How to Get Rid of Dandruff
It's not uncommon. It happens to a lot of people. It's not as disgusting as it's made out to be and it can happen to anyone. What are we talking about? Dandruff, of course.
Just about everybody flinches at the thought of dandruff. It is one of the many natural human 'ailments', which gets stigmatised heavily, much like body odour or sweat. We're all susceptible to these things, and showcasing the symptoms of one or all of them doesn't represent severe health, lifestyle or body problems, so there's no reason for panic. But, that doesn't mean that we should be fine with it and stop fighting it either. So, lets begin by getting to know our enemy, and than we can declare a war and win it, with the solutions presented below.
What is dandruff?
All of our skin constantly renews itself and dead cells shed daily, in almost microscopic particles. Dandruff is simply flakes of dead skin from our scalp, which is a by-product of the perfectly normal and natural process of skin renewal. When dandruff occurs, it is because this process has been sped up in some way, which causes a greater amount of older skin to flake off here and there.
Types of dandruff
Depending on the type of skin on the scalp, dandruff can be divided into two types: dry or oily.
Dry dandruff falls very quickly and can be seen as small white flakes on the hair roots, around the forehead and on the back of the head. It can also be noticed on the shoulders, especially if you wear darker clothes. This type of dandruff is easily cured and prevented with a suitable treatment.
If dandruff clings to the scalp, if the flakes are bigger and the skin on your scalp itches, then you have oily dandruff. Avoid scratching and scrubbing the scalp to prevent further damage to the skin. This type of dandruff is much harder to get rid of, it sticks close to the skin, thus closing the pores and it may cause hair fall. The only consolation is the fact that it won't show as much and won't fall over your shoulders, because of the oil.
What causes dandruff?
There are many internal and external factors that can cause dandruff. Here are the few most common:
Wrong hair care routine: hair care products that are too aggressive can irritate the skin on the scalp or cause the sebaceous glands to produce more sebum than usual leading to the appearance or increases of dandruff. On the other hand, if the hair care products are too mild and don't do their job properly, they can also be a cause for the appearance of dandruff. This particularly applies to shampoos that are too mild and fail to get rid of the dirt and dead cells effectively.
Hormonal disorders: puberty, a menstrual cycle irregularity or menopausal difficulties can stimulate the appearance of dandruff. Dandruff rarely appears with children, and it usually decreases at an older age.
Stress: The skin on the scalp is also susceptible to everyday stress, as the rest of our body. We already know that stress weakens the immune system, but it can also have a bad effect on the cell renewal process and create an environment for the appearance of dandruff. Have you noticed how dandruff "mysteriously" disappears when we are on vacation?
Other possible causes are: dry skin, unbalanced diet, dirt, irritation from too many styling products, etc.
Effective ways to get rid of dandruff
Now that we are more familiar with dandruff and its causes, we can easily get rid of it. Here are some of the best methods for getting rid of dandruff.
Wash your hair properly and regularly
This should be an obvious preliminary step, but often we neglect to take proper care of our hair. Not everyone has the same natural disposition; some of us can 'get by' for a day or two without washing, devoid of any noticeable dirtiness or greasiness to the hair. This could be for a number of reasons, but it's important to set aside some time to properly maintain our hair.
Before washing, dampen your hair considerably, in order not to apply too much shampoo. Then rub in the shampoo until it produces enough lather, rubbing from the back of the head upwards. Rinse properly and then repeat the procedure, this time leaving the product on your hair from 2 to 5 minutes. Finish off with a throughout rinsing. During shampooing, use the opportunity to massage the scalp properly, with gentle circular movements of your fingers against the skin, being careful not to scrape it.
By regularly washing and brushing your hair, you are cleansing the scalp of its dead skin therefore removing it before it can start to flake into your hair in public! Regular brushing has also been proven to supply the hair with natural protective and nourishing oils.
Don't wash too much, though
There's a flipside to this hair maintenance solution, though. Washing your hair every day (especially with special anti-dandruff products that contain harsh chemicals) can affect the quality of your hair and irritate, dry out and harm the scalp, which can cause even more dandruff.
The most you should wash your hair is three times a week, in order not to irritate the scalp. Look out for 'dandruff shampoos', specifically designed for getting rid of dandruff. They will not only wash the hair, but also remove the dead cells from the surface of the scalp and effectively get rid of the extra fungus.
