By Lisa Cairo
Hair dandruff has always managed to derail good hair days; you have to constantly look over your shoulder and rein in the urge to itch your scalp before you finally give in. The oily, yellowish flakes remain stubbornly stuck to your scalp and hair strands, and you need something powerful yet gentle to remove dandruff from your hair. While dandruff is not a contagious or serious health concern, understanding the reasons for dandruff can help you seek the right treatment. Also, while dealing with dandruff, you need to be careful with your scalp and hair or else you would end up aggravating the condition. So, let’s look at what causes dandruff and explore a list of dos and don’ts for when you are dealing with dandruff.
What causes hair dandruff?
Here’s a quick science lesson that can help you understand dandruff better: a microbe called Malassezia globose lives on the scalp and feeds off the sebum that your scalp produces. While this process is quite normal, the sebum is broken down into oleic acid, which is the primary cause of dandruff. More than half the population is allergic to oleic acid, and the body reacts to it by signalling your scalp to shed the irritant. This results in the excessive shedding of skin cells, which we all know as dandruff.
Now that you are aware of what dandruff is and how’s it caused, let’s look at some of the essential haircare practices that you should follow, and steer clear of the ones you need to avoid.
Dos of haircare when you have dandruff
- Use an anti-dandruff shampoo: This is the cardinal rule when it comes to treating dandruff- always use an anti-dandruff shampoo! Such shampoos are specially formulated to deal with dandruff and give you flake-free hair. Try Head & Shoulders anti-dandruff shampoos that are specially formulated with zinc pyrithione, which fights off dandruff, reduces flakes, and even heals your scalp.
- Wash your hair often: Most of the time, dandruff occurs because your scalp isn’t clean enough. This happens especially if you have an oily scalp. If you don’t wash your hair, the sebum remains on your scalp. This means that there’s more for the microbe to feed on. And, this sets the dandruff cycle in motion. So, ensure that you wash your hair often and properly.
- Follow a good diet: Your diet has a major role to play when it comes to keeping dandruff at bay. Avoid processed food, sodas, alcohol, and fried foods if you have dandruff. Also, drink lots of water to keep your body hydrated.
Don’ts of haircare when you have dandruff
- Don’t scratch your scalp
As tempting as it is to finally give in to the urge to itch, resist it. The scalp can get extremely itchy and when you scratch it, the momentary relief can cost you a great deal. It can hurt your scalp and aggravate inflammation.
- Don’t go out in the sun too often
The harsh sun rays can affect your scalp just like it affects the skin on the rest of the body. If you have dandruff, exposing your scalp directly to the sun can dry out your skin and hair. So, if you have to go out, ensure that you wear a hat.
- Don’t overuse styling products
Styling products give you the desired hairstyle, but they can irritate your scalp. If you are prone to dandruff, it’s advisable to stay away from your styling products for a while.
Ensure that you stick to the list of dos and don’ts and take care of your hair and scalp while dealing with dandruff.
