Is More Dandruff a Good Sign?

Dandruff can be a chronic issue that involves a dry scalp with excessive skin flaking. Skin flakes could cling to the hair shaft and have the capacity to accumulate oils and dust in addition to hair products prior to falling down the collar or shoulder.

But is more dandruff good? The answer is no. Although a small amount of mild dandruff is normal, too much dandruff can lead to problems on your scalp, such as yeast overgrowth or another scalp condition.

Dandruff is not indicative of poor hygiene and is a normal process, but excessive dandruff is a sign of something more serious, so you should know how to control dandruff. In the following, we shall go over the low-down on dandruff and what may cause excessive shedding, as well as how Hairy Hair may be able to help you with your hair loss.

What causes dandruff?

Skin cells on your scalp and body will normally multiply as they are needed. When they die, they are then shed. As part of this, your skin will regularly turn over cells as a response to inflammation.

If you have dandruff, then skin cells on the scalp will shed faster than usual. The most common cause of dandruff, especially for those with an oily scalp, is seborrheic dermatitis. This condition turns the skin oily and red with a scaly texture. Then, white or yellow scales fall off to create dandruff.

Seborrheic dermatitis can develop anywhere that oil glands are present. This includes:

• Eyebrows
• Groin
• Armpits
• Chest
• Upper back
• Ears
• Sides of the nose

A fungus known as Malassezia can trigger dandruff. While it lives on the itchy scalp, if there is an excess of this fungus, then skin cells will multiply rapidly. Fungus can be caused by a number of factors, such as aging, hormonal fluctuations, stress, or an underlying medical condition that is not obvious. 

The majority of people believe that dandruff is caused by unclean hair. Actually, if you don’t wash your hair enough, oil will build up and lead to flaking.

What are the treatments for dandruff?

While there is no dandruff cure, most people can find a treatment that helps with some trial and error. The first course of treatment for dandruff is to shampoo daily until your scalp is dandruff-free. You need to wash your hair more thoroughly in order to get out any buildup from your hair products.

Every day washing may help many individuals who have dandruff, but it causes irritation of the scalp if used excessively. Shampooing on its own using a regular product may not even be strong enough to address flaking and itchiness, hence, an anti-dandruff one can be employed to cure it more effectively.

Medicated shampoos

There is a range of medicated shampoos that are available from a pharmacy without a prescription.

These include: 

• Ketoconazole/miconazole: These are antifungal shampoos that suppress the growth of yeast and halt other fungal infections.

• Zinc pyrithione: It is a shampoo that is antifungal to reduce the production of skin cells.

• Selenium sulphide: This is anti-fungus in nature and also retards the development of skin cells.

• Ciclopirox olamine: This anti-yeast shampoo is designed to suppress the growth of Malassezia and reduce inflammation.

• Coal tar: This reduces the rate at which scalp cells die and shed.

Prior to applying any medicated shampoo, read the directions and question the pharmacist as to whether or not it is appropriate for your hair type. Shampoos will manage the dandruff for a time, but decreases in strength over time. A change of shampoo sometimes remedies this.

Shampoos that have an antifungal ingredient may take a little while to get used to and can be applied a number of times within an application. Massage the product into the scalp and apply to the hair for a few minutes. Don’t get it in your eye, as it will sting.

Coal-tar products should come with a rinse or conditioner. It is so pungent and will need to be washed off. Steer clear of the sun for some time after application, as it leaves the scalp open to sunburn. It also stains, so be sure to rinse it off thoroughly after application.

Corticosteroid lotion

Topical corticosteroid lotion can help if the scalp seborrhoeic dermatitis isn’t under control with a medicated shampoo on its own. They can be prescribed with betamethasone or methyprednisolone.

Keratolytic shampoos

Shampoos that contain keratolytic agents like salicylic acid can loosen keratin in the outer skin cells. Keratin is the central protein in hair, which can be quite dense in people with dandruff, causing over multiplication of cells. When the cells loosen, they are discarded and expose the skin underneath.

Home remedies

There are some self-care treatments that you can also do to help manage your dandruff. These include:

• Scalp massage: Facilitating the flow of blood to the scalp will loosen dead skin cells. After a massage, you can brush the scalp to loosen flakes.

• Acid rinse: Lemon juice and apple cider vinegar may be useful in a rinse when they are watered down for oily hair types that tend to produce dandruff.

• Tea tree oil: Tea tree oil is an antifungal essential oil that is used to treat dandruff. The Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology released that 41% of patients who received treatment with shampoo containing tea tree oil were able to improve their dandruff condition when applying it daily for 4 weeks.

How can Hairy Hair help with my hair loss?

Dandruff can be a concerning condition that can cause emotional distress, with visible flaking. A small amount of dry skin and dandruff is normal, but having an excess of dandruff can be a sign of a more serious condition like seborrheic dermatitis. This condition can cause further problems like hair loss.

Excess dandruff is just one reason for potential hair loss. Your hair can fall out from a variety of factors that may be outside of your control, such as aging and genetics. These causes can combine, making it tricky to treat independently.

This is why Hairy Hair offers a comprehensive treatment that combines a powerful combination of ingredients and distils it into a single daily pill. The treatment is formulated to prevent the production of dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This is the hormone that causes hair follicles to shrink and leads to hair loss.

It also acts as a vasodilator, where blood vessels dilate on the scalp so more oxygen and nutrients can reach your scalp. It’s rounded off with natural ingredients to promote keratin production and reduce inflammation. This well-rounded approach to hair loss may improve your chances of regaining your hair and preventing future hair loss.

Dandruff and hair loss treatment

Dandruff might not be curable, but many people are able to manage their symptoms in the long run. A small amount of dandruff is normal, but more dandruff is typically not a good sign. It’s important to see a healthcare professional if you’re worried about a scalp condition like contact dermatitis that is causing excessive dandruff.

Treating your dandruff with a medicated shampoo can help reduce flakiness and prevent itchiness. There are also home remedies, like scalp massages and coal-tar products may help supplement your treatment if a shampoo isn’t helping you to manage your symptoms enough.

Dandruff is just one potential cause of hair issues, so if you’re worried about hair loss, get in touch with Hairy Hair today. All you need to do is fill in a brief online form to get started. Once we get to know you and your hair loss, our expert team will put together a personalised treatment plan.

One of our qualified Australian GPs will then give you a call to go through your plan with you and answer any questions you may have. Then all you have to do is wait for your prescription to be delivered straight to your home. Our dedicated support team will be on hand to support you during your journey to potentially renewed hair growth and confidence.