Editor’s tip: When you have a sensitive scalp, the Head & Shoulders Clinical Dandruff Defense Sensitive Shampoo is a gentler but efficient choice. The 2022 Attract Better of Magnificence winner targets dandruff with 1% selenium sulfide, whereas aloe vera works its soothing, irritation-calming powers.
Key elements: selenium sulfide, menthol | Perfume-free: no | Who it is for: folks with pronounced itchiness
Often Requested Questions
What’s dandruff?
Although dandruff is often mistaken for a dry scalp, the 2 situations are fairly completely different. “Dandruff is the results of elevated oil manufacturing and yeast overgrowth on the scalp,” Texas-based board-certified dermatologist Heidi Prather, MD, beforehand instructed Attract. Accordingly, it is smart that dandruff tends to develop on these with oily scalps fairly than dry ones.
The yeast in query is named malassezia, and could be generally discovered within the pores and skin, in line with Dr. King. “It will probably contribute to the inflammatory response in seborrhea or seborrheic dermatitis [the scientific name for dandruff] and feeds on sebum, so it, subsequently, thrives in oily areas,” she provides.
Dandruff is proscribed to the scalp and usually presents itself as free, white scales or plaques, as Dr. Prather defined, however it might evolve into seborrheic dermatitis. The latter can have an effect on different seborrheic areas (like your face, chest, and again à la fungal acne) and manifests as yellow, greasy scales coupled with redness, itching, and irritation.
Why do I’ve dandruff?
Dandruff can have a lot of triggers, together with buildup-causing styling merchandise, stress, infrequent (or too much) shampooing, overproduction of sweat, and dwelling in moist, humid, or heat climates. Stress and weight loss plan may also contribute to dandruff manufacturing, in line with Deanne Mraz Robinson, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Connecticut. “Elevated ranges of stress can set off dandruff,” she beforehand told Allure. “When our cortisol, the stress hormone, rises, it triggers irritation and sebum manufacturing. If the sebum builds up on the scalp, that may result in dandruff.” Dr. Robinson added that each overly frequent and overly rare washing can each result in dandruff. “If you’re not washing your hair regularly sufficient, sebum and useless pores and skin cells collectively can construct up and trigger dandruff,” she mentioned.
What elements are in dandruff shampoos?
Whereas Dr. King says we won’t absolutely treatment seborrheic dermatitis, there are methods to handle it with the assistance of over-the-counter shampoo ingredients—that’s, outdoors of topical corticosteroids that your board-certified dermatologist can prescribe. Dr. King calls out a number of anti-fungal (and a few antimicrobial) elements like selenium sulfide, pyrithione zinc, ketoconazole, coal tar, and tea tree oil that may lower malassezia, inhibit fungal progress, and calm an irritated, infected, and itchy scalp. In response to Dr. King, pyrithione zinc-infused formulations are particularly light but efficient, making them nice for sensitive scalps.
