Dandruff, usually more cosmetic than medical is common and harmless, and has nothing to do with diet; however, it may cause thinning of hair and may be stress-related. Many people are embarrassed by dandruff, but it is not contagious and is fairly easy to control. However, there are cases wherein dandruff is caused by Pityrosporum organisms (fungi) where are contagious.
Although there’s no cure for dandruff, there are things you can do to control it.
- Gently brush hair before each washing.
- Wash hair every day. It may be enough to keep mild dandruff under control.
- Use antidandruff shampoos if your scalp is red and flakes are obvious.
- Follow antidandruff shampoos directions. Most say to lather and let sit for at least 10 minutes before rinsing.
- If a dandruff shampoo seems to lose its effectiveness after several weeks, try another. Coal- tar shampoos may be the most effective.
- Try not to scratch or brush your scalp to hard. Too much scratching may cause more dandruff.
- It the scalp or hair is dry, massage olive oil into the hair roots, leave it there for 30 minutes, then shampoo.
Consult a doctor if the condition still does not improve after having switched antidandruff shampoos.
