Wet your hair and sprinkle a tablespoon of baking soda along your scalp. Leave it on for a minute and wash it off. You can also shampoo after to thoroughly rinse it off. Baking soda fights against overactive fungi and can help exfoliate the skin on your scalp without irritating it.
Add some apple cider vinegar to water (Equal parts) and keep it aside. After washing your hair, apply the mix to your wet hair. Gently massage your hair with the mix. Leave to dry for 15 minutes and then rinse it off.
You should wash your hair more often.
Kaplan, M.D. To rid your scalp of dandruff, you need to clean out all the gunk, which a regular shampoo won't do. Dr. Kaplan recommends a medicated dandruff shampoo (which you can find at drugstores) every day, one that contains ketoconazole, selenium sulfide, or zinc.
Shampoos containing salicylic acid (Jason Dandruff Relief Treatment Shampoo, Baker P&S, others). These products help eliminate scaling. Selenium sulfide shampoos (Head & Shoulders Intensive, Selsun Blue, others). These contain an antifungal agent.
Most people with dandruff don't require a doctor's care. See your primary care doctor or a doctor who specializes in skin conditions (dermatologist) if your condition doesn't improve with regular use of dandruff shampoo.
It could be that you don't use enough shampoo, or that the shampoo you use isn't strong enough to break down the oil barrier that is contributing to your dandruff. The remedy: While the fix could be as simple as shampooing more frequently, you might need to take it one step further.
If your dandruff is persistent, it might be the sign of a bigger problem, like a fungal infection or seborrheic dermatitis (a scaly, itchy skin condition).
Helps with dandruff: Dandruff results from a dry scalp, and moisture is needed in order to treat it. “Since showering with cold water helps the scalp retain moisture, this will in turn alleviate dandruff and the irritation that comes with it,” Engelman explains.
Using cold water improves blood circulation in your scalp and reduces dandruff. Washing hair with hot water removes excess dirt and oil and prevents scalp infection to promote efficient hair and scalp care.
When you're washing hair with hot water, it strips away this natural oil from your hair and scalp, leaving it completely dry. You might think that this is an ideal scenario to prevent dandruff, but your scalp needs those natural oils to protect you.
The frequency of shampooing necessary to control dandruff varies from person to person. Some need to shampoo twice a week, others more frequently, even daily. Many people forget that the scalp as well as the hair needs to be shampooed.
Hot water can also cause inflammation on the scalp, which can lead to dandruff, itchiness and hair loss. This occurs because hot water damages the hair follicles and disrupts the natural balance of the scalp.
When your dandruff improves, it's OK to use dandruff shampoo less often. Once a week might be enough to keep flakes off your shoulders. If dandruff doesn't get better after 4–6 weeks, try another shampoo with a different active ingredient. Talk to the pharmacist if you have any questions about dandruff shampoos.
Not only does your scalp have a plethora of sweat glands, but it also has an abundance of sebaceous (oil) glands, which produce oily sebum. Have you ever scratched your scalp and noticed white, waxy buildup under your nails? That's sebum mixed with dead skin cells.
Thankfully stress itself is not a direct cause of dandruff. The ever-present microbe on your scalp, Malassezia Globosa, is the true culprit. However, dandruff and stress are not completely unrelated as the symptoms of stress have been shown to significantly aggravate a dandruff problem.
If the skin on your head is itchy and flaking, you may have dry scalp. The condition occurs when your scalp loses too much moisture. Hair care products, the weather, age and various skin conditions can cause dry scalp.
The first step for treatment is similar to what you have tried: over-the-counter dandruff shampoos, containing zinc, selenium, or ketoconazole. For maximum benefit, the shampoos should be left on the scalp for five minutes before rinsing. Coal tar shampoo is also effective, although it may discolor light-colored hair.
If your diet is high in bad fats, it can cause more oil production to your scalp and exacerbate dandruff. Include essential fatty acids in your diet such as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. These two can support healthy hair.
Here's your anti-dandruff diet
Include fish, flaxseeds and walnuts in your diet. Omega-3 fatty acids keep your scalp hydrated.