How to get rid of dandruff on the head: features of medical care, and why shampoos “from advertising” do not work

The skin is constantly updated - this is the absolute norm. And on the head this process also happens continuously. But since the epithelial cells are very small and are not visible to the naked eye, we do not observe them on the hair, there is no dandruff. When dead skin particles “stick together” for some reason, we notice white “flakes” in the hair - this is dandruff. Why is this happening?

Types of White Flakes

Dandruff (seborrhea) may look different - it all depends on the factor that triggered its appearance. The choice of treatment method also depends on this. The table below shows the types of dandruff and their differences in appearance.

Table - Types of Dandruff

Reasons for the appearance

It is characteristic that one and the same provoking factor can cause dry skin in one person and increased production of sebum in another. Let us consider in more detail the main causes of dandruff on the head. There are eight of them.

1. Fungus. This is the most common provocateur of dandruff “flakes”. Normally, the causative agent of the disease lives on the skin and does not cause problems. The production of sebum increases, the pH balance of the skin changes - this leads to an active growth of the fungus. At the initial stage of the disease, small particles appear that can be confused with dry dandruff. However, over time, the skin becomes fatter, and the “flakes” become larger and more abundant. Itching also intensifies.
2. Hormonal changes. Most often, this problem occurs in women during pregnancy and in children during puberty. Under the influence of progesterone, the skin becomes more oily. Therefore, before menstruation and in pregnant women, there may be increased production of sebum. Offset balance to the other side - dry skin. Both options can trigger the development of seborrhea. In men, testosterone levels change with age, which also affects the pH balance and fat content of the scalp.
3. Endocrine diseases. The thyroid gland and adrenal glands control all hormone-dependent processes. If any of these organs does not work properly, then the hormonal background changes.
4. Allergy. The cause of allergic dandruff can be one of the components of hair cosmetics, for example, a new shampoo, conditioner or mask.
5. Temperature differences. Frequent use of a hair dryer and other devices for hot styling withers the skin. As a result, the skin becomes irritated and begins to peel off, and the hair breaks and falls out. The other extreme is the refusal to wear a headgear. Many ladies are afraid to ruin their hair with a hat.
6. Decreased immunity. The body loses its ability to restrain the growth of the fungus, as a result - seborrhea develops.
7. Incomplete flushing of care products. Most shampoos contain silicones, parabens and other “chemicals”. If it is not enough to thoroughly wash off the shampoo, conditioner or mask, then all this “cocktail” remains on the skin - the pores get clogged, a thin film forms under which the skin sweats, air exchange does not occur. Cell regeneration is impaired and dandruff occurs.
8. Avitaminosis. To a greater extent, the lack of vitamins A and B. To balance nutrition, eat more fresh vegetables, herbs, seasonal berries and fruits, bran, cereals, lean meat, liver and eggs.

How to distinguish from head lice

How to treat tubular dandruff? Most often, we rely on the Internet and read information and reviews about various drugs there. It happens that dandruff sticks around a hair and does not fly off with shaking - this phenomenon is called tubular dandruff. And it is very similar to nits, which are when infected with pediculosis. And here's how to distinguish dandruff from lice.

• Place of attachment. Dandruff particles can “stick” anywhere in the hair (at the root, in the middle, at the tip). Nits are attached closer to the root of the hair.
• Localization. Dandruff spreads throughout the head. Nits are localized mainly on the back of the head, temples, and behind the ears.
• The ability to take off. Particles of dandruff are easily removed from the hair with the fingertips, you just have to pull them towards the tip. It is not so easy to remove the nits; it is firmly “glued” to the hair. If you crush live nits with nails, it will emit a characteristic click.
• Itching. With pediculosis, the very place of the insect bite itches. In addition to itching, a person feels the “running” of lice on the head. With dandruff, the entire place of skin irritation itches, it is more extensive, not punctate. "Run" no.
• Insects. With pediculosis, if you spread your hair, you can notice small insects on the parting, similar to fleas, but smaller. With seborrhea, only multiple skin flakes of various sizes are visible.

