You Want a New Dandruff Shampoo—This is Why

Editor’s tip: Heads up: Selenium sulfide can contribute to hair dryness or brittleness. The model’s matching Dercos conditioner incorporates hyaluronic acid and glycerin to counteract that drying impact, so chances are you’ll need to fill up on each.

Key substances: selenium sulfide, niacinamide, glycerin | Perfume-free: no | Who it is for: folks with delicate scalps experiencing dandruff

Regularly Requested Questions

What’s dandruff?

Although dandruff is usually 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 advised Attract. Accordingly, it is sensible that dandruff tends to develop on these with oily scalps fairly than dry ones.

The yeast in query is known as malassezia, and may be generally discovered within the pores and skin, based on Dr. King. “It might contribute to the inflammatory response in seborrhea or seborrheic dermatitis [the scientific name for dandruff] and feeds on sebum, so it, due to this fact, thrives in oily areas,” she provides.

Dandruff is restricted to the scalp and sometimes presents itself as unfastened, white scales or plaques, as Dr. Prather defined, however it could possibly evolve into seborrheic dermatitis. The latter can have an effect on different seborrheic areas (like your face, chest, and again à la fungal zits) and manifests as yellow, greasy scales coupled with redness, itching, and irritation.

Why do I’ve dandruff?

Dandruff can have quite a lot of triggers, together with buildup-causing styling merchandise, stress, rare (or an excessive amount of) shampooing, overproduction of sweat, and residing in moist, humid, or heat climates. Stress and eating regimen may contribute to dandruff manufacturing, based on Deanne Mraz Robinson, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Connecticut. “Elevated ranges of stress can set off dandruff,” she beforehand advised Attract. “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 incessantly sufficient, sebum and useless pores and skin cells collectively can construct up and trigger dandruff,” she mentioned.

What substances 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 substances—that’s, exterior of topical corticosteroids that your board-certified dermatologist can prescribe. Dr. King calls out a number of anti-fungal (and a few antimicrobial) substances like selenium sulfide, pyrithione zinc, ketoconazole, coal tar, and tea tree oil that may lower malassezia, inhibit fungal development, and calm an irritated, infected, and itchy scalp. In keeping with Dr. King, pyrithione zinc-infused formulations are particularly light but efficient, making them nice for delicate scalps.