Looking for a Dandruff Cure?
Anyone who has had to live with the itchiness and frustration of dandruff have probably spent countless hours searching for a dandruff cure that really works. Everyone’s scalp goes through the process of forcing dead skin cells upwards and shedding this layer about once every month. Sometimes, however, the scalp can force the replace skin cells at an accelerated rate, resulting in nearly continuous shedding of skin cells. This is known as dandruff.
What are the symptoms of dandruff?
Although people on the outside of the dandruff circle think that scalp flakes are the only symptom of dandruff, but this is a serious understatement. While the occurrence of white flakes is undoubtedly the most noticeable indicator of this condition, there are several other symptoms that accompany it. The scalp, roots of the hair, and flakes themselves can be quite oily. The scalp often feels stretched and itchy, as well as sore if one gives into the temptation to scratch! Sores and bleeding can occur is excessive scratching takes place. Red, scaly patches may also develop on the skin in certain individuals.
What are some of the causes of dandruff?
The best way to fining a dandruff cure is to learn more about the causes behind the condition, right? There are actually a few different causes behind this annoying condition. One common cause of dandruff is the overabundance of yeast on the scalp. People who are sensitive to yeast may experience periodical bouts of dandruff, when yeasts that are naturally present on the scalp grow in number. Generally, these people experience a general relief from dandruff in the summer months but put up a real fight against it in the winter, when yeast is more likely to grow. That being said, many of us experience dry skin during the winter, which can also cause drying and flaking of the skin. People who are naturally prone to dry skin are at a greater risk of developing dandruff, however the flakes will generally be dry rather than oily.
A skin disorder called seborrheic dermatitis also predisposes one to rather nasty occurrences of dandruff. Seborrheic dermatitis is a condition in which one’s skin is overly oily, often irritated or red, and flaky. Those who suffer from this condition often experience these symptoms on other areas of the face and head. Someone with this condition is more likely to experience the red, irritating, and greasy form of dandruff.
Failure to brush and shampoo often enough can also contribute to the development of dandruff. The actions of brushing and shampooing help the hair follicles to dislodge and release the scaly buildup of skin cells. If this is not done often enough then the roots of the hair can clump together, similar to the way hair does when it becomes very oily, due to the surrounding buildup.
What is the best dandruff cure?
Because there is more than one cause behind this condition, logic tells us that there simply isn’t one end-all beat-all cure. If that were so, there wouldn’t be so many anti-dandruff treatments on the market. The first step is finding out the cause of the dandruff and working from there. If the dandruff is thought to be caused by dry skin, then a deep-conditioning treatment such as a hair masque or hot oil may provide relief. If seborrheic dermatitis is suspected—which can be confirmed by a doctor—then unfortunately the treatments are quite limited and not always effective. Seborrheic dermatitis is not curable, it can merely be soothed and treated using medicated shampoos. Shampoos containing selenium sulfide and scalp scrubs containing salicylic acid work well to combat the excessive oil production that this condition can cause. In severe cases, a doctor or dermatologist may be able to prescribe a stronger, medicated shampoo to ease the symptoms of redness, itchiness, and oiliness.
If yeast sensitivity is suspected, shampoos containing zinc pyrithione, ketoconazole, and tea tree oil are extremely useful. Each of these ingredients contains anti-fungal properties that help to hinder the growth of yeast. If shampoos are used to treat the condition, they should be used on a daily basis until the condition clears us. Dandruff may reoccur, and if so the shampoo treatment should be used again until it clears up. Some have to stick to a strict medicated shampoo-only routine in order to keep their dandruff under control.
If dandruff has resulted simply as a side effect of not washing or brushing the hair often enough, then the simplest solution would be to reevaluate one’s grooming routine. It is worth bearing mind that the use of gels, hairsprays, and other leave-in hair products can worsen or outright cause dandruff to occur. Washing the hair of these chemicals every night before bed should show a drastic improvement of the condition.