There's two main types of "dandruff", and they should be treated differently.
Real dandruff is actually a fungal issue, and it produces flakes that are slightly larger, often with a slight yellow tint, and they're usually kind of oily. If you scratch your scalp (which, please avoid doing as it doesn't help matters, but we've all been there so no judgement), you'll end up with oily flakes stuck under your finger nails more so than tiny white flakes "snowing" everywhere.
Dry scalp is often mistaken as dandruff due to the flakes, but it's just dry skin. The flakes are smaller, usually white without the yellow tint, and not oily to the touch. [the difference in the flakes is best seen in clean, dry hair without any product.]
Real dandruff is best treated with medicated shampoos. As someone else mentioned, shampoos with the active ingredient Ketoconazole often work very well. Zinv pyrithione is another common active ingredient to look for. With these it's best to shampoo thoroughly, and condition only the ends of your hair not the scalp. Avoid putting any leave in products on the scalp. If you already shampoo daily, continue doing so with the medicated shampoo. If you shampoo less often, I usually recommend shampooing more often for the first week, then going back to your normal routine (still with the medicated shampoo). Use the medicated shampoo until the flakes have gone completely, then you can switch back to your normal shampoo. These tend to be harsher than regular shampoos, so they're not great to use all the time without a direct need.
For a dry scalp, skip the dandruff shampoos. They're meant to help dry out the excess oils of real dandruff, so they can make a dry scalp worse. Instead use a gentle shampoo, thoroughly massage it in (helps break up existing flakes and helps with blood flow to the scalp), and rinse super thoroughly (massage while you rinse to make sure you get everything out). Use conditioner as usual, but also massage the scalp while rinsing it out. Leaving shampoo or conditioner on the scalp can cause irritation and dryness, so making sure to get everything rinsed thoroughly is important. If you shampoo daily, try to do it less often. Even switching to every other day will often help with dryness. If that's all not enough and you're still feeling dry and flaky, oiling your scalp can help. Apply a bit of oil to the scalp and massage it in, focusing on the dryest areas. Leave in for 10min - 1 hour, then shampoo and condition as normal. Coconut, jojoba, avocado, and olive oil are all good choices for this.
If you're still having issues, it might be something else, like psoriasis. When in doubt, see a doctor.
Dracarys_Aspo t1_j2bbndn wrote
Reply to LPT Request: How to get rid of dandruff? by ImThour
There's two main types of "dandruff", and they should be treated differently.
Real dandruff is actually a fungal issue, and it produces flakes that are slightly larger, often with a slight yellow tint, and they're usually kind of oily. If you scratch your scalp (which, please avoid doing as it doesn't help matters, but we've all been there so no judgement), you'll end up with oily flakes stuck under your finger nails more so than tiny white flakes "snowing" everywhere.
Dry scalp is often mistaken as dandruff due to the flakes, but it's just dry skin. The flakes are smaller, usually white without the yellow tint, and not oily to the touch. [the difference in the flakes is best seen in clean, dry hair without any product.]
Real dandruff is best treated with medicated shampoos. As someone else mentioned, shampoos with the active ingredient Ketoconazole often work very well. Zinv pyrithione is another common active ingredient to look for. With these it's best to shampoo thoroughly, and condition only the ends of your hair not the scalp. Avoid putting any leave in products on the scalp. If you already shampoo daily, continue doing so with the medicated shampoo. If you shampoo less often, I usually recommend shampooing more often for the first week, then going back to your normal routine (still with the medicated shampoo). Use the medicated shampoo until the flakes have gone completely, then you can switch back to your normal shampoo. These tend to be harsher than regular shampoos, so they're not great to use all the time without a direct need.
For a dry scalp, skip the dandruff shampoos. They're meant to help dry out the excess oils of real dandruff, so they can make a dry scalp worse. Instead use a gentle shampoo, thoroughly massage it in (helps break up existing flakes and helps with blood flow to the scalp), and rinse super thoroughly (massage while you rinse to make sure you get everything out). Use conditioner as usual, but also massage the scalp while rinsing it out. Leaving shampoo or conditioner on the scalp can cause irritation and dryness, so making sure to get everything rinsed thoroughly is important. If you shampoo daily, try to do it less often. Even switching to every other day will often help with dryness. If that's all not enough and you're still feeling dry and flaky, oiling your scalp can help. Apply a bit of oil to the scalp and massage it in, focusing on the dryest areas. Leave in for 10min - 1 hour, then shampoo and condition as normal. Coconut, jojoba, avocado, and olive oil are all good choices for this.
If you're still having issues, it might be something else, like psoriasis. When in doubt, see a doctor.