As the temperatures drop and the air gets dry, many individuals struggle with an itchy, flaky scalp and winter dandruff. In fact, this common scalp condition affects around 50 percent of the worldwide population, with several people experiencing an increase in their symptoms during the winter.
During winter, the air is dry and devoid of moisture. This causes dryness of the skin as well as the scalp. The scalp, when dry, becomes flaky, which makes it easier for dandruff to thrive.
In fact, not shampooing enough can make your dandruff worse. It causes more oil and dead skin to sit on top of your scalp, worsening dandruff. A medicated shampoo can help. Over-the-counter shampoos are at most drug stores and grocery stores.
Dry scalp is more prevalent in winter and is often marked by small white flakes caused by cold weather, excessive dry heat, or diet. One may also experience some itch and tightness with a dry scalp (but not excessive itching which is often caused by dandruff or eczema).
In fact, the most effective way to treat most dandruff is to use an over-the-counter shampoo, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) explains. You should shampoo your hair daily and swap in the anti-dandruff shampoo twice a week. If you have natural hair, you only need to use the anti-dandruff shampoo once a week.
Cold water not only helps the scalp retain its moisture—it also seals down the hair cuticles and helps lock moisture into the strands themselves. "The cool water temperature closes and strengthens the hair cuticle, which can result in stronger, healthier hair over time," notes celebrity hairstylist Andrew Fitzsimons.
Pyrithione zinc shampoos (DermaZinc, Head & Shoulders, others). These contain the antibacterial and antifungal agent zinc pyrithione. Tar-based shampoos (Neutrogena T/Gel, Scalp 18 Coal Tar Shampoo, others). Coal tar slows how quickly skin cells on your scalp die and flake off.
Cold showers are better than warm for the hair, particularly in winter. Hot air can make your hair frizzy, less shiny, and unhealthy. Cold water can work against fungi-causing dandruff effectively and help keep away from it.
Water is vital to our survival. But its effect on our bodies goes far further than you might expect. When it comes to your scalp, drinking enough water is important in the fight against conditions like dandruff, and should be used alongside other effective strategies, like washing your hair with a proper shampoo.
Helps with dandruff: Dandruff results from a dry scalp, and moisture is needed in order to treat it. “Since showering with cold water helps the scalp retain moisture, this will in turn alleviate dandruff and the irritation that comes with it,” Engelman explains.
The frequency of shampooing necessary to control dandruff varies from person to person. Some need to shampoo twice a week, others more frequently, even daily. Many people forget that the scalp as well as the hair needs to be shampooed.
It could be that you don't use enough shampoo, or that the shampoo you use isn't strong enough to break down the oil barrier that is contributing to your dandruff. The remedy: While the fix could be as simple as shampooing more frequently, you might need to take it one step further.
Dandruff may have several causes, including: Irritated, oily skin. Dry skin. A yeastlike fungus (malassezia) that feeds on oils on the scalps of most adults.
See a GP if:
your dandruff is bad or your scalp is very itchy. your scalp is red or swollen. you have flaky, itchy patches on your face or other parts of your body.
A healthy scalp constantly produces new skin cells and sheds old ones as part of its normal cycle, but an acceleration in this can lead to excess dead skin and dandruff. While stress is not a direct cause of dandruff, it can exacerbate certain triggers which result in scalp itching and flaking.
Therefore, the best dandruff remedy is to brush out the dead skin developed at a very early stage. If you are inconsistent in brushing your hair, you might experience dandruff over time. So, the best way to comb your hair with dandruff is to comb or brush it evenly throughout your hair.
You might clear out some of the flakes which are on top and displace some of the dead skin cells. But unless you attack the underlying cause of dandruff, your body will just keep creating more flakes. So you're going to keep using a dandruff removal comb, and never actually remove dandruff from your life.
Massage Your Scalp
The soothing treatment will help break up flakes and soothe your scalp. Just be sure not to scratch your head or rub too hard.
You see the light yellow or white flakes on your shoulders or in your hair. Those are the telltale signs of dandruff. Dandruff flakes are dead skin cells that fall off your scalp. When you have dandruff, your scalp may look scaly or red and feel itchy or raw.
Hot water dries your scalp, which can lead to itchiness and dandruff. Hot water makes your roots weak and as a result, your hair turns frizzy. Additionally, the texture takes a beating and hair can break easily. Hot water makes your hair overly porous, and this again prompts breakage, brittleness and flyaways.
Dry scalp, not taking enough care of your hair, etc. can cause dandruff. When it comes to treating dandruff there are multiple remedies that one can do at home to bid adieu to those flakes and the most remedy of all time is oilingyour hair. Oiling your hair is good, but it's not good for dandruff.