Best Anti-Dandruff Shampoos
Here are some of the best anti-dandruff shampoos, we highly recommend, divided by hair type:
For Dry Hair
Maple Holistics Sage Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
Maple Holistics Sage Anti-Dandruff Shampoo is a natural shampoo made only with organic ingredients and completely paraben and sulfate free. With ingredients like Rosemary, Tea tree, Jojoba and Argan Oils and with anti-inflammatory and anti-septic properties it will moisturize and smooth the scalp, stimulate cell renewal, promote hair growth, enhance shine and reduce the shedding of dead skin cells. Everyone who tired it loved its effectiveness and its subtle, fresh scent. It is recommended to leave it on your head for a few minutes before you rinse it, in order for the ingredients to be absorbed and do their work.
For Greasy Hair
Therapro Mediceuticals Solv-X Oily Scalp and Hair Treatment Shampoo
If you have greasy hair affected with dandruff and the skin on your scalp itches from time to time or regularly, than Mediceuticals Solv-X Oily Scalp and Hair Treatment Shampoo is the perfect solution for you. It is antiallergenic and very gentle but it will completely remove any dirt and oil build up from the hair and scalp. With its anti inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal properties it will provide immediate results in terms of fresh, perfectly cleaned hair, calmed scalp and less dandruff and over time it will significantly reduce oil production on your scalp and help you get rid of dandruff completely.
For All Hair Types
Head & Shoulders Classic Clean Dandruff Shampoo
With regular use the Head & Shoulders Classic Clean Dandruff Shampoo is guaranteed to help you get rid of dandruff for good. Proof for this are all the satisfied consumers who love this product and buy it regularly. It is pH balanced and gentle enough to calm itchy scalp and relieve irritation, but it will also clean your hair and scalp very well leaving you with soft, dandruff free hair. For best results it is recommended to use it twice a week.
Try to relax and lower stress
This old chestnut, right? It seems there's no problem in the world that can't be solved by 'simply' lowering your stress levels. It's actually the flipside that's true; that stress causes an inordinate amount of problems in the world, of which dandruff can be one.
You want to get rid of dandruff? Try to relax, exercise regularly and tackle stress head on.
Try some of the natural remedies
There are a lot of alternative treatments for stubborn dandruff, that one can try – all of which are natural, so there's no real harm in giving it a whirl. Here are the ones we recommend:
- Baking Soda
Baking soda, when used over a long treatment schedule can reduce the itchiness and irritability of a dry scalp, which lowers the flakiness of the skin in the first place. Just rinse your hair, and apply a handful of the powder onto the problem area. Rinse with water only, no shampoo!
- Plain yoghurt
Plain yoghurt can combat a surplus of yeast in the scalp (one of the causes of stubborn dandruff), due to the bacteria contained in the yoghurt itself. This is a slightly longer treatment, requiring the product be left in for half an hour before rinsing it out.
- Lemon juice
Due to the acidity of lemons, the juice contained in the fruit can actually lower the pH level of the scalp, essentially lowering the chances of dandruff taking hold. Simply juice a lemon, and add around one tablespoon of the juice to one cup of water and rinse with this solution until you get rid of the dandruff complications.
Quick Tips to Get Rid of Dandruff
» Don’t let the dandruff spread. Act as soon as you notice the first flakes.
» If dandruff appears occasionally and in small amounts, alternate washing your hair with a regular and a special shampoo.
» While shampooing, massage your scalp gently with circular movements, without too much scrubbing.
» If you have a lot of dandruff, but it is periodical pick a special anti-dandruff shampoo for dry or oily hair, depending on your hair type. Wash your hair with it for at least two weeks, two to three times a week.
» If you have a lot of dandruff all the time, it is better to use a special anti-dandruff shampoo with permanent action. Combine it with a gel or a lotion, depending on whether you feel itching or not. Do this combined treatment twice a week, at least during a period of three weeks. After each treatment the skin on your scalp will be more balanced, and this is the state we need to keep. To prevent the dandruff from reoccurring, occasionally wash your hair with the special anti-dandruff shampoo that helped you get rid of it in the first place.
These are just a handful of the solutions, which could help you in your battle against dandruff – and what you may notice is that there are hundreds of different treatments. Why is that? Partly because it's a fairly simple condition to treat; but also because it's something which affects a lot of people, something that's not as disgusting as it's made out to be, and something which can happen to anyone.
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