Nearly half of the world’s population suffers from dandruff.
In essence, dandruff is caused by an overabundance of fungus, which results in a faster cell turnover rate and the development of white or grey flakes on the scalp.
Dandruff isn’t the only condition that causes excessive flaking; other conditions including scalp eczema and psoriasis can also cause flaking.
The typical cycle of a healthy scalp involves the regular production of new skin cells and the shedding of old ones, but if this process is sped up, it can result in an accumulation of dead skin cells and dandruff.
Although stress does not directly cause dandruff, it can worsen several triggers that cause flaking and irritation on the scalp.
Read on to get advice on how to handle the underlying stress, why it’s important to maintain a healthy scalp, and how NIOXIN can assist you in keeping a balanced scalp environment.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
✅ You should also think about switching your regular shampoo for one that treats dandruff
✅ It’s important to note that anti-dandruff shampoos have advanced significantly over the years.
✅ Head & Shoulders have a Supreme Detoxifying Scalp Pre-Wash Mask with Zinc Pyrithone, which you use prior to getting in the shower to properly target flakes.
✅ Your scalp may develop a resistance to a certain shampoo over time, but this may be avoided by switching up your product regimen.
How does stress make dandruff worse?
Although Malassezia is a type of yeast that naturally develops on the skin, including the face and scalp, when it grows out of control, it can lead to dandruff. This interaction between the mind and the immune system is known as psychoneuroimmunology.
One key trigger for this to happen is a weakening of the immune system, which can occur when someone is stressed.
Stress causes your body to create more cortisol, which can upset the delicate balance of psychoneuroimmunology. As a result, fewer lymphocytes, which are essential for your immune system to fight off hazardous bacteria, are produced.
Your defences being compromised means that a yeast-like malassezia, which is typically managed by the immune system, can then grow and lead to the development of dandruff.
People who have certain skin diseases, such as eczema, may also be more prone to getting dandruff. This considerably raises the likelihood that someone may experience flaking and itching of the scalp, which frequently gets worse when you’re stressed.
In reality, treating a patient’s skin disease in more than a third of dermatological patients requires taking into account an underlying psychological problem. Therefore, it is essential that a lot of emphases be given to strategies for lowering stress levels in order to reduce the likelihood of developing dandruff.
How can I reduce stress so that my scalp benefits?
There are two advantages to learning stress reduction techniques. Not only will it aid in removing the primary cause of stress that erodes your immune system, but it will also help you avoid the vicious cycle that is set up when someone feels uncomfortable and self-conscious as soon as signs of dandruff appear. Below are some practical methods for attempting to prevent stress-related dandruff.
Mindfulness
Being mindful enables one to unwind while improving awareness of one’s inner self. To help you feel more at peace with a particular ailment, such as dandruff, a mindfulness session can be specifically tailored to cover that issue.
Yoga
Yoga may have apparent physical advantages, but it also emphasizes mental welfare through breathing exercises. Such an exercise encourages a calmer way of thinking, which may be beneficial for someone trying to maintain perfect equilibrium between their body and mind.
Healthy eating
Your mental health and mood regulation depends on a balanced, nutritious diet. Keeping a balanced diet helps raise your body’s levels of several hormones that fight stress. A balanced diet is also beneficial for hair growth and scalp health.
You might also want to let your stylist know if you have dandruff on your next visit to the hair salon. Here is a list of all of our salons.
Dandruff will always be difficult to totally eradicate. However, you can lessen your likelihood of being impacted by it by combining a clearer, calmer mind to lower your stress levels with goods that support maintaining a healthy and hydrated scalp.
Avoid the itch in order to first and foremost send dandruff packing. Even though it’s frequently easier said than done, try to resist the urge to touch your itchy scalp. Scratching can initiate an endless cycle of itch-scratch that ultimately makes the itch and irritation worse.
How to rid yourself of dandruff for good
The usage of dandruff shampoo and scalp treatments is the most effective technique to get rid of dandruff. The following actions are advised by the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD):
Observe directions. You should carefully study and follow the instructions included with the dandruff treatment shampoo of your choosing because there are numerous variations and each has its unique set of instructions.
Make sure you understand whether you should wash your hair right away or wait a specified period of time after applying the shampoo to your scalp.
Various skin and hair types demand various forms of care. African Americans might only need to use a dandruff shampoo once each week. To get the best results, white folks and Asian Americans may need to alternate between dandruff shampoos with various component combinations.
A board-certified dermatologist can advise you on the appropriate products for your skin and hair type and how frequently you should use them. This may be your best option.
Dandruff shampoos come in both medicated (which needs a prescription to buy) and over-the-counter varieties. This typically indicates that the medicine concentration in medicated shampoos is simply higher.
Ketoconazole, selenium sulphide, coal tar, and zinc pyrithione are examples of common components. These components typically work to remove the flakes of dandruff from the scalp or to inhibit the growth of the Malassezia fungus, which may contribute to the formation of dandruff.
In conclusion
You should also think about switching your regular shampoo for one that treats dandruff and contains one or more of the following ingredients: salicylic acid, kletoconazole, selenium sulphide, zinc pyrithione, which has antibacterial and antifungal properties that fight malassezia, and zinc pyrithione (which exfoliates and decreases the amount of scales).
It’s important to note that anti-dandruff shampoos have advanced significantly; both Biolage Scalpsync Anti-Dandruff Shampoo ($19) and Nizoral A-D Anti-Dandruff Shampoo ($15) eliminate flakes while leaving hair soft and silky.
In the meantime, Head & Shoulders has introduced numerous scalp products in addition to formulating some of the best shampoos for every level of flake-age available. One that stands out is the Supreme Detoxifying Scalp Pre-Wash Mask with Zinc Pyrithone, which you use prior to getting in the shower to properly target flakes.
Allowing the anti-dandruff shampoo to rest on your scalp for five minutes before rinsing will give the chemicals time to work their magic. Make careful to alternate using two or three different anti-dandruff shampoos. Your scalp may develop a resistance to a certain shampoo over time, but this may be avoided by switching up your product regimen.