Greasy dandruff or seborrhoeic dermatitis occurs when oily and yellow flakes or scales form on your scalp and stick to your head and hair. Dry dandruff occurs when dry, white and loose flakes or scales form on your scalp and fall from your head and hair.
While dandruff typically results in large, oily flakes that are white or yellow, a dry scalp produces smaller, dry flakes that signal a lack of moisture.
Now this is completely normal. But when your scalp has excess oil, it provides fertile ground for this fungus to explode. This leads to red patchy skin, severe itching, and dead skin in the form of flakes. This is what we know as dandruff.
Dry skin dandruff types will typically have small, white dandruff that flakes off easily. Conversely, oily skin dandruff types will have a greater buildup of sebum that clumps dandruff flakes together on the scalp and hair. These scales are often larger and yellowish in colour.
Let your hair air-dry, and try not to apply any leave-in products. The next day, observe your scalp and roots. If they're noticeably greasy-looking, chances are good your scalp is on the oilier side. If your scalp feels tight or itchy, you likely have a dry scalp.
Dandruff may have several causes, including: Irritated, oily skin. Dry skin. A yeastlike fungus (malassezia) that feeds on oils on the scalps of most adults.
If you have fine or naturally straight hair, or an oily scalp, wash your hair often. For example, you may need to shampoo daily and use your dandruff shampoo twice a week. If you have coarse or naturally curly or coily hair, wash your hair when needed, and use your dandruff shampoo about once a week, if tolerated.
When you scrap away the skin on your scalp, you risk exposing it to infection and making your dandruff worse. If you feel the urge to scratch, use your time to the shower to gently massage your scalp instead. This will give you some relief and not disturb your scalp as much.
However, due to the natural structure of waves, curls, and coils, textured hair types are more prone to experiencing dryness and dandruff.
Flakes are dead skin cells which are starting to shed, and you'll find them in both skin conditions. Dry scalp flakes are generally smaller and white in colour. Dandruff has larger oily flakes which are white yellow in colour. Dandruff flakes will clump together and attach to your oily hair.
If your hair naturally produces a lot of oil, then you might find you need to wash your hair every day. However, this isn't the case for most people, who should only need to wash their hair every 2 – 3 days - depending on the different factors listed below.
Sometimes, what seems to be dandruff might indicate another underlying skin condition, such as seborrheic dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, or fungal infection. A person should seek medical treatment for dandruff if symptoms are severe or do not resolve with over-the-counter (OTC) shampoos and ointments.
Neem – This wonder from nature has been used for decades as a remedy for oily and itchy scalps. Its anti-bacterial and moisturising properties make it one of the best cures for your oily scalp. You can boil Neem and apply it on your head after shampooing.
Dandruff Treatment Options
Regular washing to remove product buildup, excess oils and skin cells, prevent the overgrowth of the Malassezia and balance the scalp's microbiome is a must.
Does Hot Water Cause Dandruff? Hot water itself doesn't cause dandruff, but it can strip the scalp of its natural oils, leading to dryness and potentially worsening dandruff symptoms. It's advisable to use lukewarm water when washing your hair to prevent excessive drying of the scalp.
You might clear out some of the flakes which are on top and displace some of the dead skin cells. But unless you attack the underlying cause of dandruff, your body will just keep creating more flakes. So you're going to keep using a dandruff removal comb, and never actually remove dandruff from your life.
Have you ever scratched your scalp and noticed white, waxy buildup under your nails? That's sebum mixed with dead skin cells. It's hard for shampoo alone to wash away your oily scalp issues. And issues like stress and weather can increase the scalp's sebum production, making you even oilier.
While hot water may feel great, it's going to strip the natural moisture. So, if you are among those who have 'How to reduce dandruff and hair fall home remedies' in your Google history, you might want to set the ideal bathing water temperature just slightly higher than your body temperature at about 40° C or 100° F.
As uncomfortable as washing with cold water can be, surprisingly there are some benefits for your scalp health. Coldwater can actually help to preserve the hairs natural oils, as well as closing the hair cuticles which helps your hair to stay smooth, silky & frizz-free!
If you're prone to dandruff, make sure to use an anti-dandruff conditioner as the final step in your wash routine. While products won't cause dandruff itself, they could make some scalp conditions worse. So try a few products out to see which ones work best for you.
Dandruff is not caused by poor hygiene, although it may be more obvious if you do not wash your hair regularly. Stress and cold weather may also make dandruff worse.