Washing Hair 3 Times A Week Can Treat Dandruff That's because other shampoos and conditioners can remove the anti-dandruff actives left on your scalp, reducing their effectiveness.
If you have dandruff, you should wash your hair daily as much as possible and use a dandruff shampoo several times a week.
For very oily hair, washing every day or every other day is ideal to remove excess sebum and keep the scalp fresh. Use a gentle, sulfate-free shampoo to prevent over-drying, which can cause your scalp to produce even more oil.
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. If your hair and scalp is excessively oily and greasy, it is usually accompanied by oily scalp dandruff.
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.
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.
Unlike true dandruff flakes, however, the flakes associated with dry scalp tend to be smaller and whiter. Dandruff flakes are larger and may be yellow-tinged or look oily. While both dandruff and dry scalp tend to come and go, dandruff that is due to a fungal infection is unlikely to get better without treatment.
“There are too many variables to set one rule,” Jessica J. Krant, a cosmetic and medical dermatologist at the Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York said in an interview. “I believe hair can be washed anywhere from daily to once every two weeks, depending on hair and skin type, hairstyle and lifestyle.”
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.
Water can remove most visible dirt and debris, but might not eliminate odors or oily deposits. Shampoo helps water remove dirt, debris, and odors, such as smoke or sweat effectively. Shampoos can also remove oil.
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.
If a person has oily hair, they may want to wash it daily. If a person has chemically treated hair, they may want to wash it less often. If a person has textured or coily hair, they may want to wash it once a week, or every other week.
Moderation is key: Applying oil occasionally can benefit the scalp, but overdoing it can lead to buildup, making dandruff worse. It's crucial to find a balance and monitor how your scalp responds to oiling. Washing routine: Thorough cleansing: Ensuring that the oil is washed out thoroughly is essential.
Shampoos containing salicylic acid (Jason Dandruff Relief Treatment Shampoo, Baker P&S, others). These products help eliminate scaling. Selenium sulfide shampoos (Head & Shoulders Intensive, Selsun Blue, others). These contain an antifungal agent.
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.
Not only does your scalp have a plethora of sweat glands, but it also has an abundance of sebaceous (oil) glands, which produce oily sebum. Have you ever scratched your scalp and noticed white, waxy buildup under your nails? That's sebum mixed with dead skin cells.
It's not great to pick at your scalp, as it can cause irritation and even lead to infection. Dandruff itself isn't harmful, but it can be annoying and make your scalp itchy.
Get your hair a little damp, before applying anti-dandruff shampoo, get your hair a little wet with warm water, and then apply shampoo on your hair and massage it gently. Rinse your hair with cold water after applying the anti-dandruff shampoo on your hair, rinse it gently with cold water in a downward manner.
If you're experiencing scalp concerns like dandruff and itchiness, particularly with an oily scalp, it's important to dry your scalp and hair quickly to prevent fungal growth in humid environments. To achieve this, consider using a blow dryer with a low-temperature setting for optimal results.
The bottom line
Dandruff triggers include dry weather, stress, and hair products. But by far the most common trigger for dandruff is Malassezia overgrowth on the scalp. Most of the time, you can prevent dandruff with regular use of medicated shampoos and by avoiding triggers.
In fact, ordinary conditioners remove up to 70% of dandruff-fighting ingredients from your skin, leaving you much less protected in-between washes. That's why you should invest in a conditioner with an anti-dandruff ingredient.