Causes of dandruff and it’s treatment
Growing up as a teenager, I had dandruff, and I realized that dandruff is quite common hair problem, and hence when you go to any drugstore or any supermarket you will notice a whole load of shampoos that are meant for dandruff. But do you know that most antidandruff Shampoos don’t actually work as expected?
Well, today at Spheremedium we’ll be talking about the causes of dandruff and its treatment.
What is dandruff? It’s a scalp condition whereby it itches all the time and as you scratch, white, flakyskin cells fall over shirt.
Causes of dandruff
Oily scalp
Oily scalp is one of the major causes of dandruff. Oily scalp can be attributed to a few things like genetics, hormones whereby there’s an increase in DHT, dihydrotestosterone, the same hormone that causes acne formation, it also causes scalp to produce too much sebum, and oily skin gets irritated easily. Also, oily skin is a great medium for fungal infections to grow which can eventually lead to dandruff issues.
Dehydrated skin
Dehydrated skin is also one of the causes of dandruff, which is the total opposite of the first cause. When our scalp becomes too dry because of multiple reasons like hormonal changes, climate, or due to overuse of hair dryer anta very high, hot setting, then the scalp becomes too dry, and skin starts to flake off, and hence dandruff appears.
Wearing a cap for too long
Wearing caps, tight headwear, for long durations is also one of the causes of dandruff. So sweating in hot or humid weather under the cap or hijab, along with hair, creates an optimum environment for the dandruff.
Hair sensitivity
Hair sensitivity is also one of the causes of dandruff. Our scalp can be sensitive to a lot of different things like hair dyes, hair sprays, styling gels. So scalp can easily get irritated especially if someone has an underlying skin condition like atopic dermatitis or eczema, all this can lead to skin sensitivity and hence it can lead to dandruff issues.
Now when we’re talking about dandruff, there’s different types of dandruff and their are different types of scalp conditions that look like dandruff, so the two types of dandruff is
- 1. Dandruff due to fungal infection: caused by a fungus called Malassezia, characterized by whitish flakes generally appearing on clothes or desks, sometimes accompanied with some foul smell. This condition can be treated with antifungal creams or antifungal shampoos.
- 2. Due to seborrheic dermatitis: Seborrheic dermatitis, characterized by itching and bleeding caused by scratching, is very common scalp condition due to excessive sebum production with mild fungus infection caused by a fungus called Malassezia. It’s also commonly seen in babies known as cradle cap but for babies with cradle cap they do not require any sort of treatment, hydration works. However, adults require proper treatment.
Scalp conditions that look like dandruff:
There are certain scalp conditions that can easily be confused with dandruff
- Dry scalp: scalp is just dry and dehydrated, causing mild itching and white flakes, but the difference is there’s no foul smell, which is a hallmark of a fungal infection.
- Scalp psoriasis: There’s itching on the scalp, but with silvery patches along the hairline areas, that means around the location of the neck, between hairline and forehead and more often than not scalp psoriasis bleeds as you scratch.
Treatment of dandruff
Before starting any treatment, look for the causes of dandruff and then consider buying anti-dandruff shampoo containing selenium sulfide.
Selenium sulfide is an antifungal ingredient that can be found in over-the-counter anti-dandruff shampoos. It reduces the activity of the fungus however, antifungal or selenium sulfide can also help in reducing some sebum production, which is crucial for the fungal growth, so lesser sebum, lesser fungal growth.
One such anti-dandruff shampoo is Selsun Blue .This shampoo control the majority of the dandruff issues but on top of that it also contains menthol, which gives cooling sensation or cooling effect. It has a direct effect on the microcirculation on scalp which helps with wound healing from all the scratching.
How to use anti-dandruff shampoo
It depends on the severity of the condition; it can be used daily or on alternate days until the dandruff subsides. The more severe the dandruff, the more often you should use it but don’t use it for more than three times a week.
After wetting hair, leave it on your scalp roughly about four to five minutes, give time to the selenium sulfide, an anti-dandruff ingredient, to absorb into the top layer of scalp and then rinse it off. Remember if you’re washing your scalp at night then do not sleep with a damp scalp because that will then increase the chances of getting dandruff, so either air dry your hair or blow-dry it with cool air, not hot air.
And if you’re shampooing during the daytime before you wear your cap or your hijab; make sure your hair is not damp.
How quickly can you actually see results?
Generally, it takes around 14 days. It means that in just two weeks you should be able to notice that your scalp is less itchy, less irritated, and there’s less flakiness. Use the shampoo until the dandruff completely disappears and then you can stop the shampoo completely.
Remember this is a treatment shampoo and not to be confused with your regular shampoo.
Well, that’s all about causes of dandruff and its treatment. Let me know if you have ever used Selsun Blue shampoo in the past or what other antifungal shampoos have you used.
Frequently Asked Questions about causes of Dandruff
Is dandruff a disease?
No, it’s a type of skin condition but not a disease.
What to look for in an anti-dandruff shampoo?
Look for anti-dandruff shampoo with selenium sulfide.
How to use anti dandruff shampoo?
It depends on the severity of the condition; it can be used daily or on alternate days until the dandruff subsides.
What are the causes of dandruff?
The most common causes of dandruff are an oily scalp and wearing caps in hot and humid weather for too long.
I am a dentist, baker, and fitness and health enthusiast with a passion for living life to the fullest. I am foodie and explorer, always seeking new adventures and flavors. Currently working on my own skincare brand.
