Causes and treatments of head dandruff

Head dandruff can be unsightly, messy, embarrassing, and even painful. Some of the causes of dandruff include excessive dryness, eczema, psoriasis, allergies to some ingredient in hair products, and malassezia or other fungi. Head dandruff is easy to spot; tiny dry flakes of dead skin falling off the skin into hair and dusting shoulders. The scalp itches a lot, the scratching of which merely releases more skin flakes to litter the hair and shoulders and any clothes or objects that get in the way.

Treatments for dandruff

There are a number of treatments for the condition whose efficacy depends on the cause of the dandruff outbreak. Dandruff often accompanies other medical conditions and diseases, or simply results from excessive dryness; a number of factors contribute to the issue. As such, discovering the reason for a dandruff outbreak can save a lot of time and resources on treating it, eliminating those treatments that do not apply.

There are some simple things that could reduce the risk of getting dandruff or alleviating the symptoms for people already suffering with this condition. Changing your diet can lower your chances of getting dandruff. Try increasing the zinc, vitamin B, and fats. Reduce or improve management of stress levels in your lifestyle; stress can induce or exacerbate numerous health conditions, including head dandruff.

Minimize oily and waxy hair products that leave a residue of the scalp and hair. Rather than moisturizing to soothe the itchiness, such products contribute to oil buildup, causing further irritation, redness, and more flakes of dandruff.

Treatments can be simple, such as daily shampooing. The shampooing minimizes oil buildup and removes new layers of dead skin before it can flake off or become irritated. Over-the-counter shampoos have a variety of effective medicinal ingredients. Frequent application and prolonged exposure during shampooing allows the medicine enough time to affect the dandruff.

Fungus-related dandruff such as that caused by seborrheic dermatitis can be treated with shampoo containing zinc pyrithione, coal tar or ketoconazole. Steroidal topical creams are often prescribed to help with itching. Tea tree oil is a popular alternative medicine. Among its medicinal properties are the ability to combat fungus. It is also antibiotic and antiseptic. This amazing substance has become more popular and widely available in recent years; it is easily found in many shampoos and other haircare products.

If you are concerned about your skin, please call us at 972-649-6644 to book an appointment.