Dandruff is a particularly annoying skin condition because it's often very visible to other people. It causes skin on the scalp to flake and fall off. The light-colored flakes can be seen in your hair and on your shoulders, potentially causing embarrassment. Fortunately you can usually overcome dandruff with an at-home program.
Step 1
Purchase an over-the-counter dandruff shampoo with an effective active ingredient. MedlinePlus recommends products containing salicylic acid, zinc, coal tar, ketoconazole, resorcin, or selenium. They are readily available at pharmacies, grocery stores and department stores under various brands.
Step 2
Apply the shampoo and loosen flakes and scales by rubbing the scalp with your fingers. MedlinePlus advises scrubbing for at least five minutes to ensure you cover your entire scalp. The shampoo must remain on your hair for at least that long to give the ingredients time to work, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Step 3
Thoroughly rinse the medicated shampoo out of your hair. Rub your hair to make sure it does not foam, which indicates there is still some shampoo left.
Step 4
Repeat the shampoo process daily, recommends MedlinePlus. Overcoming dandruff requires a consistent effort. It thrives in oily hair so the problem will worsen if you skip a day of washing and let your hair get dirty.
Step 5
Switch to a shampoo with a different active ingredient if your current product seems to be losing its effectiveness. The Mayo Clinic advises alternating between two different shampoos if you have resistance problems.
Step 6
Cut your use of dandruff shampoo down to two or three days each week once the problem gets better, states the Mayo Clinic. Continue to shampoo daily with a regular product because dirty hair can bring on a return of the flakes.
Step 7
Apply smaller amounts of styling products or stop using them altogether. The Mayo Clinic explains that gel, mousse and hairspray can build up in your hair and on your scalp. This makes it oilier, leading to more dandruff.
Tips and Warnings
- Dandruff sometimes resists over-the-counter shampoos. MedlinePlus advises seeing your doctor for a stronger prescription product if your at-home treatment is not successful. See the doctor if your dandruff doesn't get better after several weeks of treatment or if you have inflamed patches on your scalp that get crusty, drain pus or fluid, or are very painful.
- MedLinePlus warns that it's difficult to eradicate dandruff completely. It may respond to treatment, go into an inactive period, then flare up again many weeks or months later. Be alert for signs that it is returning so you can start using dandruff-fighting shampoo again.
Things You'll Need
- Dandruff shampoo
