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What is dandruff? How do I get rid of it? Why does it keep coming back?

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/lorraine-mackenzie-1420658">Lorraine Mackenzie</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/sean-mangion-1420661">Sean Mangion</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a> Dandruff can be dry, like snowflakes, or greasy, with yellow clumps. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551707/">Up to half</a> of all adults have had this scalp condition at one point, so you’ll no doubt know about these skin flakes and the itchiness. Dandruff can be <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1439-0507.2008.01624.x">embarrassing</a>. It can affect many aspects of people’s lives, such as how they socialise, how they style their hair, and what clothes they wear. Dandruff is not a modern problem. In fact, it has been around for millennia and was <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2181905/">described</a> by Greek physicians. We don’t know for sure whether our ancestors were as bothered by it as much as we are today. But they were interested in what causes it. <h2>What causes dandruff?</h2> Dandruff is mainly caused by the yeast <a href="https://www.cell.com/cell-host-microbe/pdf/S1931-3128(19)30106-4.pdf">Malassezia</a>. The yeast lives on most people’s skin, either on the surface or in the opening of the hair follicle, the structure that surrounds a hair’s root and strand. The yeast feeds on sebum, the natural moisturiser secreted by your sebaceous glands to stop your skin drying out. These glands are attached to every hair follicle and the hair provides a dark, sheltered micro-environment ideal for the yeast to flourish. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/536003/original/file-20230706-22-6t0yr8.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/536003/original/file-20230706-22-6t0yr8.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/536003/original/file-20230706-22-6t0yr8.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=520&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/536003/original/file-20230706-22-6t0yr8.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=520&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/536003/original/file-20230706-22-6t0yr8.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=520&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/536003/original/file-20230706-22-6t0yr8.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=653&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/536003/original/file-20230706-22-6t0yr8.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=653&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/536003/original/file-20230706-22-6t0yr8.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=653&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="Diagram of skin cross-section showing hair follicle and other skin structures" /></a><figcaption>The yeast that causes dandruff lives on the skin surface and in the opening of the hair follicle. <a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-vector/medical-education-chart-biology-hair-diagram-645657787">Shutterstock</a></figcaption></figure> As the yeast grows, it releases molecules that irritate the skin and disrupts how the skin normally renews itself. This causes the cells to cluster together, appearing as white flakes. When there is excess sebum, this can mix with the cells and cause the dandruff to appear <a href="https://www.headandshoulders.co.in/en-in/healthy-hair-and-scalp/dandruff/yellow-dandruff">yellow</a>. The link between dandruff and yeast was made nearly 150 years ago. The person who first identified and described this yeast <a href="https://www.cell.com/cell-host-microbe/pdf/S1931-3128(19)30106-4.pdf">in 1874</a> was Louis-Charles Malassez (the yeast’s namesake). <h2>Why do I have dandruff?</h2> As Malassezia is found on most people, why do some people get dandruff and others don’t? This depends on a range of factors. These include the quality of your skin barrier. This may mean yeast can penetrate deeper if the skin is damaged in some way, for example, if it’s sunburnt. Other factors include your immunity, and external factors, such as which hair-care products you use. How Malassezia grows also depends on the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4864613/">balance</a> of other microorganisms that live on your skin, such as bacteria. <h2>How do I get rid of dandruff?</h2> Dandruff is mostly treated with <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0939641123000292?via%3Dihub">anti-fungal</a> shampoos and scalp treatments to dampen down growth of Malassezia. The shampoos most commonly contain the anti-fungal agent <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34575891/">zinc pyrithione</a> (ZnPT for short). Other common anti-fungals in shampoos include selenium sulfide, ketoconazole and coal tar. You can also treat dandruff with scalp masks and scrubs that help restore the scalp barrier, by reducing inflammation and irritation. But as these may not have any anti-fungal action, your dandruff is likely to return. Home remedies <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/ways-to-treat-dandruff#7.-Omega-3s">include</a> tea tree oil, coconut or other oils, and honey. There is some evidence to support their use, mostly from <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35642120/">studies</a> that show extracts from botanical ingredients can reduce growth of the yeast in the lab. But there is great variation in the quality and composition of these ingredients. There is also the risk of making the problem worse by providing more oils that the yeast will enjoy, causing more imbalance to the scalp micro-organisms and leading to more irritation. So it’s best to stick with commercial products. <h2>Why does my dandruff come back?</h2> Your dandruff is likely to return unless the active ingredients in your shampoo can reach the right spot, at the right concentration, for the right amount of time needed to kill the yeast. Our <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36842718/">research</a> focussing on zinc pyrithione-based products showed these shampoos reached the skin surface. But they less-reliably ended up in the harder-to-reach hair follicles. We found the zinc pythione seemed <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35631659/">to target</a> the top of the follicles rather than deep into the follicles. So this may explain why dandruff keeps on coming back. Your shampoo’s active ingredient may not reach the yeast that causes your dandruff. We don’t yet know how we can encourage existing formulations to penetrate deeper into the follicles. <h2>What about future treatments?</h2> We’ll likely see new formulations of dandruff shampoos and scalp treatments that better deliver the active ingredient to where it’s needed – deeper into the hair follicles. We can also expect new active ingredients, such as <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28766952/">carbonic anhydrase</a> enzymes. These might target how the yeast grows in a different way to current active ingredients. We are also beginning to see the development of creams and lotions that aim to boost the health balance of flora of the skin, much like we see with similar products for the gut. These include pre-biotics (supplements or food for skin flora) or pro-biotics (products that contain skin flora). However we have <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9284/8/3/90/htm">much to learn</a> about these types of formulations. <h2>In a nutshell</h2> Dandruff is annoying, treatment helps, but you may need to repeat it. Hopefully, we can develop improved shampoos that better deliver the active ingredient to where it’s needed. But we need to strike a balance. We don’t want to eliminate all micro-organisms from our skin. These are important for our immunity, including preventing more disease-causing microbes (pathogens) from moving in. They also help the skin produce antimicrobial peptides (short proteins) that protect us from pathogens.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/201082/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/lorraine-mackenzie-1420658">Lorraine Mackenzie</a>, Associate Professor, Clinical and Health Sciences, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/sean-mangion-1420661">Sean Mangion</a>, PhD Candidate, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-is-dandruff-how-do-i-get-rid-of-it-why-does-it-keep-coming-back-201082">original article</a>.

