30 Jun Dealing with Dandruff – What It Is and How to Treat It
Dealing with dandruff can be frustrating and disheartening to people who suffer from it regularly, but even those who suffer occasional bouts of dandruff may experiences similar embarrassment or social discomfort felt by chronic sufferers. Thankfully, there are treatments for both groups.
As with any problem in life, a little education and awareness goes a long way to helping you find a solution. This post provides a definition of dandruff, explains what dandruff is and what causes it, and provides possible solutions for reducing the number of occurrences or severity of occurrences.
What is Dandruff?
“Dandruff” is the presence of white flakes of dead skin cells that you may see in your hair or on your shoulders. If you’re wearing dark clothing, the flakes are more noticeable and can cause sufferers embarrassment or social anxiety. Itchy skin is another common symptom of dandruff. The most important thing to understand is that dandruff is not a hair problem, nor is it a hygiene problem; it’s a skin condition that usually effects the scalp but may also affect the skin beneath eyebrows and beards.
According to Mayo Clinic and WebMD, there are several causes of dandruff, including:
- Dry skin
- Oily skin
- Sensitivity to the ingredients of some shampoos and hair care products
- Underlying skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, or seborrheic dermatitis
There are many treatments for dandruff and which one will be effective depends on the cause. Usually, dandruff doesn’t require medical treatment, but regardless of the type of dandruff you suffer, always discuss a dandruff problem with a family doctor or dermatologist before trying a treatment. While consulting a doctor may seem extreme or unnecessary, knowing the cause can help find the most effective and appropriate treatment; otherwise, you’re only guessing and may get no relief or even make the problem worse.
The Surface “Awaken” product line improves many hair and scalp conditions including dandruff, psoriasis, itchy or oily scalp. From Hair On salon in Port Moody carries Awaken and other Surface Hair Health Art natural hair care products. Contact us to check availability.
Different Treatments for Different Dandruffs
If you have dandruff and itching but don’t notice any other scalp issues (like dry, cracked skin or a build-up of waxy, scaly skin), you may be shampooing too often or with a product containing ingredients that irritate your scalp.
Possible solution: shampoo less frequently and rinse thoroughly after shampooing. Try products that contain natural and/or organic ingredients, such as Awaken Therapeutic shampoo, conditioner, and treatment from Surface Hair Health Art (a Canadian hair care company). From Hair On Salon in Port Moody sells Surface products, so you can visit our salon to buy them, or purchase Surface products the next time you come in for a hair cut or hair style.
If you have dandruff and your scalp or skin beneath the eyebrows or beard looks reddish, irritated or scaly, you may have eczema or psoriasis.
Possible solution: make an appointment with your doctor and get a referral to a dermatologist for a diagnosis. Ask your doctor or dermatologist if a medicated shampoo (formulated to treat eczema or psoriasis) or natural hair care products would be beneficial.
If you have dandruff and your scalp or skin beneath the eyebrows or beard appears irritated (pinkish or reddish) and has a waxy build-up of flakes, you may have seborrheic dermatitis.
Possible solution: make an appointment with your doctor and get a referral to a dermatologist for a diagnosis. Ask your doctor or dermatologist if a medicated shampoo (formulated to treat seborrheic dermatitis) or natural hair care products would be beneficial.