2023-12-19 11:15:00
People with dandruff should try a couple of different anti-dandruff shampoos, especially if it is difficult to treat (cuartoscuro.com)
(HealthDay News) – Dandruff becomes more common in the cold winter months, when cold air and dry heat cause a person’s scalp to flake and itch.
But while it can be an annoying and unattractive condition, dandruff doesn’t mean you’re unclean, says the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).
“It is a common misconception that dandruff is caused by poor hygiene,” Dr. Mona Sadeghpour, a board-certified dermatologist in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Lone Tree, Colorado, said in an academy news release. “The causes range from oily skin to hair care habits, along with some medical conditions.”
Fortunately, there are a number of effective treatments available for dandruff, says the AAD. Many people can treat mild dandruff at home by washing their hair regularly, experts say.
People with a more persistent case of dandruff can turn to a shampoo specially formulated to treat the condition.
For mild cases, regular hair washing can be an effective dandruff treatment (iStock)
Effective dandruff shampoos should contain at least one of these ingredients, the AAD says: zinc pyrithione, salicylic acid, sulfur, selenium sulfide, ketoconazole, or coal tar.
If one shampoo doesn’t work, you should try alternating between shampoos that contain different active ingredients, the AAD recommends. Some anti-dandruff shampoos should sit on the scalp for regarding 5 to 10 minutes before rinsing off, the AAD says. Check the instructions on the bottle.
People can also treat dandruff better by shampooing according to their hair type. For example, people with fine or naturally straight hair, or an oily scalp, should wash their hair frequently. They may need to shampoo every day or every other day, and use an anti-dandruff shampoo twice a week.
People with thick or naturally curly hair should shampoo when necessary, using their anti-dandruff shampoo once a week. These people should try to apply anti-dandruff shampoo to the scalp rather than the hair, since dandruff-treating ingredients tend to dry out the hair.
The winter season creates a drier environment that can increase the presence of dandruff.
People who use anti-dandruff shampoos should also protect their scalp from the sun.
A sunburn on the scalp can increase dandruff flaking, and some products, such as those containing coal tar, can make the scalp more sensitive to harmful UV rays.
People can protect their scalp by wearing a hat or sunscreen if they have thinning hair. “If these tips don’t provide relief from dandruff, it’s best to make an appointment to see a board-certified dermatologist,” Sadeghpour said.
SOURCE: American Academy of Dermatology, press release, December 12, 2023
* Por Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporters
©The New York Times 2023
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