While specially formulated shampoos with ingredients such as zinc pyrithione, coal tar, salicylic acid, selenium sulfide and others are a key way to control dandruff, they are certainly not the only way. Dandruff itself has a variety of causes, and they influence which treatments work best. As MayoClinic.com notes, your dandruff may result from dry skin, infrequent shampooing, certain types of dermatitis or eczema, psoriasis or an excess of the malassezia fungus that grows on everyone's scalp. Experiment with different remedies until you find those that prove effective for you.
Step 1
Discontinue use of scented and dyed hair care and hair styling products. Determine whether your dandruff is caused by contact dermatitis, a skin reaction to certain irritants, by noting whether this clears up your flaky scalp.
Step 2
Wash your hair and scalp every day with a standard shampoo. Massage your scalp thoroughly, while taking care not to scratch it, to loosen scales and flakes, advises Patricia Farris, M.D., of the Tulane University School of Medicine in "The Doctors Book of Home Remedies."
Step 3
Add finely ground oats or baking soda to bath water and soak your scalp to alleviate dryness and itchiness, recommends the Go Ask Alice! website of Columbia University.
Step 4
Eat fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C, as well as nuts, seeds or leafy greens rich in vitamin E, every day. Promote your scalp health with these nutrients, as the Great Ormond Street Hospital advises. Cut back on your consumption of sugary foods and yeast, and add proteins, whole grains, legumes and other vegetables rich in B vitamins and zinc as well, suggests the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center of Penn State University.
Step 5
Spend about 15 minutes in direct sunlight every day, recommends the University of Louisville's Joseph F. Fowler, Jr., M.D., in "The Doctors Book of Home Remedies." Limit your time in the sun and protect exposed skin with tight-knit clothing or sun block, as exposure to ultraviolet radiation increases the risk of developing skin cancer.
Step 6
Practice yoga, meditation or deep breathing to reduce stress, which is an important step in controlling dandruff and other skin conditions that may cause it. Begin an exercise regimen, listen to calming music, take up a relaxing hobby or find other ways to keep stress in check as well.
Things You'll Need
- Perfume and dye-free hair products
- Standard shampoo
- Colloidal oatmeal or baking soda
