Do you have Dandruff?

 Dandruff and Dry scalp are two completely different scalp concerns and need to be treated differently. Dry scalp is caused by a lack of moisture on the scalp which is your natural protection to your scalps skin barrier. Dandruff is associated with a reaction to an your oil production. This is the easiest way to work out if your compromised scalp is dandruff or a dry scalp. 

 

What is Dandruff

Dandruff is a common scalp condition where white flakes and oil are present.
One of the most common causes of dandruff is a reaction to a fungus called Malassezia Globosa, which pushes dead skin cells to the surface quicker than normal.

Malassezia Globosa is a single cell microbe that lives on the scalp and is usually harmless unless you have a negative reaction to it which then causes dandruff.
 Malassezia feeds on the sebum we naturally produce, as the sebum breaks down it releases a by product called oleic acid. It’s the reaction to this by-product that causes dandruff.

The skin works on overdrive to remove this irritation which causes new skin cells to rapidly renew. When new skin cells are produced faster than the dead skin cells are removed, they accumulate which makes the appearance of those dead cells present on the scalp and hair.

How can you naturally help to manage dandruff?

50% of the population are estimated to have dandruff at some point in their life and there are a few tips to naturally manage damage.

• Remove Sebum daily with a boar bristle brush. This helps to remove excess oil or more importantly it’s by product (oleic acid) from the scalp which is causing the irritation. Incorporating our Boar Bristle Brush is the fastest way to keeping your hair clean daily as the natural bristles pick up dirt, oil and product build up due to the bristle themselves working as a magnet. Make sure to keep that brush clean as that will stop unnecessarily putting oils back in to the hair.

• Don’t skip wash day if your scalp is oily. Yes, washing hair too often can dry out your scalp, damage your skin barrier and damage your hair. Find a good balance between washing too frequently and having an excess of oil present. This alone can flare up dandruff as the oil is what is causing this reaction.

• Incorporate our Boost Brush in to your routine to help mechanically remove excess oil and build up, giving you a deeper clean without the need for medicated shampoo or striping shampoo. As these types of shampoo can dry out oil initially but that sends a response to produce more oils to protect your skin barrier.

• Use our Stimulate and Strengthen Shampoo which is rich in silica, biotin, proteolytic enzymes, selenium and zinc helping to remove, relieve and combat dandruff and irritations.

 

Having a flare up? These daily exposures may be making your dandruff worse.

 

• Going to bed with wet hair creates a warm environment that promotes fungal growth, and tying hair up when wet can have a similar effect.

• Itching and scratching your scalp can cause damage and inflammation around the follicles. Mixing dirt in from your hands with oil can exacerbate symptoms.

• Leaving your hair oily for too long. Keeping your scalp clean is vital for a healthy scalp.

• Be mindful of the products you use topically. Products that contain high amounts of Oleic acid the by-product of sebum breakdown can contribute to dandruff, these should be avoided. You don’t have to ditch oils, in fact there are plenty of good oils you can incorporate in to your routine like our Hempseed oil-based scalp and hair oil that relieves itchiness and irritation due to its antibacterial properties and it is naturally low in Oleic acid making it the perfect scalp oil to relieve itchiness and irritation without aggravating symptoms.

• Reducing stress is also important in maintain a healthy scalp and reducing the likelihood of flare-ups. Practicing self-care, such as massaging and relaxation techniques for your scalp can be helpful in managing and promoting scalp health.

• Finally, ensuring that your diet contains the necessary nutrients for a healthy scalp can also be beneficial in managing dandruff and other scalp concerns. Adding in supplements like Encore, which contains natural ingredients that can help reduce dandruff, may also be helpful. As always, it’s important to consult with your healthcare professional before starting a new supplement regimen.

 

Overall, maintain a health scalp and hair requires a balanced approach that includes proper cleansing, nourishing products and gentle care. If you have persistent scalp concerns you can reach out to our expert hair and scalp specialist for professional advice and treatment plans.