Body

How to get rid of dandruff

Our skin is designed to shed old skin cells and grow new ones. Dandruff, however, is a kink in this assembly-line process, causing old skin cells on the scalp to build up and clump into the unsightly flakes that land on your favourite black shirt. About half of the adult population will suffer from a flaky scalp at some point. Factors that may contribute to dandruff include seborrheic dermatitis, dry skin and certain skin conditions. Seborrheic dermatitis is a skin condition marked by large yellow scales, redness and inflammation of the scalp, or of other areas of the skin. While you might associate dandruff with a dry, flaking scalp, “it is actually caused by excess oiliness,” explains dermatologist Dr Charlene Linzon. The culprit here is a common group of yeasts called Malassezia that grow on everyone, and it feeds on oil from the scalp, Linzon says. What tips the scale in dandruff’s favour depends on the individual: how much oil your scalp produces, and how vigorously the yeast grows. “The yeast breaks down scalp oil, leaving behind a by-product [unsaturated fatty acid] that causes the flaking associated with dandruff, and the irritation, inflammation and scaling that define seborrheic dermatitis,” says Linzon. Dandruff is also more likely to develop at certain stages of life, such as in infancy (called cradle cap), and around puberty, when oil (sebum) secretion increases, providing more food for yeast. Stress also increases oil production. Thankfully, you can usually get this problem under control with over the counter (OTC) products. Start by shampooing your scalp frequently with a medicated shampoo to reduce oiliness. Here are your choices: <ol> <li>Antifungals The active ingredients in these are zinc pyrithione, selenium sulphide and ketoconazole. They slow down the growth of the yeast that causes the flaking and scaling.</li> <li>Coal tar The active ingredient in this product slows skin cell turnover, and also works as an anti-inflammatory, says Linzon.</li> <li>Salicylic acid These shampoos boast a keratolytic agent, which helps to loosen and dislodge scales, explains Linzon.</li> </ol> How you use dandruff products can affect how well they fight flakes. Dr Charlene Linzon offers these tips: <ul> <li>Switch products regularly, alternating between two or three kinds. For example, you could use, say, Nizoral one day and Head & Shoulders the next; or alternate every second or third time you shampoo.</li> <li>Leave shampoo on long enough to do its job – five to ten minutes, or, for a more intensive treatment, 20 to 30 minutes (once every couple of weeks).</li> <li>Use more frequently. Labels usually suggest using a shampoo twice weekly, but daily use is helpful for some. (Just watch for hair breakage and dryness – signs that you’re overdoing it.)</li> <li>Consult a GP or dermatologist if you have no relief after a month.</li> </ul> This article first appeared in <a href="http://www.readersdigest.com.au/healthsmart/beauty/skin/How-to-Get-Rid-of-Dandruff">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.co.nz/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRN93V">here’s our best subscription offer</a>. <img style="width: 100px !important; height: 100px !important;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820640/1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f30947086c8e47b89cb076eb5bb9b3e2" />

