healthy. [3]

Shampoos for dandruff can be medicated (which requires a prescription to purchase) or available over the counter. Usually, this means that the amount the medication in medicated shampoos is just higher.

Typical ingredients include ketoconazole, selenium sulfide, coal tar, and zinc pyrithione. These ingredients usually loosen the dandruff flakes from the scalp or they fight the overgrowth of the Malassezia fungus, which may play a role in the development of the dandruff.[1]

Some specific products you may see on the shelves include:[1]

Head & Shoulders and Jason Dandruff Relief contain zinc pyrithione, which is antibacterial and antifungal. Dandruff is not caused by fungus, but these shampoos can help to slow the production of excess skin cells.
Neutrogena T/Gel is a tar-based shampoo. Coal can ease conditions from dandruff to psoriasis by slowing how quickly your scalp’s skin cells die and flake off. This type of shampoo can discolor hair, so be careful if you’re blonde or gray.
Neutrogena T/Sal has a dose of salicylic acid and may lessen the amount of scale you have. It can leave your scalp dry, however. If you find that your scalp is particularly dry, make sure you follow up with a moisturizing conditioner.
Selsun Blue has the power of selenium sulfide. It can slow your skin cells from dying and also reduce Malassezia. This type of shampoo may discolor lighter shades of hair.
Nizoral is a ketoconazole shampoo, meaning it contains a broad-spectrum antifungal. You can find this type of wash over the counter or by prescription.

Note: Coal tar shampoo can discolor light hair and make your scalp more sensitive to the sun. If you use it, make sure you take extra precautions when you’re exposed to sunlight.

You may need to switch between types of shampoos if one type controls the dandruff at first but later loses its effectiveness.

How to use dandruff shampoos?

When shampooing:[3]

Rub the shampoo into your scalp well.
Leave the shampoo on your head for 5 minutes, or as directed.
Rinse thoroughly. Any leftover shampoo may irritate your skin.

How often you should use dandruff shampoo can vary from daily to a couple of times a week:[3]

The best approach is to shampoo every day but use dandruff shampoo only twice a week. If that doesn’t get rid of it, you might try alternating shampoos that have different treatment ingredients.

Once your dandruff is under control, you may be able to use dandruff shampoo less often. [3]

If regular and proper use of OTC shampoo, for several weeks, does not alleviate dandruff, ask your dermatologist if you’d benefit from a prescription-strength antifungal shampoo like Loprox or Nizoral, or a topical corticosteroid lotion, such as Capex or Synalar (fluocinolone topical), Luxiq (betamethasone topical), or Clobex (clobetasol topical).

An alternative to corticosteroids for dandruff treatment is a class of drugs called calcineurin inhibitors. These, like Protopic (tacrolimus topical) and Elidel (pimecrolimus topical), work by helping to suppress the immune response.[2]

Home remedies to cure Dandruff:

Apple cider vigeger (ACV):

ACV is said to be one of the best natural remedies to treat severe dandruff. However, there is a prescribed way in which you need to prepare the paste. Here are some easy steps you need to know for preparing apple cider vinegar.

Preparation of ACV:

Add some apple cider vinegar to water (Equal parts) and keep it aside.
After washing your hair, apply the mix to your wet hair.
Gently massage your hair with the mix
Leave to dry for 15 minutes and then rinse it off.[4]

Coconut oil with lemon juice:

Coconut oil is said to keep your hair nourished and when this is mixed with little lemon juice, it can cure dandruff. This is also an easy home remedy to get rid of those tiny flakes.

Preparation of coconut oil with lemon juice:

Firstly you need to heat 2 tablespoons of coconut oil and mix it equally with some mixture of lemon juice.
Once this is done, you can apply this on your scalp and massage your hair gently with it.
After this is done, leave it for 20 minutes and then rinse it off with some shampoo.[4]

Curd:

Curd applied to your hair makes it very effective to treat dandruff. Following a home remedy at home to treat dandruff may be a tough task to do, especially curd makes it very messy.

Preparation of curd to cure dandruff:

At first, you need to apply little curd onto your hair including your scalp.
Let it dry for an hour or so.
Make sure you rinse it off in an hours time with some shampoo.[4]

Neem juice:

Neem is a very good cure for dandruff and this has been found in most shampoos as one of the main ingredients. The method of using neem juice on your hair doesn’t make it messy like curd being applied to your hair.

Preparation of Neem juice:

Firstly you need to crush some neem leaves till it forms a thick paste.
Next, you need to apply this paste onto your scalp and hair and let it dry for a minimum of 10 minutes.
Once this is done, you can wash it away with some water.[4]

Green tea:

Green tea contains a lot of antifungal properties and it is an antioxidant that can restore the health of your scalp. All you need to cure dandruff is by applying some cooled green tea on your scalp and you can witness the difference.

Preparation of Green tea:

Firstly you will require 2 green tea bags and some hot water as the major part of your ingredients.
Then you will have to put the green tea bag into the hot water for 20 minutes till the decoction dissolves in it and then allow it to cool.
Once it cools, you can apply the green tea onto your scalp and let it dry for 30 minutes.
After 30 minutes gently rinse your hair with water.[4]

Some day to day habits to cure Dandruff:

Getting rid of dandruff can be a burden, however, if you follow these simple steps on a day-to-day basis, you can prevent it from affecting you. Also, these simple steps are applicable to those suffering from the disease.

Use the right shampoo for your hair. Moreover, do not use this in excess.
Always keep your scalp clean. This means that you need to have a head shower every 3 days once.
There are many anti-dandruff shampoos out there in the market that will help you but make sure you try something that will work milder for you and this can be made possible only if you try out all and see which one suits you the best.
Use your own comb to brush your hair.
Make sure you take enough of rest before you get yourself working. Lack of sleep creates stress and this in return causes dandruff.
Make sure you always cover your hair while travelling.
Also, make sure that you use herbal products to cure dandruff. This is because harmful chemicals found in shampoos can also sometimes cause dandruff. [4]

Note: Do not comb your hair using others’ hairbrushes. Also, make sure you clean your hair once in two days. Regular cleaning of your hair will help prevent dandruff.

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