Types of Dandruff & How to Identify Them

Regardless of whether you are experiencing dandruff for the first time or not, it can be difficult to avoid dandruff and consistently prevent it recurring. Dandruff can affect as many as 1 in 2 Australians,1 but how can you prevent dandruff from returning when you are prone to this common scalp concern? Targeting dandruff flakes and regulating scalp oil is paramount, but there are also other lifestyles changes you can make to prevent dandruff in the future. This article will also provide tips for managing mild dandruff, alongside preventing it. Below, anti-dandruff hair care experts Dercos have curated their top tips to help you mitigate recurring dandruff.

1https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/dandruff-and-itching-scalp

 

How does dandruff form?

 

One of the best ways to prevent dandruff is to understand how it forms. While there are different types of dandruff , the root cause is often attributed to a scalp imbalance. The scalp’s outermost layer – the stratum corneum – experiences natural, continual skin cell turnover.2 Malassezia fungi is present on every individual’s scalp, and this fungus metabolises sebum which in turn produces oleic acid, an omega-9 fatty acid that commonly induces skin sensitivity.3  Scalps sensitive to oleic acid will try to shed skin cells faster, which culminates in a buildup of dead skin cells that form clusters on the scalp – dandruff. Since higher sebum levels can end up producing more oleic acid, this increases scalp sensitivity and subsequent dandruff.

 

2https://training.seer.cancer.gov/melanoma/anatomy/layers.html

3https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20650257/

 

How do you prevent dandruff?

To prevent the reappearance of dandruff, you’ll need to regularly apply specially formulated dandruff shampoos designed to treat dandruff and even treat mild dandruff effectively for your scalp type. It's crucial to choose the right dandruff shampoo to treat dandruff and prevent its recurrence, as these products contain active ingredients like zinc, selenium, and ketoconazole that target the root causes of dandruff. You can also boost the anti-dandruff properties of your hair care with lifestyle changes that can help you avoid dandruff recurrence in the future. Dercos anti-dandruff specialists recommend implementing the following precautions:

 

·         Use anti-dandruff shampoo that is formulated for either dry, oily or sensitive scalps (depending on your skin type)

·         Maintain a regular washing schedule across 4 weeks

·         Avoid alternating between an anti-dandruff and cosmetic shampoo

·         Lather and wash with care

·         Make other manageable lifestyle changes to avoid aggravating dandruff

 

Continue reading as we break down this guidance with our dandruff hair care experts.

When switching to an anti-dandruff shampoo, we first recommend that you identify your skin and dandruff type. Dry skin dandruff types will typically have small, white dandruff that flakes off easily. Conversely, oily skin dandruff types will have a greater buildup of sebum that clumps dandruff flakes together on the scalp and hair. These scales are often larger and yellowish in colour. Sensitive skin types may experience visible redness and more itching sensations.

Which shampoo can be used to prevent dandruff?

• To deal with oily hair and dandruff, we recommend Dercos Anti-Dandruff DS Shampoo for Normal to Oily Hair. 
• Dry skin dandruff types can use Dercos Anti-Dandruff DS Shampoo for Dry Hair.
• For individuals with sensitive scalps, we suggest Dercos Anti-Dandruff Shampoo for Sensitive Scalp.

How does it work?

The Dercos anti-dandruff hair care range utilises the dual-action power of selenium disulfide and salicylic acid. Salicylic acid, a chemical exfoliant, gently loosens the bonds between dead skin cells to keep the scalp fresh and maintain healthy skin cell renewal.

Establish a washing schedule 

Regular washing is crucial in regulating your sebum levels and removing the buildup of dead skin cells. When we approach dandruff prevention with the Dercos anti-dandruff hair care range, dermatologists recommend splitting your washing schedule into two phases: targeting and maintenance.

Targeting: this is suggested for ‘active’ dandruff. Shampoo 3 times per week for 4 weeks to eliminate up to 100% of visible dandruff* and balance the scalp’s microbiomes.**

Maintenance: this phase is designed to help you prevent dandruff from returning. After 4 weeks, reduce your number of washes to once per week. This will help deter dandruff relapse for 6+ weeks.***

*Consumer test on 262 subjects after 2 weeks of regular use
**Cosmeto clinical study, 56 subjects with 3 applications a week for 4 weeks.
***Cosmeto clinical study on 45 subjects after 4 weeks of use and 6 weeks of remanence

 

Avoid mixing and matching anti-dandruff and cosmetic shampoo

When you are in the targeting phase of preventing dandruff, it’s important to adhere to your washing schedule without introducing other shampoo products. Cosmetic shampoos may have ingredients that interfere with the efficacy of ingredients in your anti-dandruff hair care. Scalps prone to dandruff also tend to be more sensitive in nature, so combining ingredients may lead to increased sensitivity or the removal of natural oils – thereby exacerbating dandruff and hindering improvement.

Use the right washing technique

Whether you are using the anti-dandruff shampoo for dry, oily or sensitive scalps, your washing technique can play a role in its efficacy. In the shower, ensure your hair is thoroughly wet, so you can better work the shampoo into your scalp and roots. Excessively hot water can dry the scalp and further disrupt sebum levels, so use warm water instead. Apply to wet hair and scalp. Leave the product on for 2 minutes, massage, then rinse, ensuring you avoid contact with eyes and broken skin.

 

Make lifestyle changes

You can bolster your hair care regime with several lifestyle changes to help avoid dandruff in the future.

• Manage stress levels: while the direct link between stress causing dandruff is still being studied, stress has been known to have an adverse physiological effect on dandruff-inducing skin 
• Avoid scratching: try to resist scratching dandruff since you can easily transfer dirt, oil and bacteria from your hands to the scalp, which can create further imbalance. 
• Keep scalp protected from the sun: sun damage alone can dry out the scalp, but we also need to consider that salicylic acid (a key ingredient in Dercos anti-dandruff hair care) increases photosensitivity. Make sure to wear sun-protective clothing to avoid sun exposure on the scalp.
• Use a humidifier in winter: dry skin types struggle with a loss of moisture in cold, dry months, which can exacerbate dandruff. Using a humidifier is a reliable option to prevent dandruff in winter.
• Minimise the use of heat styling tools: avoiding excessive heat – from styling or the sun – will help keep your scalp and sebum levels regulated. .

4https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4082169
5https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18033062/

We hope you find this how to avoid dandruff guide helpful for your scalp journey.