SAY NO TO DANDRUFF

              
         Your scalp is skin; it needs to be cleansed, exfoliated and toned just like the skin on the rest of your body in order to be healthy. 

    

    

       The most essential of these 3 is to ‘cleanse’ i.e. shampoo (which is something an overwhelming number of people don’t do enough.)

        

       Think of what would happen if you didn’t wash your face or body every day – it would get pretty gross, greasy and grimy (I could go on here, but I think you get the idea).  

   

    The same goes for your scalp and hair. If this isn’t motivation enough to hop in the shower with your favourite shampoo, research has shown that a dirty, flaky scalp can exacerbate and even cause hair loss.

WHAT IS DANDRUFF?

Dandruff is related to increased cell turnover and is essentially a build-up of dead skin cells on your scalp.  It often occurs when there’s a change to your skin secretions like sebum (oil) and sweat and can be triggered by stress and use of the wrong products.

    

    

    

      But not always –you may think you have dandruff, when in fact you’re just not washing your hair enough! Skin shedding is happening all the time, but you usually don’t notice it on your body as it’s rubbed off on your clothes throughout the day or removed when you bathe. 

       However, you begin to notice these cells on your scalp when they’re allowed to accumulate.

WHY DOES DANDRUFF ITCH?

Associated itching and irritation are caused by an over-growth of bacteria, and often, the pressure of the flakes on the nerve endings in the hair follicles.

   

PROTECTION

Shampoo Daily. Frequent shampooing (daily if you can) removes dead skin cells and promotes healthy scalp flora. Already have dandruff? Use anti-dandruff shampoo & scalp toner.

  

Be Wary of Dairy. Dairy products can worsen dandruff, so try avoiding these if you’re having a flare-up. Add soy or almond milk to your morning coffee(s).

Drink Sensibly. Alcohol can dehydrate your scalp. However, white wine and champagne in particular can irritate flaky/itchy scalps. Sorry!

Don’t Add Oil. Contrary to popular belief dandruff is oily, not dry. Don’t rub in oil to remove it – you will just get greasier flakes.

Stress Less. You may have noticed that when you’re irritable, your scalp follows suit! Try to relax – stress can trigger dandruff.

   

       If the steps above don’t clear your scalp, or it’s inflamed, you may have a more serious scalp condition, such as psoriasis, pityriasis amiantacia or seborrheic dermatitis. Don’t hesitate to see your GP if you’re concerned. The faster these are addressed, the better!