Beauty & Style

Try these 10 dandruff remedies from your pantry

There’s no need to spend your hard earned cash on anti-dandruff shampoo (which, let’s face it, doesn’t work for everyone). Have a look in the kitchen instead and you’ll find that a stack of home remedies is already in your pantry cupboard. 1. Tea tree oil A lot of anti-dandruff treatments contain tea tree oil, and with good reason. This oil can help reduce the flaking and itchiness of dandruff, so just add a capful to your regular bottle of shampoo. 2. Aloe vera Not just for sunburn! Pure aloe vera gel from a plant or in a tube can be rubbed onto wet hair to relieve the itchy scalp that often accompanies dandruff. Then wash as normal. 3. Lemon juice Fresh lemon juice is a nice-smelling treatment for a sore scalp. Rub onto wet hair then allow to sit for a couple of minutes before washing out. Best to avoid this one if your skin is quite raw as the juice might sting. 4. Olive oil Just like the treatment for a baby’s cradle cap, olive oil can help sooth the scalp too. Wet your hair and warm the oil up a little bit first. Rub the oil in and wrap in a towel or shower cap. Leave for at least 30 minutes, and then rinse out with a mild shampoo. 5. Salt Yes, really. The grains of salt will help to act as a scrub to remove dry skin from your scalp. Apply a handful to wet hair and give it a good scrub with your fingertips before rinsing well. 6. Apple cider vinegar Not just for salad dressing, this vinegar is great at fixing up the pH balance of your hair, which can cause the itch. Simply mix 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar with the same amount of water. Pour onto your wet hair, rub in, and leave for 5 minutes to soak before rinsing well. 7. Mouth wash The alcohol in mouth wash is anti-fungal, meaning it will help reduce the fungus that causes dandruff in the first place. After shampooing with your everyday shampoo, towel dry your hair. Then mix 1/3 cup mouth wash with the same amount of water. Apply to your hair, rubbing in well. Leave for a few minutes and then rinse off. 8. Aspirin You may not have known this, but aspirin contains salicylic acid, which is the active ingredient in many anti-dandruff shampoos. All you need to do is crush two aspirin in a bowl with the back of a spoon and add it to your normal amount of shampoo you use to wash your hair. Leave it to soak for 2-3 minutes before rinsing. 9. Baking soda Is there anything this stuff can’t do? Add a ¼ cup of baking soda to a cupful of warm water and mix well. Then rub into wet hair, scrub, and rinse off. 10. Coconut oil Another store cupboard staple with so many uses. This remedy not only smells good, it helps to put back the natural oils that your hair needs when suffering from dandruff. Rub the oil into your hands and then apply to damp hair. Try to leave it for at least half an hour before washing out. Do you have any other home remedies for getting rid of dandruff? Related Links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/beauty-style/2016/06/tips-for-dealing-with-scalp-sensitivity-and-dandruff/">Tips for dealing with scalp sensitivity and dandruff</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/beauty-style/2016/05/home-remedies-for-split-ends/">Home remedies for split ends</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/beauty-style/2016/06/the-trick-to-washing-hair-more-effectively/">The trick to washing hair more effectively</a>

