A scalp massage using a scalp shampoo can be very useful to get rid of dandruff or dead skin layer from your head. From a hygiene perspective, it also cleanses the scalp and nourishes the hair from root to tip.
Rub your scalp.
When you wash your hair, lather once, rinse, then lather a second time and rub your scalp vigorously as you shampoo. This will help dislodge excess skin cells. Be careful not to rub so hard that you damage your scalp.
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.
For mild dandruff, first try regular cleansing with a gentle shampoo to reduce oil and skin cell buildup. If that doesn't help, try a medicated dandruff shampoo. Some people can tolerate using a medicated shampoo two to three times a week, with regular shampooing on other days if needed.
If you have dandruff, it's generally advisable to brush your hair less than usual. Brushing can irritate the scalp and exacerbate flaking. Instead, focus on gentle scalp care. Here are some tips: Use a gentle brush: If you do brush, choose a soft-bristled brush to minimize irritation.
Massaging your scalp regularly can help in dandruff removal, relieve stress, and even treat alopecia. Pamper your hair and mind occasionally by massaging with anti-dandruff shampoo while taking a bath as it is a more effective way of enhancing and alleviating other scalp conditions as well.
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.
Head & Shoulders is highly effective at controlling dandruff flaking, as has been proven in hundreds of clinical studies.
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.
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.
Dandruff and head lice cause similar types of itching, but they are different conditions. Dandruff will appear as white or yellow flakes of dry skin. Lice eggs, also known as nits, look like tiny yellow or white eggs in the shape of a teardrop. Adult lice are darker in color and about the size of a sesame seed.
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.
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.
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.
In winter, our bodies face freezing temperatures and blasts of central heating. This fluctuation in temperatures dries out the scalp, leading to flaking. Don't forget, you could also suffer from flaking in the summer.
Because everything is happening on your scalp, your hair length won't affect whether you suffer from dandruff. (Balding parts of the scalp may experience less dandruff, though, because the environment is less suitable for Malassezia microbe; it thrives in warm, humid places).
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.
The first two to try are brushing your hair and using a dandruff shampoo. Brush your hair from your scalp down with steady, firm strokes. This carries the oil away from your scalp, where the buildup of it and skin cells can cause dandruff. Moving it along the hair strands helps keep your hair shiny and healthy.
Try not to scratch if flakes itch. You won't end the flaking and you may cause bleeding or hair loss, making the problem worse.
So that's that – as tempting as it might be to scrape your scalp until it's raw, just don't do it. If your dandruff's not that bad, treat it at home with a specialist shampoo (of which there are many). If it's so severe you want to scrape it all off for clicks, get yourself to a doctor post-haste.
Moreover, if you have an itchy scalp as a result of your dandruff then scratching could further damage the hair, causing split ends and breakage more easily. So if you have dandruff, while your hair may grow at the same rate, the hair that grows is likely to be less healthy and more prone to damage and breakage.
White Piedra. This is an infection of the hair shaft which is caused by a fungus variety known as Trichosporon, which is found in soil and dirty water. It is not considered to be wildly contagious but can spread within contaminated environments.