The appearance of flakes can be
reduced, especially in those who suffer
from only a mild case of dandruff, by
proper hair care.
Some people mistakenly avoid washing
their hair, believing that the drying
effect of shampoo will worsen their
dandruff. By washing the hair
regularly, however, dead skin is in
fact removed before it can build up
into larger, more noticeable
flakes.
Using acid-based shampoos helps restore
acidity to the scalp, breaking down
oils and preventing dead skin cells
from collecting into visible clumps.
However, shampoos with milder
medication, or shampoos that are not
marked to treat
seborrheic
dermatitis, may have little to
no effect on redness and
irritation.
Household remedies to get rid of
dandruff are:
- apple cider vinegar (the gold
standard of household
remedies)
- salt
- lemon juice
- Tea tree oil
Apply the liquid to the scalp and
allow to remain for several minutes to
several hours, even overnight, then
shampoo and rinse clean in the
shower.
One good way to apply the liquid is
from a spray bottle, or simply by
pouring over the head. Apple cider
vinegar can also be used as a rinse
after shampooing: the vinegar will act
as both a fungicide to fight the cause
of the cell buildup, as well as a
rinsing agent, which will rinse clumps
of skin away before they appear large
enough to be visible.
Severe forms of dandruff, particularly
if accompanied by flaking or scaling on
other parts of the body, should be
treated by a dermatologist.
Dandruff can occur in conjunction with
skin conditions such as
seborrheic
dermatitis and
psoriasis.
Dandruff varies from person to person.
It may be necessary to try various
shampoos with different active
ingredients to find the best suited for
any one individual.
Also, an individual may find that
alternating between different
treatments will be more effective than
sticking with a single treatment, which
can become less effective over time.