Beauty & Style

Tips for dealing with scalp sensitivity and dandruff

Ah, the dreaded “D” word. Sure, it's not the most pleasant of topics, but those tiny white flecks are a pervasive problem for over 50 per cent of the population. Any number of things can cause dandruff – from metabolic and hormonal fluctuations, to stress, a weakened immune system, and seasonal change. The most common cause is the overgrowth of a natural, yeast-like fungus called malassezia, which intensifies the overproduction of skin cells. When skin cells begin to divide too rapidly, there's a build-up on the scalp, which leads to those unsightly and often itchy white flakes. The good news is, there's a number of ways to treat it. Change up your routine and go on wearing as much black as you want. 1. Change your shampoo You could always go down the Head & Shoulders route, but does anyone actually enjoy using that stuff? There are alternatives out there that won't dry out your hair, irritate your scalp, and will look infinitely prettier perched on your shower shelf. Choose a Sofium Lauryl Sulfate-free shampoo that's gentle on your scalp. 2. End with a rinse Is there anything apple cider vinegar can't do? Treating your dandruff may be a matter of re-establishing the acid mantle on your scalp with a cheap and easy, flake-busting, shine-restoring rinse. Dilute one-part vinegar to four parts water and use it as a final rinse after washing. And don't worry if it gets everywhere – apple cider vinegar is great for your skin, too! 3. Treat yourself to a mask Your scalp should be treated the same way you treat the rest of your skin – with regular conditioning and cleansing with chemical exfoliants. If it's feeling dry, itchy or sensitive, treat it to an anti-inflammatory, hydrating mask once a week. Apply chosen mask onto your scalp and massage it in, then leave for 20 minutes before washing it out thoroughly. 4. Avoid products with alcohol Steer clear of hairsprays, perfumes and other products that contain alcohol, as they tend to further dry out and irritate your sensitive scalp. Also avoid heat styling tools as much as possible. This means air drying your hair and not reaching for the moisture-stripping blow dryer. 5. Change up your diet Pay attention to your diet and avoid dandruff 'trigger' foods – anything spicy, sugary and rich in dairy, which can exacerbate the condition. Trichologists also recommend taking supplements such as borage oil and evening primrose oil, which increase your essential fatty acid levels and help to minimise dryness. Fermented foods, such as kimchi and kombucha, are also beneficial, as they work to counter the overproduction of yeast. 6. Take a breather Scalp sensitivity is known to stem from stress. If products aren't working for you, try relaxation techniques such as yoga and Pilates. As well as keeping your mind at ease and your body's chemical balance in check, they work to strengthen your immune system, lessening the chance of flaky flare-ups. And if the problem persists, do book in time with your dermatologist. Do you have any remedies for dandruff to share with us? Let us know in the comments below. First appeared on <a href="http://Stuff.co.nz" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz.</a> Related links: <a href="/lifestyle/beauty-style/2016/02/ageless-hairstyles-for-over-60s/">Ageless hairstyles for over-60s</a> <a href="/lifestyle/beauty-style/2016/04/things-to-do-with-shampoo/">9 surprising things you can do with shampoo</a> <a href="/lifestyle/beauty-style/2016/03/natural-remedies-to-cure-dandruff/">12 natural remedies for dandruff</a>

