How often should you wash your hair if you have dandruff? Hair dandruff can be an embarrassing issue that can cause problems with your self-esteem or social life. The unsightly flaking and shedding can also make your hair look dull, oily, and unkempt.
The average person has probably dealt with a mild form of dandruff at some point in their life, but an excess amount of shedding is sometimes a sign of a more serious problem that leads to questions such as how often you should wash your hair if you have dandruff.
Luckily, it has never been easier for you to do at-home treatments for hair dandruff issues. By utilizing products from your local beauty store, you can treat most cases of dandruff, from milder conditions to more severe ones.
Why You are Having Issues with Dandruff
Dandruff is defined as the shedding of dead skin cells from the scalp. As mentioned, some dead skin is perfectly normal, but an excessive amount of flaking can be caused by both genetic and environmental factors. The first step in treating your dandruff is identifying the causes so that you can select the best treatment.
Dry Scalp
Your scalp can become dry for a number of reasons. Our skin typically dries out in the colder months, but a dry scalp can also be triggered by a product that is overly abrasive on the scalp, or from a buildup of multiple hair products.
For dry scalp, try a shampoo that uses some type of essential oils, such as tea tree oil or almond oil. Avoid purchasing hair products that have Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, a very heavy sulfate used in laundry detergents and cleaning products. These types of shampoos often do more harm than good for you.
Seborrheic Dermatitis
Seborrheic dermatitis is a condition that causes a dry, scaly rash on the scalp. Although the exact causes of it are unknown, some flare-ups may be caused by immense heat or cold, stress, or a buildup of oils on the scalp.
Most treatments for this type of dermatitis utilize a chemical called Corticosteroid, which is used in things like creams or ointments to help with inflammation. To avoid oily buildup, purchase shampoos that use ingredients like Argon Oil, Peppermint, and Aloe Vera.
Yeast-like Fungus
Hair dandruff can sometimes be caused by an overproduction of yeast in the body and scalp. There are a number of anti-fungal shampoos that use ketoconazole, selenium, and zinc pyrithione to fight infections. While you are treating this type of hair dandruff, you should try to avoid chemical treatments like coloring or keratin treatments.
Psoriasis
Psoriasis causes a rapid build-up of skin cells and forms dry, scaly rashes on the scalp. While there is no cure, you can reduce scaling by using products that give you increased doses of Vitamin D.
Using topical treatments that contain coal tar or Salicylic acid are also immensely useful in treating psoriasis. You may have only seen psoriasis on people’s arms or legs but it is also known to appear on the scalp. While there is no cure, there are many new break-throughs medically that your physician will be able to advise you on as well.
Care Don’t Despair
Whatever the reason you are experiencing dandruff, don’t despair! There are a variety of products created for dandruff care.
From antifungals to essential oil treatments to anti-inflammatory products that can enable you to be back on the road to regaining luscious, healthy hair in no time! Do a bit of research or read the descriptions of various dandruff treatments that you find in order to best relate your condition with the dandruff removal product you want to try.