How to get rid of dandruff: a review of pharmacy products

What to do and how to recover from this infection? Experts consider dandruff as a fungal or allergic disease. All other causes of "snow" do not require treatment as such - it is enough to exclude provocative factors and reconsider hair care. For the treatment of allergic dermatitis, specific drugs with an antihistamine effect are used. An allergist will help here.

Formulations for treating fungal seborrhea are also sold at a pharmacy without a prescription. They are produced in the form of:

• shampoo;
• shampoo scrub;
• lotion;
• ointments;
• balm;
• serum;
• paste.

And here are what components you need to look for as part of effective anti-dandruff remedies:

• ketoconazole - antifungal component, also active against staphylococcus and streptococcus;
• zinc pyrithione - antibacterial agent, has antifungal activity;
• birch or pine tar - has an antiseptic, antimicrobial and regenerative effect;
• salicylic acid - exfoliating and regenerating effect;
• selenium disulfide - antifungal agent;
• ichthyol - has an antipruritic, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effect.

Shampoos

This is the most common and convenient form of release of an antiseborrheic agent. Using shampoo, you can quickly get rid of dandruff. Depending on the degree of the disease, the use of auxiliaries in the form of an ointment, lotion or paste may be required. The table below describes the most famous brands of pharmacy shampoos and instructions for their use.

Table - Medical dandruff shampoos and instructions for them

All of these shampoos imply, after the completion of the main course of treatment, the transition to preventive use - no more than once every two weeks.

Lotions, creams, pastes

In addition to shampoos, manufacturers often include in the line of antiseborrheic agents and other forms of release that complement the action of shampoo and enhance the therapeutic effect. This approach is especially effective in severe cases when ordinary greasy dandruff develops into seborrheic dermatitis. Here is a list of tools to help combat dandruff in the complex.

• Bifon Lotion. In addition to the antifungal component, the product includes allantoin and panthenol, which have a calming and wound healing effect on the skin. The lotion (0.5-1 cap) is applied along the partings after washing and, massaging, rub until completely absorbed. Then the hair is dried and styled as usual. Frequency - up to three times a week. The course is four weeks.
• Cream "Nizoral". It is used for seborrheic dermatitis. The cream is applied in a thin layer to the affected area twice a day. The course is up to four weeks. Then in a preventive mode - a couple of times a week.
• Sulsena pasta (1%, 2%). Reduces sebum production, relieves itching and peeling of the skin. The best use is paired with the same shampoo. Separately, it can be used as a prophylactic (1%), or with a mild form of seborrhea (2%). The paste is applied twice a week, rubbed, kept for a quarter of an hour and washed off with water. The course of treatment is a month. You can repeat the course in six months.
• Cream "Dermazole". Apply the composition twice a day to the affected areas until completely cured. Usually enough months to completely remove dandruff in an adult.
• Cystofan Lotion. The old name of the Squafan lotion. In addition to the antifungal component, the composition contains malic acid (exfoliates) and red juniper oil (has a calming effect and relieves itching). The lotion is rubbed into the skin once a day without rinsing. The course is until dandruff disappears completely.

Why shop cosmetics are ineffective

There are a number of common care shampoos with a stated antiseborrheic effect. But, contrary to aggressive advertising, they will not relieve dandruff in one day. Care products from the nearest store may even contain antifungal components, but their concentration is not enough for the effective treatment of dandruff. After all, the medical components are expensive and here the price of the product speaks for itself - the substance is added in a minimal amount and exclusively for advertising purposes.

The delicate approach in childhood pregnancy

Children and pregnant women are a special category of people. They need to carefully select funds and carefully monitor individual reactions. Both dandruff most often occurs as a result of hormonal changes. Here are four recommendations for getting rid of dandruff on a baby’s head.

1. Right choice. Choose products with the lowest concentration of the active ingredient.
2. Reaction control. If redness appears on the scalp - the product does not fit and needs to be replaced.
3. Delicate use. Before applying the treatment shampoo, wash your hair with baby soap. Re-apply the shampoo is not necessary, as well as exceed the recommended exposure time of the composition on the hair. Before use, the product should be "diluted" approximately in half: shampoo or lotion with water, paste with baby cream.
4. Individual approach. With sensitive scalp, you can make masks with sea ​​buckthorn oil. Apply it half an hour before washing and rinse with soap.