Beauty & Style

12 natural remedies for dandruff

Those seemingly harmless snowflakes floating around the top of your head are actually caused by a scalp-dwelling fungus called malassezia globossa. The fungus is present in every single one of us – but only some of us have a reaction to it. While normal scalp turnover is 21 to 28 days, the shedding process is sped up in people with an inflammatory response. Chemical treatments, like colouring and relaxing, or even regular blow-drying, can also leave your scalp dehydrated, irritated and more prone to flaking. Though most people treat the condition with medicated shampoos such as Head & Shoulders, many of the formulas out there are … intense. They are made with detergents, to which anti-flaking agents such as coal tar, zinc pyrithizone, salicylic acid and selenium sulphide are added. These can be irritating to both skin and eyes – coal tar and salicylic acid in particular. Got dandruff to rival Ally Sheedy's character in The Breakfast Club, but don't want to wage chemical warfare on your scalp? Through incorporating these natural remedies, you can ensure that everything up there stays in tip-top shape. 1. Cinnamon Try a cinnamon hair mask using two teaspoons of warm olive oil and one teaspoon of cinnamon. Apply liberally to the scalp, massage and leave on for 10 to 15 minutes before washing off with shampoo. 2. Rosemary Create a hair tea by infusing your bath with loose-leaf rosemary and rubbing the ends with rosemary oil, which contains anti-fungal properties. 3. Coconut Oil Of course coconut oil was going to make an appearance on this list. Apply the oil to your scalp, but try to avoid your hair. Wash out – you may have double shampoo – and repeat once a week until dandruff is gone. 4. Avocado Avocado, that beauty powerhouse that also happens to be as the most delicious food in the world, can be whipped into a hair mask when you mix it with 10 drops of argan oil, two tablespoons of honey and 5 drops of tea tree oil, known for its antifungal properties. Simply mash, massage onto your scalp, leave in for 10 minutes, comb through and rinse. 5. Apple Cider Vinegar Apple cider vinegar is like bicarbonate soda in that it literally fixes everything – hiccups, pimples, what have you! Combine one part apple cider vinegar with one part water in a spray bottle and spritz after shampooing. Simply rinse out with water – no need to condition after. 6. Beetroot Apparently, rinsing your hair with the concentrated water leftover from boiling beetroots and ginger will help if used every night for four to five days. 7. Jojoba Oil Do most anti-dandruff shampoos leave your hair feeling dry? Glossy, shiny, flake-free hair is actually achievable if you treat with jojoba oil. Massage a couple of drops into your scalp, wrap with a towel and leave for 10 minutes. 8. Brown Sugar Fix chronic flaking with a simple sugar scrub made of two tablespoons of brown sugar and two tablespoons of warm olive oil. Pat into warm hair and rinse out before styling as usual. 9. Ginger Finely grate half a ginger root (known for its anti-inflammatory properties) into two cups of hot water before adding a tablespoon of lemon juice and olive oil. Mist directly onto the scalp and let dry before shampooing it out. 10. Aloe Vera The healing plant improves seborrhoeic dermatitis and other skin conditions due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Apply to your scalp at night and rinse in the morning. 11. Eggs You've heard of putting mayonnaise on your hair, right? Try mixing an egg yolk with olive oil for the same silky smooth results. Warning: This one can get messy! 12. Quicker Showers And last but not least, quit it with the steamy showers and switch to shorter ones with lukewarm water instead. Also, wet hair is fragile so wait until your hair is damp before blow-drying on the lowest setting. Written by Kathleen Lee Joe. This article first appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz</a>. Related links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/beauty-style/2016/02/how-to-make-your-own-facemask/">How to make your own face mask</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/beauty-style/2015/10/age-defying-hair-tips/">6 tips for healthy hair that defy aging</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/beauty-style/2016/02/tips-for-manageable-summer-hair/">How to keep your hair manageable in the heat</a>

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What is dandruff? How do I get rid of it? Why does it keep coming back?

How to get rid of dandruff

Try these 10 dandruff remedies from your pantry

Tips for dealing with scalp sensitivity and dandruff

12 natural remedies for dandruff