Dandruff, a common scalp condition affecting as much as 50% of the adult population, affects people in different ways. It first appears during puberty and peaks around age 20 before slowly diminishing later into adulthood until one reaches their 60s or 70s.
People who have dandruff are often embarrassed by the condition, which results in low self-esteem. Dressed up or down, having flakes on your shoulders can be very frustrating and annoying. Thankfully there is a solution to this issue that will change how you feel about yourself!
About Dandruff
Dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp are basically one and the same. The only difference is that dandruff doesn’t cause itching, while seborrheic does. Dandruff and SD (seborrhoea) both involve flaking skin on your head which you get for different reasons.
If it’s flaky but not itchy then it’s probably just normal dander if there are other symptoms like redness or irritation though, consider seeing a doctor because that’s when things can become serious!
It’s generally triggered by an overgrowth of fungus in the scalp – specifically, a type of single-celled microbe called Malassezia yeast that triggers an immune response on the skin and leads to discomfort. To get more specific, this yeast feeds off your scalp’s natural oil (sebum) and then breaks it down into other components including oleic acid. Gross right?
Why Do We Get Dandruff?
Many people don’t realize it, but dandruff is super common and affects every other individual. It doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re dirty or have bad hygiene; some of us are just more likely to experience an allergic reaction caused by the yeast and oleic acid produced in our scalps.
Dandruff is a pretty common problem, but it’s not something you have to put up with. There are some things that can make your dandruff worse and knowing what those triggers are will help in finding the best way of getting rid of this pesky condition for good!
Dandruff is one indicator that you may be washing your hair too infrequently. When not washed frequently enough, the scalp becomes extra oily and more hospitable to yeast which causes flaking. You want a clean but moisturized scalp.
Dry skin is the main issue that leads to dandruff, but sometimes there are other factors like cold weather. Ensure that your scalp stays moisturized by sleeping with a humidifier and using an intense hydrating shampoo.
We all know that dandruff can be caused by weather changes. But did you know yeast loves warm and wet environments? This is why we see more cases of itchy scalps in the summertime when it’s hot, sweaty outside.
Best Ways to Get Rid of Dandruff
There are a number of treatment options out there for guys who tend to see excessive flakes, all aiming to banish the dandruff-causing yeast itself or its oils on which it thrives. Other remedies target soothing and relieving dry skin and scalp irritation. Most people have better success when using a combination of treatments at once so don’t be afraid to mix things up!
Use an Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
This specific type of shampoo called anti-dandruff shampoo will help you fight yeast overgrowth, which can cause pesky flakiness on your scalp. Studies show that using tea tree oil as an ingredient is effective.
Knocking out the DHT (a form of testosterone) responsible for causing male pattern baldness and excessive sebum production is a major cause of dander! An anti-dandruff formula containing coal tar can actually help slow the growth of skin cells to decrease scaling and dryness, as well as a bit of menthol to soothe irritated skin is always good. Check out Top 13 Best Anti-Dandruff Shampoos for Men
Alternate with a Hydrating Shampoo
If you have dry skin or dandruff, it is important that you don’t overuse the anti-dandruff shampoo as this could cause your scalp to become drier and worsen existing flakiness. Our recommendation would be alternating with a hydrating hair product in between uses of anti-dandruff shampoo.
Stimulate the Scalp
Stimulating your scalp is actually beneficial for the health of your hair. Massaging or using a shampoo brush stimulates blood flow to increase the production of natural oils that prevents dryness and protect against dandruff while allowing dead skin cells to naturally fall.
Use Soothing Hair Products
To combat dandruff and the accompanying dryness, itchiness, and irritation that comes with it, you can try some soothing hair products. For example, aloe vera or menthol-containing shampoo/conditioner will relieve itching so your scratching (and flaking) decreases!
To soothe your itchy scalp, you can soak in a warm bath with baking soda and other soothing ingredients. If this doesn’t help or is too harsh on the skin, try using a shampoo that contains nourishing ingredients instead of just chemicals to stop itching fast!
Eat More Good Bacteria
There are lots of healthy fermented foods you can eat to help get rid of your yeast infection. Yogurt, kimchi (spicy Korean cabbage dish), sauerkraut, and kombucha (fermented tea) all contain good bacteria that will fight against the harmful ones causing your dandruff or discomfort on the scalp.
Drinking super-strong beers from microbreweries is another way to introduce these helpful probiotics into our diet!
One idea to create a healthy bacterial balance is by drinking an extra pint of kefir every night. The bacteria in the drink will help your gut grow healthier, which can lead to better overall health and wellness!
Eat More Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3s can help your dandruff by locking in moisture and hydrating your scalp, which is good for you during the winter when flaking worsens. This healthy fat helps banish dry skin and inflammation that causes a multitude of health issues including dandruff.
Use Non-Flaky Products
Be careful with the hair products you use, especially if your scalp is dry. Using poor-quality men’s hair products can cause dandruff to look much worse than it actually is and give off the appearance of having a severe case when snow piles up on your shoulders!
High-quality men’s shampoo will not worsen any existing cases of dandruff or make it appear like you have more serious conditions. These will in fact help your tackle your flaky problem.
Final Thought
The thing about dandruff is that it’s different from one case to the next, and not all sufferers will get the exact same results when they use the same treatments.
According to some biology experts “the most active ingredient in these shampoos appears to be zinc pyrithione.” This type of treatment usually works best for people who have greasy hair because this causes more flaking on their scalp than dry skin does. See our related article on Causes of Dandruff in Men’s Hair
Due to the high demand, there are many types of anti-dandruff shampoo available today so trying out a few options should help you find relief pretty easily!
I am Emma Smith a freelance beauty and wellness writer. I graduated from New York University, where I studied English Literature and Creative Writing. After working in the beauty industry for several years, I decided to pursue my passion for writing about things related to beauty and health – from skincare tips to makeup tutorials to interviews with leading experts on the field. I have also done dermatology course ‘Dermatology: Trip to skin’ from Novosibirsk State University (NSU).
I love staying healthy by doing working out and yoga. I am mother of a beautiful baby girl, I spend most of my time caring for her while still managing work obligations.
