| The appearance of flakes can be reduced, especially in those who suffer from only a mild case of dandruff, by proper hair care. Some people avoid washing their hair, believing that the drying effect of shampoo will worsen their dandruff. By washing the hair regularly, dead skin is removed before it can build up into larger, more noticeable flakes. Using acid-based shampoos helps restore acidity to the scalp, breaking down oils and preventing dead skin cells from collecting into visible clumps. However, shampoos with milder medication, or shampoos that are not marked to treat seborrhic dermatitis, may have little to no effect on redness and irritation. There are shampoos available specifically for those who have dandruff. Head & Shoulders, which contains zinc pyrithione, Selsun Blue which contains selenium sulfide, Neutrogena T/Gel, which contains wood tar; and various generic products with the same active ingredients. For more persistent or severe dandruff, as well as dandruff due to seborrhoeic dermatitis, shampoo containing 1% or 2% ketoconazole, such as Nizoral, can be used. These anti-dandruff ingredients are either fungicides, which kill the Malassezia furfur fungus, or they are acidic and breakdown the oils on your scalp that lead to visible clumping of dead skin flakes. Household remedies to get rid of dandruff are apple cider vinegar (see external link) and lemon juice.
Severe forms of dandruff, particularly if accompanied by flaking or scaling on other parts of the body, should be treated by a doctor. Dandruff can occur in conjuction with skin conditions such as seborrheic dermatitis and psoriasis. Head & Shoulders and other shampoos marked as containing selenium sulfide are effective treatments for seborrhic dermatitis.
Dandruff varies from person to person. It may be necessary to try various shampoos with different active ingredients (selenium sulfide, tar, zinc pyrithione, ketoconazole) to find the best suited for any one individual.
Article Source: Wikipedia
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