How To Get Rid Of Dandruff: Sometimes, washing your hair is not enough to fight dandruff.
Experts say there are various reasons for scalp flaking, and not everyone can get rid of it using just the standard anti-dandruff shampoos available in the market.
Alexia Donovan, customer service manager at Barber Surgeons Guild, a hair restoration and grooming salon with branches in New York City and Los Angeles, has been helping clients address dandruff and improve scalp health for 14 years.
How To Get Rid Of Dandruff, Donovan says there are several factors that contribute to dandruff, with dry skin, psoriasis, oily scalp, and fungi being some of the most common causes.
What Is Dandruff?
How To Get Rid Of Dandruff, According to the National Institutes of Health, dandruff, also known as Pityriasis capitis, is a non-inflammatory skin condition that leads to flaking of the scalp.
Donovan explains that while winter can cause dry skin and dandruff, “summer dandruff” can occur due to sweat, dirt, humidity, chemicals in pool water, or exposure to sunlight.
How To Get Rid Of Dandruff, For those who have chronic dandruff, Donovan recommends shampoos containing zinc, selenium sulfide, or ketoconazole, which are often found in commercial anti-dandruff shampoos. However, she emphasizes that these individuals should visit a doctor to get a prescription treatment.
For people with mild dandruff, Donovan does not consider medical intervention necessary. Instead, she suggests washing hair with a gentle, high-quality shampoo to clean away heavy styling products. She also recommends brushing hair and scalp daily to minimize the accumulation of oil and dead skin between washes.
How To Get Rid Of Dandruff, Donovan adds that since sunburn on the scalp can resemble dandruff, those with exposed scalps should wear hats to prevent this condition.
Dr. Mariano Busso, a Miami-based dermatologist, believes that dandruff can be resolved when the scalp is regularly cleaned and moisturized. She advises her patients to use shampoos specifically designed for dandruff, which typically contain anti-fungal ingredients like pyrithione zinc, ketoconazole, and selenium sulfide.
Busso told Fox News Online that adding an anti-fungal shampoo to your hair care routine can help combat dandruff caused by excessive fungal growth. She also stressed the importance of thoroughly rinsing the scalp and hair while washing to ensure no residue is left behind.
How To Get Rid Of Dandruff, Busso also warned those looking to get rid of dandruff to minimize the use of heat tools and styling products, as these may exacerbate the condition.
Celestine Gitau, a trichologist (hair and scalp specialist), told Fox News that research shows about 50% of people experience dandruff at some point in their lives. She explains that dandruff is usually caused by the colonization of a yeast-like fungus called Malassezia globosa on the scalp.
According to her, Malassezia globosa feeds on sebum (skin oils) and breaks it down into oleic acid, which can irritate and cause itching in some people’s skin.
How To Get Rid Of Dandruff?
How To Get Rid Of Dandruff, She also mentioned that this irritation causes skin cells to shed faster than usual to get rid of the irritant. Gitau says the fungi responsible for dandruff thrive in warm and humid environments, worsening the condition. When humidity is high, sweat doesn’t evaporate quickly, which triggers the growth of Malassezia globosa and increases the likelihood of dandruff.
She also recommends shampoos with anti-fungal ingredients such as ketoconazole, zinc, tar, or salicylic acid.
How To Get Rid Of Dandruff, The American Academy of Dermatology recommends reading the instructions on the packaging of anti-dandruff shampoos, including how long to leave the product on the scalp. According to the Academy, while some products advise leaving the shampoo on the scalp for about five minutes, others do not.
How To Get Rid Of Dandruff, The Academy also notes that the texture and type of hair should be taken into account when treating dandruff.
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