What Causes Dandruff? Choose Best Dandruff Shampoo for You
Are you tired of hunting for new solutions to get rid of the nasty dandruff attack? If so, put an end to your quest; you've stressed yourself out enough already! Instead, move quickly and get your hands on the best dandruff shampoo in town.
Don't know where to begin? Many of you probably buy shampoo after seeing anti-dandruff shampoo commercials on television. The market is flooded with hair care products for treating dandruff, making it quite difficult to find the finest anti-dandruff shampoo for your hair routine.
For getting lovely, dandruff-free locks, check out the how-to guide on selecting the best anti-dandruff shampoos.
Let's get into it...But first, have a look at the causes of dandruff
What Causes Dandruff?
The causes of dandruff can be attributed to a number of factors. It is difficult to pinpoint the precise reason for an itchy, flaky scalp. The following are a few of the common causes of dandruff:
a. Genetic Pre-deposition
It is not entirely true, but yes, there are some factors which are hereditary and can lead to dandruff, for instance, sensitivity to oleic acid.
b. Diet
The extremely high sugar content may lead to dandruff because sugary items stimulate the overgrowth of yeast which is associated with it. Also, sugar tends to diminish vitamin B, which is an anti-dandruff component.
c. Hormones
No doubt, oil is essential to keep the scalp moisturized, but excess production of oil is also harmful as it may trigger the growth of fungus, Malassezia globosa and can cause dandruff. One of the major causes behind this upsurge in oil secretion is hormonal (estrogen or progesterone) imbalance.
d. Hair coloring
Some of the harsh chemicals in the dye itself can lead to an irritated scalp, which further may cause dandruff. Also, such chemicals tend to draw out moisture from the scalp and make skin vulnerable to it.
e. Poor hygiene
After some days, our hair becomes the home of sweat, oil and dead cells, which only can be washed away with a proper hair wash. But, in failure to do so, dandruff may occur, which further can also give rise to severe problems like Tinea capitis.
f. Stress
Stress arising from long working hours, personal crisis or other reasons may aggravate hormonal imbalance or stimulate inflammatory chemicals, which adversely affect your scalp’s barrier functionality.
g. Cold Season
In winter our skin faces more dryness as compared to the other seasons, which leads to dry scalp and this is also one of the reasons for having dandruff.
Criteria to choose the best anti-dandruff shampoo
- #1: Dermatologically Tested
- #2: Scalp-Friendly Ingredients
- #3: Mild Shampoo
- #4: pH-balanced shampoo
- #5: Moisturizing shampoo
#1 Dermatologically Tested Shampoo
The shampoo you choose should be dermatologically tested. It is one of the important things that every skincare or hair care product should go through…
“Dermatologically tested” label assures the efficacy and safety of dandruff medicine–
- Product is safe
- Product has been tested on human skin
- Product is well-tolerated by the persons who tested it
#2: Scalp-Friendly Shampoo
A shampoo must have ingredients that reduce dandruff from your scalp thoroughly. Most dandruff shampoos contain ingredients which are strong and harsh, which in the long run can damage the hair.
However, the need of today is a shampoo which is–
- Free of harmful chemicals
- Possibly natural and skin-friendly
- Effectively removes excess oil, dirt and grime
As your scalp is already facing harsh factors originating from surroundings embedded with harmful pollutants and UV rays, the usage of harsh components makes it more prone to diseases after a particular time.
So, Let’s understand the best scalp-friendly shampoo ingredients
The components like Piroctone Olamine, Ichthyol Pale, Vitamin B5, natural oils (lemon oil and tea tree oil) etc. are best to have in a hair dandruff treatment.
Piroctone Olamine
This ingredient exhibits a similar impact on fungi that causes dandruff as the renowned ingredient ketoconazole does. However, along with managing the problem, piroctone olamine also stimulates hair growth and prevents hair fall.
Ichthyol Pale
With its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-seborrheic (sebum regulation) properties, ichthyol pale is the best-documented active ingredient with good safety outcomes.
Dexpanthenol
This vitamin B5 is essential to maintain healthy and beautiful hair, nails and skin. Dexpanthenol acts as a cleanser that aids in reducing excess sebum stimulation in this skin condition.
Lemon Oil
According to many scientific studies, “With the higher concentration of citric acid, lemon juice exhibits significant anti-microbial action against both bacterial and fungi.”
The flavonoids, iron, and vitamin C-enriched lemon oil are essential for hair and skin. It also helps to balance the pH of the scalp to keep dandruff and other hair problems away, eliminates excess sebum and strengthens hair follicles.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil penetrates deeper into the scalp, disperses significant anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory actions and fights dandruff.
A product enriched with these ingredients would be the best choice for alleviating scalp flakes.
#3: Mild Shampoo
A dandruff shampoo should have the quality to work for every type of hair. A product enriched with the perfect choice of natural oils and scalp-friendly ingredients found to be suitable for both dry and oily scalps.
#4: pH-balanced shampoo
All of you definitely heard of this term, the pH. Whether it is water or blood, everything has a specific pH. Similarly, healthy hair also has a pH. The pH-balanced formula is not only for colored hair, but it is the need of all. The tiny shafts of hair, when in contact with strong and harsh hair products, got damaged. Therefore, a shampoo does contain ingredients like panthenol or lemon to maintain the pH of hair.
#5: Moisturizing shampoo
Finding a moisturizing shampoo is a task along with dandruff control action. However, it can be possible with the right combination of ingredients.
A moisturizing shampoo–
- Cleanses dirt and unwanted oil and covers the hair locks with adequate moisture
- Hydrates the hair strands
- Contains hair-nourishing ingredients that nurture the hair from deep
Shampoo with these criteria is the best to use to get rid of dandruff and to get healthy nourished hair.
Take Away
Although dandruff can be annoying, it’s easy to combat scalp dryness and flakes with a dandruff shampoo. Beautiful hair starts from having a healthy and clean scalp, so make sure to bust dandruff once it starts showing. The right shampoo can help you with this.
FAQs
Q. How to use anti-dandruff shampoo?
Ans. Thoroughly wet your hair, pour an adequate amount of shampoo on your palm, apply on your scalp, gently massage for 2-3 mins and rinse properly. For best results use it three times a week.
Q. Does anti-dandruff shampoo cause grey hair?
Ans. No, not at all. But if you use products with harsh chemicals or excessive hair colors or dyes may cost you grey hair.
Q. Does anti-dandruff shampoo work?
Ans. The ingredients in the anti-dandruff shampoo, Piroctone Olamine act against the root cause of dandruff i.e. fungi Malassezia globosa and helps to get rid of dandruff.
Q. Does Dandruff cause hair fall?
Ans. The overgrowth of Malassezia yeasts on the scalp may lead to hair shedding.
Q. What causes dandruff?
Ans. Excessive fungal growth on the scalp Malassezia globose and Malassezia restricta, high sebum secretion and disturbed epidermal barrier integrity can cause dandruff.
Q. How to prevent dandruff?
Ans. Cleanse your scalp with an anti-dandruff shampoo formulated with anti-fungal agents and maintain proper hydration on your scalp. Don't over-wash your hair.
