New Health Guide
Those little white spots on your collar and shoulders could be dandruff, and it’s the fastest way to ruin your self-esteem and first impression. That itchy scalp is just the start – bad dandruff can lead to acne, too. Fortunately, simple remedies can help cure dandruff. Try these out, and if they don’t work within a few weeks, it’s time to consult your physician.
If you are suffering from eczema, psoriasis, oily skin, dry skin, or yeast-like fungus, that can cause dandruff. Not shampooing enough and using too many hair products, or being sensitive to them, can also cause the problem. Fortunately, there are plenty of lifestyle and home remedies that can help you overcome the problem with dandruff.
Stress can lead to serious problems with your health, including dandruff. If you are going through a really stressful time and you notice the white flakes, it’s time to try some stress management techniques.
Those who have an oily scalp might see more of a dandruff buildup. If that happens, shampoo more often to relieve the problem.
If you use a lot of styling products, they can build up on your scalp and make it oilier, which can then lead to dandruff. Sensitivity to the products can lead to irritation, and that can lead to the white flakes, too.
What you put into your body matters to your hair! Make sure to get plenty of zinc, vitamin B and healthy fats.
Sunlight has been shown to reduce or eliminate dandruff. But don’t get too much sun! Use sunscreen on your face and body, then take a walk in the sun to give your hair the help it needs.
If those home remedies don’t work, take it up a notch with these options:
This acidic juice can cut through dandruff while making your hair silky and smooth. Apply lemon juice to your scalp, leave it on for 15 minutes, then wash it away in the shower.
Vinegar works just as well as lemon juice. Blend vinegar with equal parts water, rinse your scalp with it, and leave it in overnight if you wish. Use a very mild shampoo to remove it.
It might seem icky, but it works! Beat two eggs thoroughly, then apply them to your scalp, massaging them in. Wash them away an hour later.
Almond oil or coconut oil are best, but olive oil will also work just fine. Warm up the oil, massage your scalp with it, and then leave it overnight. Wash it away in the morning.
Mix vinegar with oil of rosemary, or mix the rosemary with coconut oil. Leave the past on your hair for 20 minutes, then rinse.
Looking for more help? This video shows you more about deep treatment dandruff cures:
If home remedies don’t work, it might be time to try medicated shampoos. Most of these can be purchased over the counter, but you can also get treatments from your physician if your dandruff is very bad. According to WebMD and the Mayo Clinic, these shampoos might help:
These gentle shampoos, like Head & Shoulders and Selsun Blue for Itchy Scalp, contain zinc pyrithione, which help reduce the fungus on your scalp that can cause dandruff.
They are a bit harsher and are made with coal tar, a byproduct of coal manufacturing. They work by slowing down the dying and flaking of skin cells on your scalp. Common names include Denorex, Scytera and some Neutrogena solutions.
Products like ionil-T and T/Sal work as scalp scrubs. They might sometimes leave your skin dry, which can make dandruff worse, so using a good conditioner is essential.
They can slow the dying of skin cells, which can serve as a dandruff cure. However, they can lead to discoloration of blonde, gray or hair that has been colored, so use with caution! Common products under this name include Selsun Blue, Dandrex and some Head & Shoulders formulations.
This anti-fungal shampoo is available both over the counter and in stronger prescription strength. It tends to work when other, milder shampoos fail. Common names for this type of shampoo include Nizoral, Extina and Xolegel.