For women during pregnancy and lactation, the principles are the same. If the tool does not cause adverse reactions, they can switch to the use of the composition without dilution. And with severe forms of seborrhea, it is possible to use more concentrated agents.

How to enhance the action: massage ...

Features To treat dandruff at home even more efficiently and at no additional cost, you can perform a manual head massage. This can be done directly while washing hair or as an independent procedure. Massage provides a rush of blood to the skin, as a result, the nutrition of the bulbs and cells improves, the roots are strengthened, the effect of therapeutic agents is enhanced.

Equipment

1. Relax.
2. Start by lightly stroking from the forehead to the back of the head, gradually increasing the pressure.
3. Then begin to move in circular motions from the temples to the crown and then to the lower edge of hair growth. And back.
4. Move your fingers from the edges to the crown.
5. Do not make sudden movements. Do not push too hard. Pain should not be.
6. Massage your head for at least a quarter of an hour. You should feel pleasant warmth.

... and folk recipes

Dandruff was also treated before the invention of antifungal drugs, and quite effectively. Therefore, it is not worth throwing off folk remedies. The table below describes some recipes, according to reviews - the most effective.

Table - Effective folk remedies for dandruff

It turns out that curing dandruff on the head is not as difficult as it might seem. The main thing in this matter is systematicity. But remember: you can not use therapeutic compounds on an ongoing basis. Even if the product is perfect, take breaks in use for at least three to four months, or better for six months. Do not be afraid - after the termination of the course, dandruff will not return.

To whom and what helped: reviews

A mask from ordinary onions and honey helped me cure dandruff, the smell is certainly terrible, but it works 100%. But the husband had masks like dead poultices, he went to a dermatologist and he advised a pharmacy tar tar shampoo, the smell was also the same, but the effect was immediate. Two weeks later, his hair was clean, no dandruff and oily, by the way, also became less.

Marina Grigoryevna, http://www.arabio.ru/hair/9.htm

My husband has a problem of dandruff ... So sulsena did not help us, like the same shame and head & shoulders ... The problem became sooooo acute in the cold seasons. In general, we switched to natural shampoo without sls and any hellish chemistry and the problem disappeared! My now indian with nim chandi, no dandruff! And my dyed hair suits P.S. all sorts of grandmothers agafia and nature of Siberia did not help! Mas market is, not natural cosmetics!

Maya Abramovich, https://lifehacker.ru/2015/07/06/sredstva-ot-perxoti/

There is a very good pharmacy shampoo for dandruff with psoril tar tar. Although it doesn’t smell very good, the tar smell is not persistent and quickly disappears, it perfectly copes with dandruff in just a couple of weeks. But most importantly, after returning to regular shampoo, dandruff does not return.

Marina Grigoryevna, http://ladymadonna.ru/%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%BA-%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%B1%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%82% D1% 8C% D1% 81% D1% 8F-% D0% BE% D1% 82-% D0% BF% D0% B5% D1% 80% D1% 85% D0% BE% D1% 82% D0% B8

I personally did not help dandruff shampoo. But tar shampoo only strengthened it. My dandruff disappeared only after I stopped using purchased shampoos and hair products and switched to natural care.I began to wash my hair with soap nuts, rinse with herbal or shikakaya infusions, and make masks from natural products, such as eggs, sour cream, honey (the main thing is not to add ingredients that can dry and irritate the scalp). And the dandruff has passed! Still does not appear.

Anna Ivanova, https://24hair.ru/kak-izbavitsya-ot-perhoti-v-domashnih-usloviyah-domashnie-maski-ot-perhoti/

I tried a lot of things from the pharmacy, I also need to know what to take and see what exactly suits you. From many dandruff shampoos, hair becomes very greasy and does not comb well. On a regular basis, I regularly fit regular care. I really like. The problem with dandruff was resolved and the hair was beautiful and healthy.

Lyuba, http://www.woman.ru/beauty/hair/thread/4293750/