You woke up early, ready to take on the world. A shower, a skin-care routine, a quick breakfast.. And just when you’re dressed up and ready to leave home, your mirror throws it in your face. Dandruff!
Dandruff does not discriminate, it affects all sexes alike. It can occur at any time and affects all hair types and scalps. Often, the scalp is simply in need of some more individualized care- and here comes dandruff. As simple as insufficiently rinsed hair after shampooing may lead to dandruff. It does not only look bad but itches as well. If the problem of scurf afflicts us for a long time and home remedies do not help, it is worth visiting a specialist. Dandruff can be treated and cured and by following the recommendations of dermatologists you can keep your skin healthy and in good condition.
We all have different skin types that react to different environments in different ways. Everything and anything could irritate your skin, from the pollution in the air to the water at home, the food you eat.. If you’re struggling with scalp skin issues such as dandruff, take a look at the tips below. Note that this is not medical advice. For medical advice, reach out to a doctor or professional who can address your unique medical needs.
WHAT IS DANDRUFF?
Maybe we can first start by explaining what dandruff actually is. Dandruff is one of the skin ailments, and it is caused by excessive exfoliation of the epidermis. It is induced by the proliferation of a pathogenic flora – Malessezia fungus. This fungus is a microorganism that occurs naturally on the scalp.
MAIN CAUSES OF DANDRUFF
- dry skin – during the time when it is cold, dandruff may occur more frequently due to dryness of the skin.
- Malassezia fungi – these fungi are the most common reason of skin disease. These are fungi, naturally occurring on the skin, that cause problems when there is excessive growth.
- changing of the seasons – our skin can also deteriorate due to external factors such as low humidity or air pollution
- dermatitis – dandruff may also appear if you overuse styling products or constantly wear headwear.
- certain medical conditions – Intrinsic factors, like hormonal changes or stress, may also contribute to the appearance of dandruff.
- hair products – issues such as disease or diet (for instance, zinc deficiency), also make it easier for bacteria to multiply.
HOW CAN WE PREVENT DANDRUFF?
AVOID STRESS
Most of us know that stress negatively affects the “color of our hair,” right? Stressful situations or events in our lives can impact us greatly. Yes, not just turning your hair grey… However, stress can also sometimes aggravate the symptoms of dandruff because it weakens the body’s natural defenses and makes it harder for the body to fight the irritation caused by dandruff. As we can see, stressful situations do not have a positive effect on the condition of our scalp and hair. So, try to organize your life in such a way to maintain a healthy body and avoid the unnecessary stressors that you can do without. Hint: Start by avoiding your phone 2 hours before sleeping, along with chewing your food well before swallowing. Have you read “Meditations” by Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius?
AN APPROPRIATE/BALANCED DIET
A diet rich in zinc (e.g. eggs, meat, pumpkin seeds), fatty acids (e.g. walnuts, chia seeds) and B vitamins will help to maintain the health of the scalp. It is also a good idea to eliminate sugar from our daily diet (it is about reducing the amount of sugar we consume, not giving it up completely), salt, starch and saturated fats. Such a balanced diet will not only help eliminate dandruff but will also improve your skin condition and health. Check our article about possible substitutes to fight our sugar cravings here.
MASSAGE
While washing your hair with the healing shampoo you should perform a gentle scalp massage. It will help to separate dandruff flakes and to thoroughly distribute the preparation on the scalp. It is a mistake to think that the harder you “scratch or scrub” the faster you will get rid of dandruff.
REGULAR HAIR CARE
A very vital aspect of scalp care is regular shampooing to remove the grease that accumulates on your hair every day. In summer, we should be especially hygienic because this is the period when our scalp sweats the most and our hair gets greasy the fastest.
CARE/CLEANING OF YOUR HAIRBRUSH
While caring for our hair and scalp, we also need to remember to properly care for our hairbrush. Hygiene requires that we thoroughly clean our hairbrush at least once a week to remove dead skin and styling residue. Before washing your hairbrush we have to remove hair residue from the brush (we can do it with a toothpick or a comb. Wash the brush in warm water with hair shampoo. You can also add baking soda or vinegar to the solution. It is important not to use soap, as it leaves a residue on the brush.
USE YOUR HAIR CARE PRODUCTS IN MODERATION
Excessive use of styling products such as hairspray, wax or mousse can lead to oil accumulation on the hair and scalp, which may lead to irritation and dandruff. You should not use these products too frequently and always wash them out very carefully.
ALL IN ALL
Dandruff is an unpleasant condition that affects millions of people, including men and women alike. Although it is very annoying, we can fight it not only by using the right specialized products. A good way to get rid of the problem is to change hair care products, such as hair shampoo. We are frequently guided by the price, appearance or smell when it comes to purchasing hair products. Let us take more time to check the composition of a given product and choose the one, which has a natural composition. A balanced diet rich in certain vitamins, giving up excessive amounts of sugar and caring for our hair products could effectively rid you of dandruff.
