Most of us have to battle with a bit of dandruff occasionally, but for those of you with more severe cases, it can be quite distressing as well as embarrassing. Read on for information on what can cause it and, more importantly, how to get rid of dandruff.
It’s commonly assumed that dandruff is just dry skin on the scalp, but actually this is not the case, simply dry skin wouldn’t cause the flaking of dandruff. Dandruff is actually thought to be caused by either an excessively oily scalp, or by a fungus that thrives on the conditions of the scalp. The fungus occurs naturally in all of us, but can get a bit out of control in some cases! The fungus interferes with the normal skin shedding process, causing the clumping of skin cells as they’re shed.
So how do you get rid of dandruff?
If your dandruff is caused by excess oiliness, simple regular washing and massaging of the scalp can really help. The massaging action will help to loosen any build up of skin cells, and repeating this ensures any flakes are washed away. If your dandruff may be caused by a fungal infection, you’ll probably need a medicated shampoo, formulated with ingredients to fight the fungus and treat the symptoms. There are plenty of options available over the counter, but it’s a good idea to consult your doctor if you need to treat sever dandruff, so that any more serious causes can be ruled out.
Choosing the best anti dandruff shampoo
There are various medicated shampoos out there containing different ingredients to get rid of dandruff. They could contain active ingredients such as pyrithione zinc (PTZ) or selenium sulfide that actually work to treat the cause of dandruff.
They often contain anti-proliferative agents, that basically slow down the shedding of skin flakes. Coal tar is widely used in formulations that get rid of dandruff, and it’s one of the key ingredients in T Gel. They can also contain keratolytic agents that break down the bonds between skin cells, allowing them to shed separately rather than in clumps.
Preventing dandruff
A healthy diet is always a good place to start. Our bodies need vital nutrients to stay fit and healthy, and a good diet will help your body to stay in top condition to combat any fungal growth that could lead to dandruff. Regular washing with scalp massaging can help, as can reducing your use of styling products than can build up on the scalp.
Dandruff can be a real pain, but if you’re looking for how to get rid of dandruff, follow the tips above for prevention and treatment and you should be well on your way to healthy, flake-free hair.
Good Collection. Thanks for posting!!!
Would definitely try out and hope for better results..
I have a dandruff problem. So do you guys know any ways to first of all, get rid of the current dandruff. And secondly, do you guys know any ways to cure dandruff? Permanent cure would be good but a long lasting temporary cure is good too. And another requirement that I have is that the cures have to be natural: no chemicals or stuff. Thank you guys very much!
Hi Rachel, if you want a natural remedy then tea trea oil has anti -fungal properties that can help to fend off dandruff if you massage it into the scalp. Sage, lemon juice and coconut oil are often recommended for the same reason.
Rinsing with apple cider vinegar is also meant to help, as it balances the pH of the skin. It depends on the cause of your dandruff as to the best ingredients to use to fight it off, and thorough washing to loosen the flakes can help to get rid of the dandruff once you’ve sorted to source of the problem.