Don't toss out all those dark
suits just yet. There's a better way to deal with dandruff. As a matter
of fact, you may be able simply to wash it away with our home remedies.
You may not realize it, but you
are constantly shedding dead skin cells from all over your body. It's
the skin's natural way to rejuvenate itself. In fact, you get a whole
new suit of skin about every 27 or 28 days. The old stuff just sort of
flakes away. You just don't tend to notice the tiny skin cells dropping
off your arms, your legs, and even your scalp.
Dandruff results from the same
shedding of skin cells. But if the shedding process is normal, what
happens to make dandruff so embarrassingly noticeable?
Scientists have discovered that
dandruff occurs when a yeast-like fungus called malassezia goes wild on
your scalp. The microscopic malassezia fungus, a normal inhabitant on a
healthy human head, feeds on the fatty oils secreted by hair follicles
in the scalp. But sometimes, for reasons that are as yet unclear, the
fungus grows out of control, causing irritation that actually speeds up
cell turnover on the scalp. As a result, the normal process of cell
turnover, which usually takes a month, may take less than two weeks when
out-of-control malassezia has irritated the scalp. So many dead cells
are shed at the same time that, when they mix with the oil from the hair
follicles, they tend to form greasy clumps big enough to be clearly
visible to the naked eye. The oil also makes the clumps more likely to
get stuck in your hair (and on your shoulders), rather than floating
quickly away.
By reading our home remedies, you'll find a helpful strategy to get rid of those unsightly flakes once and for all.
Shampoo Each Day to Keep It Away
Shampoo to get rid of excess oils.
Image Credit: Jeff Cadge/Photographer's Choice/Getty Images
What easier way to get rid of
dandruff than to wash it down the drain? Getting rid of excess oils
(which may contribute to the overgrowth of malassezia in the first
place) and flakes through daily shampooing may be the easiest way to
tame your mane.
Switch Shampoos
Looks for zinc pyrithione in anti-dandruff shampoo.
Image Credit: Creatas Images/Thinkstock
If your regular shampoo isn't
doing the trick, even with daily washing, it's time to switch to an
anti-dandruff shampoo. Check the ingredients in over-the-counter
dandruff shampoos, and look for one that contains zinc pyrithione, which
can reduce the fungus; selenium sulfide, which can limit cell turnover
and possibly even decrease the amount of fungus; salicylic acid, which
works as a sort of scrub to slough off dead skin; or ketoconazole, which
works against a broad array of fungi.
Go for Three
Mix up your brands.
Image Credit: Jupiterimages/Creatas/Thinkstock
Your favorite dandruff shampoo
may stop working after a while, and those little flakes may return.
Don't blame the shampoo. You simply may have built up a resistance to
its active ingredient. To prevent this, try rotating three brands of
dandruff shampoo (each with a different formulation), using each for a
month. In other words, use one shampoo for a month, then switch to a
second brand for a month, then to a third brand for a month, then back
to the original shampoo for a month, and so on.
Lather Twice
Lather up twice with your shampoo.
Image Credit: Jupiterimages/Pixland/Thinkstock
The first lathering and rinsing
gets rid of the loose flakes and the oily buildup on your hair and
scalp. It sort of clears the area so the second lathering can get to
work. Leave the second lathering of shampoo on your hair at least five
minutes before rinsing it off. That gives the shampoo a chance to
penetrate the skin cells and do what it's supposed to do.
If the anti-dandruff shampoos
aren't working, it's time to bring out the big guns, namely the tar
shampoos, which have been a proven remedy for more than 200 years. The
tar decreases cell turnover quite effectively, though there are some
drawbacks. Tar shampoos have a strong odor, may stain the shaft of
lighter-colored hair (it can take weeks of using a milder shampoo to get
rid of the discoloration), and may irritate the skin
If you decide to go with a tar
shampoo, rinse your hair with lemon juice, a conditioner, or creme rinse
to get rid of any lingering odor from the shampoo. Using a hair
conditioner after washing with any anti-dandruff shampoo is a good idea
anyway, because the medicated shampoos tend to stiffen hair and make it
less manageable. Many of them also dry the scalp, which can add to
flaking; a conditioner can help seal in nourishing moisture.
There are some people who just
shouldn't use a tar shampoo. Why? Because they're so sensitive. Rather,
their scalp is, and a tar shampoo can irritate and inflame their hair
follicles, causing a condition called folliculitis. The cure? Switch to a milder shampoo.
Try to resist the temptation to
go after those itchy patches like a dog chasing fleas. You may end up
with wounds to your scalp caused by your fingernails. If you break the
skin on your scalp, discontinue use of medicated shampoo for a while.
Switch to a mild shampoo, such as a baby shampoo, and use it daily until
the scratches are healed.
After exercise or strenuous work
that makes you perspire, shower and shampoo as soon as possible. Sweat
irritates the scalp and speeds up the flaking of skin cells.
Go Easy on the Sticky Stuff
Although you needn't give up the
various mousses, sprays, and gels that hold your hairstyle in place,
try to use them less often. These hair products can contribute to oily
buildup.
Dandruff can be an embarrassing problem, but you can shake those pesky flakes for good by following our home remedies.
For more information, see How to Treat Dandruff or test your knowledge with the Dandruff Quiz. To see all of our home remedies and the conditions they treat, go to our main Home Remedies page. ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Timothy Gower is a freelance
writer and editor whose work has appeared in many publications,
including Reader's Digest, Prevention, Men's Health, Better Homes and
Gardens, The New York Times , and The Los Angeles Times . The author of
four books, Gower is also a contributing editor for Health magazine.
Alice Lesch Kelly is a health
writer based in Boston. Her work has been published in magazines such as
Shape, Fit Pregnancy, Woman's Day, Reader's Digest, Eating Well , and
Health . She is the co-author of three books on women's health.
Linnea Lundgren has more than 12
years experience researching, writing, and editing for newspapers and
magazines. She is the author of four books, including Living Well With
Allergies .
Michele Price Mann is a freelance
writer who has written for such publications as Weight Watchers and
Southern Living magazines. Formerly assistant health and fitness editor
at Cooking Light magazine, her professional passion is learning and
writing about health. ABOUT THE CONSULTANTS
Ivan Oransky, M.D. , is the
deputy editor of The Scientist . He is author or co-author of four
books, including The Common Symptom Answer Guide , and has written for
publications including the Boston Globe , The Lancet , and USA Today .
He holds appointments as a clinical assistant professor of medicine and
as adjunct professor of journalism at New York University.
David J. Hufford, Ph.D. , is
university professor and chair of the Medical Humanities Department at
Pennsylvania State University's College of Medicine. He also is a
professor in the departments of Neural and Behavioral Sciences and
Family and Community Medicine. Dr. Hufford serves on the editorial
boards of several journals, including Alternative Therapies in Health
& Medicine and Explore .
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