Expert advice on how to deal with dandruff

A dry scalp is exactly that – dry skin that flakes off. Dandruff, however, is the excess production of skin cells that can be caused by an array of factors doctors don't fully understand, but one of them is a fungal infection of the scalp. Interestingly, most people have this fungus living on their scalps and don’t know it. It’s those who are sensitive to it that end up developing dandruff. 

Regardless of the reason, in most cases, a dandruff sufferer’s scalp will be too oily, not dry. 

Candice Donadal, a salon owner and hairstylist explains: "If you're suffering from dandruff, your scalp's skin cell production goes into overdrive, rising to the surface so quickly that they're still wet and chunky. In the case of normal shedding, the skin cells are flat and dry, so they just fall away, but because dandruff is somewhat wet it tends to cling to your hair."

How to treat dandruff at home

If you’ve got dandruff, you’ll be glad to know it’s easy to treat at home using a shampoo and conditioner specially formulated to remedy the condition. There are several actives ingredients including salicylic acid that can be included in a dandruff shampoo. Still, those proven to be the most effective are antifungals such as zinc pyrithione and ketoconazole as they treat the cause, not the symptoms. To give you an example, salicylic acid can dry up and exfoliate excess skin cells so they flake away easily, but zinc pyrithione does this too, while it’s antifungal properties work at getting rid of the fungus. 

“If you’re using an anti-dandruff shampoo, be careful not to scrub your scalp too much,” advises Dondadel. “Many dandruff sufferers feel the need to get seriously scrubby, but this can stimulate their scalp’s oil glands and cause even more oil production. It’s best to rather just create a little lather and then leave it on for a minute so it can do its work.”

Be careful with conditioner 

Due to the oily nature of dandruff, most sufferers won’t want to use a conditioner on their scalp, but if you do want to apply it to the hair around your crown, Donadel says it’s a good idea to use the partner to your dandruff shampoo. “This will also be medicated so make sure you apply it to your scalp.” This way, you won’t risk rinsing out the active ingredients in the shampoo and you can always apply a non-medicated conditioner to your hair’s lengths or ends should you wish.
 

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