You can hide some symptoms beneath your shirt or below a layer of makeup. Dandruff is not one of them. Talk about rough.
We get it ladies. You’ve spun yourself into a product frenzy with oils, creams, and lotions galore. Now you’re mixing things, confused and non-committal, and back to square one.
Not to fear. Because dandruff is a scalp condition that can impact anyone, there are many ways to find dandruff relief. You just need the facts to get rid of dandruff for good.
Here’s what’s really going on with your scalp.
How to Know If You Have Dandruff
Also known as seborrheic dermatitis or seborrhea, dandruff is easily diagnosed and therefore, easily managed. If you have any of the following symptoms, it’s possible you have dandruff. Here’s how to know what dandruff looks like:
- White flakes on your clothes around the shoulders
- Itchy scalp
- Irritated, oily skin
- Sensitivity to hair products
- Dry and flaky skin on your face, eyebrows, and ears
- Other related skin conditions
While the reason for dandruff isn’t known, what is known is that there’s a connection between dandruff and hormones. Hormones control sebum production, which is the oil found in the scalp, face and chest. Sebum creates oleic acid which can be an irritant to the scalp’s skin cells, causing them to flake.
If you’re in a self-diagnosing WebMD tailspin, we’re here to tell you that this is common and you’ll be okay. To effectively get rid of dandruff, there are just two requirements:
- Finding the right product to get rid of dandruff fast
- Tending to your body routinely to get rid of dandruff for good
If you can do those two things, you’re well on your way to living dandruff free.
Dandruff Dont’s
If you’ve tried the desperate scalp-lathering-oil-soak-method, you’re not alone. While a dry and flaking scalp prompts people to moisturize with oil-based products, this method will actually perpetuate your dandruff.
We know, it’s confusing. Dry skin might want oil, but a dry scalp does not. Oils feed the yeast overgrowth on the scalp. The main exception to this is tea tree oil, which is actually a great anti-dandruff resource.
Now that you know the dandruff don’ts, read on for what to do for optimal dandruff relief.
How to Get Rid of Dandruff Fast With These 7 Things
There are many natural remedies that can be used to jumpstart your anti-dandruff journey. Solve your dandruff concerns with the following 7 steps.
1. Up Your Omega-3’s
While dandruff may target just one part of the body, your symptoms are part of a greater system. Omega-3’s are fatty acids and they’re crucial for skin health. They monitor oil production and hydration, which can help your body’s hormone conversation.
Whether digested through food or supplements, taking Omega-3’s are an easy way to combat dry skin and hair complaints.
2. Push the Probiotics!
Probiotics help the digestive and immune systems by providing you with good bacteria. Because the scalp grows bacteria and fungus (it’s supposed to!), probiotics work to balance healthy yeast levels.
Skin is one of the most complex organs of the body and probiotics—literally, pro-biotics—help the greater microbiome.
3. Increase Your Hygiene Awareness
No, we’re not accusing you of bad hygiene. It’s important to acknowledge whether you have dry or oily skin and scalps before taking action. When people say the first step to fixing a problem is acknowledging it, they’re not kidding.
Knowing your body’s tendencies can help you know your dandruff. Not shampooing enough can exacerbate dandruff symptoms. Similarly, if you have an oily scalp, it’s best to stay away from oil-based styling products.
4. Lemon Love
Lemon juice exfoliation scrubs are a loveable go-to for a dandruff hair care technique (and honestly, even for non-dandruff heads!). The scrub tends to the oil, dirt and flakes as an overall scalp cleaning. Consider it an easy excuse for a scalp massage.
Yes, please!
5. Use an Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
Have an anti-dandruff shampoo handy for after your lemon soak! No matter your level of dandruff discomfort, an anti dandruff shampoo is imperative for dandruff relief.
The ingredients in anti-dandruff shampoos are anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory and full of strategic ingredients. Having an anti-dandruff shampoo is a great excuse for daily self-care showers.
While there are many anti-dandruff shampoo options, you can find some with lemon and tea tree oil already in them! These are a good option to keep consistent with the other regimens you’re adopting.
Other anti-dandruff ingredients might also include ichthyol pale and piroctone olamine. For all those times you randomly grab items off the shelf, this would be a time to learn about what you’re putting in your body.
Your anti-dandruff shampoo will come with proper instructions about how to properly lather, rinse and repeat it for effective results.
6. Focus on Boosting Your Immune System
Those susceptible to dandruff can experience worsened symptoms in cold and dry climates. Dandruff also heightens with increased stress levels. Prioritizing your immune system is the best way to keep dandruff symptoms at bay.
While the immune system can be strengthened with adjusted sleep, food, rest, exercise and play, loving yourself throughout this process is an imperative step to healing and boosting your immune system.
7. Be Gentle With Yourself
More than anything, the ultimate dandruff relief will come from your desire to tend to yourself. Symptoms are messengers asking for more self-soothing. Consider what your scalp is saying.
Perhaps you’ll wonder: What is irritating me? How can I love myself from the top-down? What do I need to shed from my life? What is too much for my head right now? How are my hormones communicating with me?
Asking questions specific to your condition is a great way to ensure long-lasting healing.
Dancing With Dandruff
Like any recovery process, there may be ups and downs and it’s important to ride the waves. Using an anti-dandruff shampoo might give immediate relief, but the rest asks you to up your self-care routine as a consistent and integral part of your life.
In that sense, there’s a lot to be gained in the quest to get rid of dandruff. You’ll learn more about yourself and how to honor certain health basics.
Everyone can benefit from a reset sometimes, and hey, you may even find that you enjoy those scalp scrubs.
To read more about health and beauty tips, check out our other blog posts!
