Dandruff woes- How to treat persistent and stubborn dandruff.

Hello my lovelies!

Nothing more embarrassing and frustrating than a flaky scalp and white flakes all over your hair and shoulders .They seem to be a part of every household , especially us poor mortals living in the middle east . Before we get on to talking in depth on dandruff, there are a few things we need to sort first . ( This post is going to long , so grab your cuppa before you begin !)

Do u really have dandruff or is it just dry flaky scalp ?
Test 1

 Place a dark coloured cloth / paper/ mat on the floor and comb your hair downwards , flipping your hair upside down -If what you see are small and dry white flakes-you mostly have dry scalp and maybe residue buildup with products you may be using for your hair
-If what you get are large,slightly greasy flakes -you most likely have dandruff.

Test 2

Apply some body lotion over areas of itching scalp overnight and wash off the next day with regular shampoo , remember to condition. If dry scalp was the culprit, you will find a lot of relief in what you just did. That will also help rule out if there is dandruff in real or no .

Test 3
Look out for scaling around the eyebrows and eyelashes , sides of the nose , behind the ears or even the "v" of the neck and beard for men. Scaling and dry patches over these areas along with itchy , flaky scalp is most likely seborrhoea/dandruff .

Ok ! So now we know what we have . What next ?

If dry scalp is your issue -

-Brush regularly twice a day with a mixed bristle brush-a  brush with two different bristles will help distribute scalp oils throughout while exfoliating dry flakes at the same time .
-Use two- three drops of peppermint oil or tea tree oil in your regular shampoo .
-Limit use of  artificial hair products or direct heat.

Now, if you are convinced what you suffer from is indeed dandruff, then what you would need is a comprehensive , holistic approach involving medicated as well as non medicated treatments.

My picks under available medicated options-

1-Antifungal agents -fungus being a common cause of dandruff,treatment with a good antifungal usually puts the issue at bay.
Eg-Nizoral
2-Coal tar-The most effective yet the most difficult to use with extremely dry hair as a common complaint. This particular one has coal tar but not the offensive side effects.
Eg- Neutrogena T-Gel Anti dandruff shampoo
3-Selenium sulfide- Works in ways similar to the coal tar sans the odour or aesthetic issues.
Eg-Selsun Blue

My picks under non-medicated treatments available:-

1-Zinc pyrithione- Both antibacterial and antifungal efficiency    Eg-Head and Shoulders Anti Dandruff Shampoo

         The Body Shop Ginger Anti-dandruff Shampoo
         Matrix Biolage Scalp Therapie Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

          LUSH Soak and Float solid shampoo

Why do people give up half way before seeing any results?

• Strong odour of the shampoos
• Extreme dryness of hair as an aftermath
• No immediate results.

Now, how do we come around this ?

An anti-dandruff shampoo must NEVER be used as a regular shampoo all over the hair. It is a spot medication. The issue is only with the scalp and the rest of hair need not be covered. The ideal way to use a medicated anti dandruff shampoo (Selsun , Nizoral , Coal tar etc ) is 

• -Apply a bit on a cotton pad and rub that in to the scalp
• -Keep that on for five mins 
• -Wash rest of the hair with your regular shampoo
• -Alternate a medicated shampoo with a non medicated one through the week-use the medicated one only once or twice a week and rest of the days the non one.
• -Alternate one medicated shampoo with another within two weeks to prevent resistance.

Another killer ingredient when used in right proportions that bring about good changes is Apple cider vinegar (ACV) .   1/3 ACV and 2/3 water in a spray bottle and sprayed all over scalp fifteen minutes before a hair wash at least once a week , literally keeps dandruff away for days and the scalp squeaky clean. 

Once in a while,for severe resistant dandruff , a short course of a dermatologist prescribed topical corticosteroid helps in arresting the inflammation but make sure this step is taken only AFTER consulting a dermatologist .

Sometimes , what may seem as a very persistent dandruff may actually be a more troublesome condition called Scalp psoriasis. If you find your dandruff not receding within 2-3 months of the above mentioned protocol, you might want to consult a dermatologist and enquire what your condition actually is.

Dandruff is a persistent condition and requires you to be patient in its approach. If one treatment modality does not work , try another. Every individual has individual responses to dandruff treatment. With time , you will work out a formula that suits you  best. Feel free to always ask your dermatologist for further options . 

Whew ! That was long ! Do you ail from dandruff ? What have you used and has it helped/ not helped you ? Do comment below!

Until next time ,

xoxo