The oil in your hair is known to attract more dirt and get mixed with the existing dandruff to cause itchiness. But not oiling the hair can leave your scalp dry. The idea is to find a middleground, according to hair care experts. Oil your hair once every week and wash off with a gentle shampoo after a few minutes.
Additionally, the oil mixes with the dead skin cells and debris, making your scalp very itchy. However, if you are wondering, “Is oil bad for dandruff?”. The answer is a simple no. All you need to do is oil your scalp a few times a week only.
It is generally recommended to apply oil on scalp once a week, preferably 2-3 days before washing your hair. This would allow the time for the scalp to absorb the natural oils and benefit from their nourishing properties.
Dry scalp and dandruff can both cause an itchy, flaky scalp. This can sometimes make it hard to tell the difference. However, excess oil causes dandruff, and loss of moisture causes dry scalp. When you have too much oil on your scalp, your skin cells can build up.
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.
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.
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.
Over-oiling can lead to an excessively greasy scalp, which can attract dirt and exacerbate hair fall. Normal hair: If your hair is neither too dry nor too oily, oiling 1-2 times a week is a good balance. This frequency will help maintain healthy moisture levels without making your scalp greasy.
While leaving oil on your hair may seem beneficial, prolonged exposure can have adverse effects. If hair growth oil is left on for extended periods, it can attract dirt, clog pores, and lead to dandruff and itching. Over-saturation may also weaken hair strands, making them prone to breakage.
Using too much oil on your scalp can lead to an increase in oil build up, which is one of the causes of dandruff. It can trap dirt and microbes that can cause inflammation and increase itching. You might just end up making your condition worse.
Head & Shoulders is one of the best anti-dandruff shampoos you could use as it works wonders in removing dandruff in just one wash and prevents it from coming back too. We recommend Head and Shoulders Silky Black Shampoo which helps in fighting dry scalp and dandruff and re- moisturizes the hair.
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.
Dandruff is typically characterized by large, oily flakes that are white or yellow and tend to stick to your hair or scalp. These flakes are often accompanied by a oily scalp, persistent itching, and sometimes redness. In more severe cases, scaly patches may appear.
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.
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.
Use a humidifier to help keep your scalp moisturized. 5. Keep it cool: very hot shower water can strip moisture from your skin, so turn the temperature down. 38 degrees (body temperature) is perfect.
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.
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.
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.