Do your best to resist the urge to touch your scalp, especially if it's already itchy. Scratching can increase irritation and lead to a vicious cycle. When you touch and scratch, you can also introduce dirt into the mix that can make dandruff worse.
Although having dandruff can be embarrassing, it's harmless. It doesn't mean that you're not clean. It's not contagious: You can't catch it or pass it along to someone else. Dandruff doesn't directly cause hair loss, but scratching your scalp a lot could cause temporary hair loss.
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.
Is It Good To Comb Out Dandruff? Yes. It is a good practice to comb out dandruff regularly. It helps unclog the hair follicles and prevent long-term buildup that can harbor more bacteria.
Constant scratching can lead to wounds and scabs, further damaging your scalp. The scalp can also become dry as the outer layer of skin becomes weak and lacks moisture. Scratching leaves your hair weak and your scalp vulnerable.
When you touch and scratch, you can also introduce dirt into the mix that can make dandruff worse. Find the right shampooing balance for your scalp. Shampoo often enough to keep oils at bay, but don't use too many products in your hair as that can irritate the scalp.
The simple answer is that wet hair does not cause dandruff – but that doesn't mean it's good to leave your hair wet. Dandruff is caused by a microbe that's always present on your scalp whether your hair is wet or dry.
Dandruff flakes are actually dead skin cells that naturally fall off the scalp — more so if you scratch. Many people think that a dry scalp is synonymous with dandruff, but either a dry scalp or an overly oily scalp can cause excess cells to clump and fall off, forming dandruff flakes.
Hair washing method is important in treating dandruff. Lather the hair twice and on the second lather, leave the shampoo on the hair for five minutes (or as directed on the shampoo label) before rinsing to give the medicine time to work properly.
In fact, the most effective way to treat most dandruff is to use an over-the-counter shampoo, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) explains. You should shampoo your hair daily and swap in the anti-dandruff shampoo twice a week. If you have natural hair, you only need to use the anti-dandruff shampoo once a week.
Almost anyone can have dandruff, but certain factors can make you more susceptible: Age. Dandruff usually begins in young adulthood and continues through middle age. That doesn't mean older adults don't get dandruff.
You should wash your hair more often.
Dandruff poses the opposite problem. “Not shampooing enough will only make your dandruff worse — it causes more oil and dead skin cells to accumulate on your scalp, which the yeast and fungi just continue to feed on,” warns Beverly Hills dermatologist Stuart H.
The scalp, like the rest of the skin, sheds dead skin cells. Dandruff occurs when this process speeds up. Dandruff flakes are actually dead skin cells. The faster the scalp sheds dead skin, the worse dandruff becomes.
When your dandruff improves, it's OK to use dandruff shampoo less often. Once a week might be enough to keep flakes off your shoulders. If dandruff doesn't get better after 4–6 weeks, try another shampoo with a different active ingredient. Talk to the pharmacist if you have any questions about dandruff shampoos.
A fairly common condition called seborrheic dermatitis is the cause of many dandruff cases. It's characterized by patches of red and oily skin that leave yellowish flakes on the scalp. These flakes are often larger than the dandruff flakes that can arise from dry skin.
Dandruff results from the abnormal proliferation of a micro-organism from the Malassezia family, which is a yeast. This phenomenon causes skin cells in the epidermis to renew much too quickly. They appear in clumps on your scalp, forming large dandruff or patches that fall off or become sticky.
If your dandruff isn't going away with treatment, or you have scalp problems such as redness, pain, crusting, or pus, call your doctor. You can't cure dandruff, but by finding the right treatment for your case, you can control it and live pretty much flake-free.
Dandruff is a common condition that affects the scalp. It causes the skin of the scalp to become itchy followed by flakes of dead skin. It typically starts around puberty and starts to subside around the age of 50, according to the Journal of Clinical and Investigative Dermatology.
Though sleeping with wet hair won't give you a cold, Dr. Shah says that it does increase your risk of developing a fungal infection of the scalp. Fungi, such as Malassezia, can lead to conditions like dandruff or dermatitis, according to Shah, who recommends going to sleep with dry hair when possible.
Amongst the many myths that persist around hair washing, the most common one is that over-shampooing leads to hair fall. In reality, it is not the practice of washing your hair, but the chemical-based shampoo you use that may make your hair dry and brittle, eventually leading to hair fall.
“Dry scalp is really common” among bald people, says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Samer Jaber, who adds that dandruff is too.
Dandruff looks like white or yellow flakes of dry skin. It is usually bigger than lice and their eggs, and may appear greasy.
Hot water can give you dandruff. Dry scalp is one of the prime reasons behind dandruff and itchiness. Given that hot water can leave your scalp extremely dry, it can also lead to increased itchiness and dandruff issues.
Location: Lice lay eggs called nits while dandruff causes flaky skin. The two look similar, but close inspection reveals key differences. Nits stick to the hair while dandruff flakes, easily falling off of hair. While dandruff is visible on the scalp, lice lay eggs on hair, not the scalp.
Common signs and symptoms of lice include: Intense itching on the scalp, body or in the genital area. Tickling feeling from movement of hair. Lice on your scalp, body, clothing, or pubic or other body hair.