Is Dandruff Worse in the Winter? Learn which steps you should take to prevent it!
Over the past few weeks, we have noticed an increase in enquiries about dandruff, which got us thinking - how many of you have wondered the same thing? If you’re seeking answers, read on…
Firstly, let's explore what dandruff is and why over 50% of the population suffers from it.
Dandruff is a common condition of the scalp where the skin flakes and the scalp itches, a lot! This isn’t a contagious condition or particularly serious, but it can be embarrassing for the sufferer, especially at the time of year when we tend to wear darker clothes. Who wants snowfall on their shoulders?
Dandruff isn’t the same for everybody, what I mean by this is that there are several reasons for the flaky fall. Dandruff has nothing to do with poor hygiene, but it can look worse in unclean hair. However, if you are not washing your hair regularly enough (at least once a week) you can get a build-up of dead skin, oil and products.
Cold weather and stress can worsen the condition. The wearing of hats in colder weather can also contribute as any fungal infection will thrive in moist, warmer temperatures.
So what’s the remedy?
- Wash your hair more regularly and use enough shampoo to break down the build-up.
- Rinse your hair thoroughly to remove any excess product.
- Allow hair to dry naturally or on a low heat setting to avoid further drying out of the skin.
- We recommend using a shampoo that rebalances the pH of the scalp, this will prevent flaking and itching. If this doesn’t remedy the situation you may need to move to a medicated shampoo to bring things back in line. Mediceuticals Vivid Shampoo is a great option for this, available to try in our Aderans Hair Centres.
Causes of dandruff:
- If you have dry skin, your skin lacks moisture which is why it becomes flaky. Moisturising is the key to success for this type of dandruff so moisturising shampoos and conditioners can help. Applying hair and scalp oil also has great benefits as well as weekly deep conditioning treatments, especially in the colder months as our hair goes through many temperature changes throughout the day.
- Did you know you could have a yeast overgrowth? Malassezia is a fungus that lives on the scalp and skin of most of us, but unfortunately for some - this can be the root cause of your dandruff! The fungus feeds on sebum, an oil that the follicle produces to protect and moisturise the hair shaft. A waste product of Malassezia is Oleic Acid. This is an irritant to the scalp, so the skin reacts and reproduces at a faster rate than normal resulting in excessive flaking. To control this pesky fungus, you need a shampoo that contains Zinc Pyrithione, which prevents the fungi from dividing. If you think you have Malassezia, we would recommend trying our Mediceuticals X-Derma shampoo + Therapeutic conditioner. Book a consultation at one of our Aderans Hair Centres for an assessment.
- Dandruff can be caused by other medical conditions - Seborrheic Dermatitis is a chronic medical condition that can affect other areas of the body. It is characterised by dandruff and redness to the scalp and is a form of eczema. Weekly cleansing with a medicated shampoo can control the condition but is not a cure.
If you are looking for more information or support on preventing unwanted dandruff, book a consultation with us at one of our Aderans Hair Centres.
Let us know your thoughts on this week’s blog in the comments section!
