Hair Tips for Healthy, Beautiful Hair > Dandruff
How to Treat Dandruff
Dandruff is the most widespread problem of the scalp! It affects about 70% of the American population.
Dandruff is scaling of the scalp. It is made up of bits of dead skin that peel away from the scalp. There are two basic forms of dandruff.
1. Fine, white or grey scales which leave the scalp easily. This form is seen as dry white flakes that do not form a thick scale.
2. Greasy, yellow scales that tend to stick to the scalp where they build up and may form a thick covering. The flakes are yellow and soft to touch.
What Causes Dandruff?
Dandruff is NOT associated with inefficient hair care.
The cause of it is unknown. But there are some good and some less good assumptions to what causes dandruff.
There is an opinion that it is somehow caused by poorly functioning oil glands.
In some cases oil glands around the roots of the hair become hyperactive, causing excess oiliness. This is oily dandruff.
In other cases oil glands become plugged, resulting in dry flakes of dead skin. This is dry dandruff.
Other possible causes of dandruff include:
• Propagation of bacteria
• Fungus called P. Ovale
• Stress and nervousness
• Not using a good shampoo and conditioner
• Diet rich in animal fats
Dandruff treatment
To treat the problem successfully you need to:
• Clear the scalp of the dandruff scales
• Prevent the cells from growing too fast
• Control the level of bacteria on the scalp
How to Get Rid of Dandruff - Instructions
The best way to treat dandruff is to use anti dandruff shampoos. But be careful, many anti dandruff shampoos are extremely harsh and can make the problem worse.
Use a shampoo that contains coal tar or salicylic acid.
Tar help slow the production of skin cells. Salicylic acid help remove dead cells.
You may also consider using shampoos that contain sulfur, selenium sulfide, or pyrithione zinc.
Try to shampoo on a daily basis. Do it by thoroughly massaging the scalp so dead skin cells are removed. Also follow label directions.
However, if you suffer from dry scalps, daily shampooing can lead to eczema. In this case, shampoo once every three days.
If anti dandruff shampoo does not work after a while, it may be because the scalp has build up a resistance to that particular brand of shampoo. Try another one.
If dandruff is unaffected by shampoos, a skin specialist should be consulted.
Remember, whatever method of treatment you choose, it is important to be persistent. All methods of treatment take time.
