Everything You’ve Always Wanted to Know About Dandruff
Isobel is a skincare obsessed Piscean hailing from Byron Bay. She studied law and journalism in Brisbane before moving to Sydney where she’s now living by the beach in Bondi. She’s worked as a Beauty Writer for BEAUTYcrew, a Digital Content Editor for Marie Claire and InStyle, and her words have appeared in Vogue, Gritty Pretty, ELLE, Women’s Health - and of course here - at Adore Beauty.
*The information provided in this article is not intended to be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. We recommend consulting with your health care professional for an appropriate diagnosis and treatment options.
Dandruff has to be one of the most-googled haircare complaints of all time.
With symptoms such as dry, itchy, and flaky skin, the condition is not only irritating but also rather uncomfortable.
Plus, dandruff is incredibly common: around 50% of Australians are affected by dandruff, according to The Department of Health.
If you’re suffering from dandruff, don’t stress. While it might be annoying to deal with, it’s easier to manage once you’ve got the right advice.
To get a handle on it, the first step is understanding what dandruff is.
From what causes dandruff to whether a dandruff cure exists and the best anti dandruff shampoos to try, we’ve got all the answers to your FAQs below.
Heads up - You can listen to Dermatologist Dr Leona Yip school us on all the finer details about your scalp in the podcast ep below...
Firstly, What Is Dandruff?
Dandruff usually presents with signs of scalp irritation accompanied by itching, dryness, and flaking.
You may also spot little snowflake-like specks (not as cute as they sound!) in your hairline, parting, brows, or lashes—or on your shoulders.
What Causes Dandruff?
The exact trigger for dandruff still isn’t entirely clear.
A few common factors are thought to be at play:
- Seborrheic dermatitis, a skin condition causing red, scaly patches.
- Contact dermatitis, a sensitivity related to grooming products like haircare.
- Malassezia, a yeastlike fungus naturally present on the scalp but capable of overgrowing.
Is There a Cure for Dandruff?
Not yet, but it’s not all bad news. While there’s no permanent dandruff cure, there are plenty of at-home remedies you can use to reduce its appearance and severity.
So although dandruff isn’t ‘curable’ per se, it can be controlled. If you’re wanting to combat its presence, you’ll need to learn how to manage it on an ongoing basis.
What Dandruff Treatments Are Available?
These days, a huge variety of dandruff treatments is available, and many are highly effective in treating the condition.
Dandruff treatments most commonly take the form of anti dandruff shampoos. However, there’s also a range of anti-dandruff conditioners and other topical preparations on the market, too.
When hunting for dandruff remedies, look for active ingredients with antifungal properties:
- Ketoconazole.
- Zinc Pyrithione.
- Selenium Sulphide.
Formulas containing these ingredients will inhibit the growth of Malassezia.
Here are some dandruff treatments we recommend:
1. Kérastase Specifique Cure Anti-Pelliculaire comes at dandruff from all angles by reducing flaking, soothing sensitivity, and balancing excess oil.
This 4-week program comes with 12 individual leave-in treatment vials containing potent dandruff-eliminating ingredients.
Shop it here:
2. Goldwell Dualsenses Scalp Specialist Anti-Dandruff Shampoo is supercharged with antifungal Zinc Pyrithione and Piroctone Olamine to kill Malassezia.
When used continuously over time, Scalp Specialist shampoo also helps reduce dandruff on a longer-term basis.
Shop it here:
3. Oribe Serene Scalp Soothing Leave-On Treatment is vegan-friendly, cruelty-free, and dermatologist-tested.
This overnight dandruff treatment is applied before bedtime and works its magic while you get your beauty sleep.
The formula includes Chamomile and Peppermint Oil to calm irritated, itchy scalps. The treatment also contains no fragrances, parabens, or gluten.
Shop it here:
How Do Anti-Dandruff Treatments Work?
Anti-dandruff treatments ordinarily contain the antifungal agents we’ve discussed above to hinder the development of Malassezia.
In addition, they might also be dosed with other balancing ingredients:
- Charcoal to target excess oil.
- Shea Butter or other hydrators to reduce dryness.
- Salicylic Acid or other exfoliants to remove dead skin cells and minimise flaking.
Does Clarifying Shampoo Help With Dandruff?
It depends on the particular product at hand. Some clarifying shampoos are excellent at removing oil, dead skin, product build-up, and other debris that can contribute to dandruff.
But other products may be too stripping. It’s important to be cautious when choosing shampoos for dandruff. Anything too harsh could make the problem worse.
Why Does My Dandruff Keep Coming Back?
There’s no lasting cure for dandruff. Unfortunately, this means the only way of managing it is with an ongoing treatment plan to keep it under control.
That said, gone are the days of ineffective dandruff shampoos that provided a day or two of relief. You’ve now got access to countless dandruff treatments that *really* work.
Do Anti-Dandruff Treatments Lose Their Effectiveness Over Time?
When you take antibiotics continuously, your body can become resistant to their benefits.
The same concept applies here when dealing with dandruff and Malassezia on your scalp.
Over time, Malassezia can build up a tolerance to the antifungal ingredients you’re throwing at it, and your dandruff treatment may become ineffective.
But there’s a hack to get around this, which leads to our next point ...
How To Prolong the Effectiveness of Anti Dandruff Shampoos
Luckily, there’s a way to outsmart Malassezia’s tendency to become resistant to antifungal ingredients in your anti-dandruff treatment.
Simply change up the active ingredients you’re using every 3 to 4 months. This method is known as ‘cycling.’
If you’re struggling with dandruff, remember that it’s a super-common condition.
It’s nothing to be ashamed of; heaps of us experience it.
To help you get on top of it, we’ve got plenty more information available at Adore Beauty.
Check out some of our favourite fixes for dry, itchy scalps along with our must-have organic dandruff haircare picks.
If you’re hunting for more hair and scalp care products, check our recommendations in these guides...
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