Dandruff and I have been frenemies for ages.
Or better, dandruff hangs around my head all the time like it wants to be my BFF. Me? I’ve been trying my best to get rid of it since it started stalking me.
If you’ve been dealing with this pest, too, you know that’s no easy task. There are many things out there that promise to soothe your flaky and itchy scalp, but, guess what? They don’t work the same for everyone.
Like, I can recommend you a treatment that did wonders for me and it may do nothing for you. Yes, really.
So, how do YOU get rid of dandruff?
Your best bet is to experiment until you find what works for you. And, even when you find it, change it up after a while. Sticking to one treatment for long can make it less effective. Bummer.
So, what can you try? Here’s a list of ingredients that fight dandruff. Look for them next time you go shopping for shampoo:
Climbazole: it has antifungal properties that treat malassezia, the fungus that causes dandruff.
Coal tar: it slows down cell turnover. It works for seborrheic dermatitis (flaking of the skin) and psoriasis, too.
Ketoconazole: an antifungal drug that fights the cause of dandruff. You can use it for seborrheic dermatitis, too.
Miconazole: another anti-fungal agent that treats dandruff.
Natural oils: many natural oils like castor oil, coconut oil and tea-tree oil can fight dandruff.
Octopirox: anti-dandruff agent that reduces its symptoms, especially itching and flaking.
Piroctone Olamine: an anti bacterial agent that fights the cause of dandruff.
Salicylic acid: a BHA (beta hydroxy acid) with antimicrobial properties. It loosens dead skin cells, so you can wash out the flaky bits easily. But, it can dry out your scalp.
Selenium sulfide: it slows down cell turnover. It works well against seborrheic dermatitis and psoriasis, too, but can discolour blonde, grey or chemically coloured hair.
Sulfur: it has antibacterial properties that help keep dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, and psoriasis under control. But it can irritate your scalp.
Zinc pyrithione: a derivative of zinc, it has antifungal properties that prevent the growth of microorganisms that cause infections. Works well to treat seborrheic dermatitis, too.
Which anti-dandruff treatment works best for you?
I have been following your blog for a couple of days and I found it very informative, just the kind of blog I like.
What you posted here about dandruff is very useful too. I have saved this article for reference.
thank you!
Hello Jojobs and thank you for your comment 🙂 I’m glad you like my blog and find it useful.
Ugh I hate dandruff! I get it in the winter sometimes :/
I hate it too. Unfortunately I have very oily hair so I tend to have dandruff every now and then 🙁
Thankfully, I seldom get dandruff, except once when was in Indonesia and the only shampoo available in the village store was tiny sachets of anti dandruff shampoo.. i think it was “Clear”. so i used that, and it caused me to have an itchy flaky scalp.
Julina, oh no! That’s awful! Glad you’re not having to deal with that anymore though.