Get Rid of Embarrassing Dandruff

Many people are asking the question “what is dandruff and why me?”  Yes, dandruff is an issue that is not only irritating, but embarrassing and according to www.rightdiagnosis.com it is effecting 1 in 5 Americans.  So if there are so many people with dandruff, why is it so hard to get rid of?  The answer to this question is that it is usually improperly diagnosed.

Because someone’s head may be itchy and flakey, the common response is to explain it away as dandruff.  However, there are a variety of issues that may be occurring.  The lamens definition of dandruff is actually a fungal or bacterial problem.  You know that you have dandruff specifically, because the flakes that are coming off of your head are soft and mushy.  If they happen to be dry and flakey, then your problem may be psoriasis, eczema, or seborrhoeic dermatitis.  It could even be a buildup of oils and skin cells from simply not shampooing the hair enough.  Therefore, it is very hard for the average person to even detect there is a difference, especially if he or she has not been educated about it.

Now that there is a clearer definition of what you may be dealing with, I’ll go through simple solutions to each.  If you have read all of this and determine that you in fact do have dandruff, this is truly a difficult issue to medicate.  The first and probably easiest solution for true dandruff would be to buy a good scalp balancing shampoo (I suggest Balancing Wash by Kevin Murphy).  If this doesn’t work, you may want to consult with your doctor about getting a good antifungal treatment.  However, if you have read through most of this and determine that actually, you have symptoms of dry, irritated skin, i.e. eczema or psoriasis, I would first suggest a very moisturizing shampoo and conditioner (Hydrate Me wash and rinse by Kevin Murphy).  If this still doesn’t solve your problem, I suggest consulting with a physician about getting a medicinal solution whether it be topical or oral.  Though these are all problems having to do with the health of hair and scalp, your hairdresser may not be able to easily solve all your problems.  This is unless, in fact it is the last issue of the three.  In that case, make sure you are washing your hair thoroughly and only putting conditioner at your ends rather than anywhere near your scalp.

This is the extent of mine and most hairdressers’ knowledge about the subject of dandruff.  It is very common that most clients who think they have dandruff, in fact do not.  If you do not believe this article, do your own research.  And though I feel like I have given you enough information to make an educated decision, I always suggest consulting with your primary care physician.  As hairdressers, we may seem like magicians, but some dilemmas have to be left to other sorts of experts.