Summertime Care for Dandruff

You have heard the slogans, "Dandruff Care for Great Looking Hair" (Head and Shoulders) and "Don't Wear Black with out the Blue" (Selsun Blue), but what really works for dandruff control? In the summertime, when dandruff should be alleviated by the warmer weather, are there other steps you can take to control your dandruff? Let's take a look at what dandruff is, why people get dandruff, and what you can do to control and prevent it.

First of all, dandruff is not a disease for unclean people. It really has nothing to do with hygiene at all. Dandruff can happen to anybody, no matter their race, religion, age, sex, or hygiene practices. Not washing your hair enough will not cause dandruff, but it can irritate it if you already have it. It is as simple as something that everyone does, shed dead skin cells. Dandruff is just an overabundance of the dead skin cells sloughing off of your scalp more quickly than usual. Dandruff does not just affect the scalp. The small white flakes can also affect the eyebrows, hairline, ears, and nose. If your dandruff is larger patches of silvery scales and causes yellow flakes, you may have a more severe form of dandruff known as Sebhorreic Dermatitis, or flaking of the scalp.

Doctors don't know for sure, but they believe that dandruff is possibly caused by a fat- eating fungus called Pitrosporum Ovale. This fungus is found in most people, but in excess in dandruff sufferers. The fungus feeds on the oil produced by the hair follicles. This can cause irritation in the skin resulting in dandruff. Irritation resulting in dandruff can also be caused by alkaline in soaps, infrequent shampooing, a weakened immune system, hormonal fluctuations, and stress. Cold, dry winters can make dandruff worse.

In the summertime, the easiest way to treat dandruff is ...take a vacation. They say that stress can add to your dandruff levels so go take a beach vacation. (This is a 3-in-one treatment) The salt water is a miraculous healer of all that ails you and is good for healing the itchiness of your scalp. The sunshine and most air is also a great treatment for your dandruff.

Conventional methods, if you just can't get away to the beach, include over-the-counter shampoos, prescription shampoos (for really bad cases) or homeopathic remedies. Over-the-counter shampoos come in various forms:

Coal/Tar such as T-Gel by Neutrogena

Pyrithione Zinc such as Head and Shoulders

Salicylic Acid and Sulfur such as T-Sal

Selenium Sulfide such as Selsun Blue

Ketoconazole such as Nizoral (OTC or Prescription strengths)

For an OTC shampoo, you may have to try several different kinds to see which one works best for you and because you may build up immunity to one kind, you may have to switch frequently. Some OTC shampoos do not clear up the problem; just deter the flakiness associated with dandruff. If OTC shampoos are not working, consult your doctor as you may need a prescription strength shampoo or treatment. (www.webmd.com/skin-beauty/guide/skin-beauty-dandruff )

Homeopathic remedies are varied. You can use baking soda or aspirin (crushed) mixed with your regular shampoo. Preparation H can also be rubbed into the scalp to get rid of dandruff. Other remedies include coconut or olive oil, massaged into the scalp, covered, and left overnight, then washed in the morning. Also, apple cider vinegar or Listerine can be used to kill the fungus associated with dandruff. (http://www.susangaer.com/studentprojects/dandruff.htm)

Dandruff is easy to control and prevent. Just figure out which process works best for you. And maybe go on vacation anyway!