Getting Rid of Dandruff

Written by April Reinhardt (last updated May 3, 2021)

Often mistaken with simply dry skin, dandruff can be a chronic condition of the scalp discernible by flaking and itching skin, and sometimes accompanied by redness and swelling. Perhaps you've experienced dandruff yourself, or have seen telltale signs of dandruff on others. White flakes on the shoulders of dark clothing indicate that flakes have fallen from the scalp. Underlying causes of dandruff can include infrequent shampooing, contact dermatitis, eczema, fungus, psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, or simple dry skin.

How do you get rid of dandruff? There are several kinds of shampoo available for treating mild cases of dandruff, but some can be quite harsh, creating a dry scalp that leads to more flaking. Dandruff shampoos are generally available as over-the-counter products. If you cannot find them, speak with your pharmacist. You may need to get a doctor's prescription for a dandruff product if over-the-counter remedies don't help. Here are some dandruff shampoos that you can try at home:

  • Tar. Products containing coal tar control how quickly the scalp's skin cells die and flake away. Tar-based shampoos, such as T/Gel by Neutrogena, have been proven to treat psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis.
  • Selenium sulfide. Commonly sold under the name Selsun Blue, selenium sulfide shampoo slows skin cell death but can also treat fungus. If your hair contains coloring, selenium sulfide can alter the color, so it is imperative to follow the directions on the label of the product.
  • Salicylic acid. Scalp scrubs, such as Ionil T, remove scale and flakes, but are also harsh, can dry the scalp, and lead to more flaking. If you use such a product, make sure that you use a quality conditioner after shampooing to help eliminate dryness.
  • Ketoconazole. If you've ever had to rid your children of lice, this name might sound familiar. Commonly sold under the name Nizoral, shampoos containing ketoconazole contain an antifungal property to help control scale and dandruff, but they also kill lice.
  • Zinc pyrithione. Anti-dandruff shampoos such as Selsun Salon and Head & Shoulders contain zinc pyrithione, which is an antifungal and antibacterial solution. Such products help to eliminate the fungus that creates dandruff and scalp dermatitis.

If you're uncomfortable using dandruff shampoos, you can try some home remedies and lifestyle changes to help prevent or get rid of dandruff: shampoo more often if you have an oily scalp, add more zinc and Vitamin B to your diet, reduce stress in your life, expose yourself to a little more sunlight, and reduce the amount of hair styling products you use each day.

Resource Links

Author Bio

April Reinhardt

An admin­istrator for a mutual fund man­age­ment firm, April deals with the writ­ten word daily. She loves to write and plans to author a memoir in the near future. April attend­ed More­head State Uni­ver­sity to pursue a BA degree in Ele­men­tary Edu­ca­tion. ...

MORE FROM APRIL

Mulching Trees

One of the most beneficial tasks a person can do for the health of a tree is to mulch it properly. Not only can mulch ...

Discover More

Cooking Artichokes

Each leaf of a cooked artichoke has an edible layer that you can eat with your teeth, or scrape away with a knife and ...

Discover More

Cucumber Sandwiches

Cucumber sandwiches are not just for tea parties. I used to work with a man who brought cucumber sandwiches for lunch ...

Discover More
More Beauty Tips

Maintaining Long and Healthy Hair

Caring for long hair can be fairly easy if you develop good habits when dealing with it. This includes having a gentle ...

Discover More

Getting a Professional Perm

Before considering getting a professional perm, your hair must be in good condition. Although a professional perm is ...

Discover More

Choosing the Right Hair Brush

There are many types of hair brushes to choose from. Make sure you choose the kind of brush you buy according to your ...

Discover More
Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is five minus 0?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)