Dandruff is a common problem for all types and textures of hair. In particular, African-American hair is much drier and does not produce as much oil. While many may think the cause of dandruff has to do with hygiene, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), that’s simply not true.
Although infrequent shampooing can make dandruff more obvious, researchers are still studying the causes, which appear to be complex.
For most people, dandruff does not require medical attention. However, sometimes the flaking and itching that appears like dandruff is actually a medical condition, such as seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, fungal infections of the scalp, or eczema.
Read the AAD overview of dandruff and scalp conditions here and watch the video below.
A note about the shampoo you choose to treat dandruff. At Karline’s Salon, we use two products to treat dandruff, depending upon the severity of the condition.
Design Essentials Therapeutics Anti-Itch Shampoo. Most anti-dandruff shampoos have an active ingredient to control the symptoms associated with dandruff. The active ingredient in Design Essentials Therapeutics Anti-Itch Shampoo is Pyrithione Zinc (2.0%), which will not strip relaxers. It includes moisturizing agents to control flaking, itching and irritation while depositing moisture into the hair.
We also use Ashea Hair Care DKO, a shampoo treatment, featuring a gentle and balanced medicated formula, which fights dry, itchy flaky scalp. It contains non-stripping ingredients as well as methyl salicylate, which calms the scalp, and eucalyptus oil that provides mentholated action to alleviate itching and scalp disorders.
For more information, #AskKarlinesSalon about K-RX, a 4-visit restoration and repair program for healthy and happy hair. We also encourage you to consult with a physician or dermatologist to rule out any serious medical or scalp conditions.