Scalp dandruff is dry, flaky skin on the head. According to MayoClinic.com, this condition has a variety of causes, including dry, irritated or oily skin; skin conditions such as seborrheic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, eczema and psoriasis; excess malassezia fungus; and simply not shampooing enough.
Dandruff is quite common, affecting millions of people, though men are more likely to experience it, notes Penn State's Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. If dandruff is severe or accompanied by redness, irritation or other symptoms, see your doctor for medical examination.
Step 1
Shampoo your hair and scalp daily with a mild, non-medicated shampoo product. This is particularly important if you have oily hair, explains MayoClinic.com. This helps control oil and limit the buildup of dead skin cells, states the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, or PAMF.
Step 2
Use over-the-counter medicated shampoos designed to treat dandruff. There are several effective active ingredients for this purpose, but the success of any given ingredient varies among individuals. Zinc pyrithione, tar, selenium sulfide, salicylic acid and ketoconazole are ingredients recommended by MayoClinic.com, which also advises that shampoos containing tea tree oil can be beneficial.
Step 3
Massage shampoo into the scalp thoroughly. Wait five minutes before rinsing the shampoo out, suggests PAMF, giving the medication time to be absorbed. R. Jeffrey Herten, M.D., an assistant professor of dermatology at University of California, Irvine, California College of Medicine, even recommends shampooing twice.
Lather once at the beginning of your shower, let the shampoo stay in until you're almost done, then rinse and quickly re-wash your hair and scalp, he says.
Step 4
Make lifestyle changes to promote overall scalp health. A diet rich in zinc, omega-3 fatty acids and B vitamins can help control dandruff, according to Penn State, which also recommends limiting sugar and yeast intake. Get 15 to 30 minutes of direct sun exposure each day, as the ultraviolet radiation soothes scaling skin, says dermatologist Joseph F. Fowler, Jr., M.D.
Also, manage stress, which can be a significant trigger for dandruff and skin conditions, according to MayoClinic.com. Exercise, relax, practice yoga or deep breathing or find other methods that work for you.
Tips and Warnings
- Try different medicated shampoos until you find one that works well for you. Use it daily until your scalp dandruff is under control, then limit use to two or three times a week. Continue to shampoo daily, though, alternating with a non-medicated mild shampoo. If you seem to develop a tolerance to your medicated shampoo, switch to another, or alternate two types of medicated products.
- Hair-styling products, particularly alcohol-based varieties, can worsen dandruff, so are best avoided or used as sparingly as possible.
Things You'll Need
- Mild shampoo
- Medicated shampoo
