Dandruff: how to get rid of it?

Whether dry or oily, dandruff is always a major nuisance, an annoying blemish and is often a major discomfort. Despite all this, it is a common problem for many people. One of the main wishes is to get rid of it! Let’s see how.

Dry or oily dandruff

Dandruff is caused by excessive desquamation of the scalp. The process of cell turnover occurs naturally: if this turnover undergoes a dysfunction, the balance of the scalp is altered and more cells are expelled. Dandruff in fact manifests itself as the presence of dead cell residues on the scalp in the form of whitish skin flakes visible to the naked eye. Dandruff can be dry or oily. If the scalp is dry, dandruff is dry and remains light: it can be found in the hair and on clothes. The unsightly effect and discomfort is obvious. Oily dandruff, on the other hand, is due to an excess of sebum. In this case, the dandruff remains attached to the scalp, at the root of the hair. In many cases the scalp is also reddened and flaky.

The causes of dandruff and how to get rid of it

There can be many causes of dandruff and recognising the cause will certainly help in solving the problem. The main cause is the presence of a fungus called Malassezia furfur (or Pityrosporum) that is present in the hair follicles: when the scalp is excessively oily this fungus proliferates. In fact, it feeds on the sebaceous secretions of the scalp causing desquamation. Other causes could be hormonal imbalances, genetic predisposition, stress, poor diet or contact dermatitis. How can dandruff be eliminated? First of all, it can be prevented by proper scalp hygiene and cleansing, improving nutrition and avoiding prolonged stressful situations.

Remedies against dandruff

The best ally for combating dandruff and soothing the itching sensation and discomfort is certainly the choice of a proper anti-dandruff treatment. So choose a shampoo suitable for eliminating dandruff and combating microbial proliferation. The shampoo can be accompanied by a specific lotion that can also mitigate the itching sensation and irritation. Firstly it is always a good idea to prepare the scalp to receive the treatment: opt for a scalp scrub or a detox remedy.