Dandruff can be embarrassing and reduce our quality of life by making us avoid social engagements, restrict the colour of clothes that we can wear, and constantly try to hide the flakes in our hair. 

This can be all the more noticeable when you have dark hair or wear dark clothing. Thankfully, you don’t need to suffer in silence. Read on in this blog from BKT Beauty to find out how to put an end to your flaky scalp.

What Causes Dandruff?

Dandruff is the presence of white flakes on the head that indicate a flaky, itchy, and dry scalp. Dandruff is closely associated with seborrheic dermatitis which is a chronic form of eczema. In other words, it’s a dry skin condition that causes your scalp to flake dead skin cells that can show in your hand or on your shirt. 

Believe it or not, dandruff is the result of excess production of oil or having a certain type of yeast in the oil that your skin produces. This accelerates the production of new skin cells without leaving enough time for the old skin cells to naturally flake away unnoticeably. 

As a result, a combination of oil and dead skin cell flakes mix to trigger dandruff – noticeable white flakes that stick to the hair strands. The exact cause of dandruff is not known because it is believed that some people have an increased sensitivity to a fungus called Malassezia which can increase their risk for this flaky and itchy skin. 

While anyone can be susceptible to dandruff, no matter their age, gender or ethnicity, the people most at risk tend to be those going through puberty due to hormonal changes.

Treating Dandruff At Home

The good news is that dandruff can be treated at home with over-the-counter products. Since dandruff is believed to be caused by a fungus, many medicated anti-dandruff shampoos contain anti-fungal and exfoliating ingredients. 

These active ingredients include salicylic acid, coal tar, and selenium sulphide. Keep in mind that you want to massage these dandruff shampoos into your scalp, not necessarily your hair. Your scalp is what is causing the flaking and needs the most TLC. 

After letting the ingredients sit on the scalp and absorb for about 5 minutes you can rinse it out. While many people are concerned about over-washing their hair, you have the opposite problem with dandruff. 

Not washing often enough will lead to an accumulation of oil and dead skin cells that worsen the problem. If you have dandruff, you need to wash your hair more often to remove all of this stuff from your scalp.

More Home Remedies

If you want a home remedy that involves using more natural ingredients, you can add a few drops of tea tree oil to your shampoo and work it into your scalp. Tea tree oil unclogs pores, reduces itchiness, and contains antimicrobial properties that fight against the fungus that causes dandruff. 

Don’t apply tea tree oil directly to the scalp because this can cause inflammation and irritation. It’s better to mix in a few drops with your regular shampoo and conditioner. Studies have also shown aloe vera to be a very effective treatment for seborrheic dermatitis. 

Aloe vera works to fight against dandruff by providing moisture, reducing inflammation, and containing antioxidants that reduce cell damage.

Coconut oil is another great oil that successfully treats dandruff. Coconut oil is anti-inflammatory, provides moisture that can penetrate beneath the top layer of skin, and contains antimicrobial properties that have been shown to fight against the dandruff-causing fungus Malassezia. 

Coconut oil can be applied directly to the scalp and can be administered as a hot oil treatment if desired. Apply thoroughly to the scalp and comb through your hair. Leave this on for 30 minutes to an hour to let it penetrate and then rinse it off with shampoo and conditioner to remove the residual oil. 

This will also leave your hair feeling very silky, shiny, and smooth. We recommend this Brazil Protein Oil Repair that contains a mix of coconut, argan, and avocado oil. Another dandruff treatment is the use of apple cider vinegar to balance the pH of your scalp. 

An imbalanced pH will lead to fungal growth that causes dandruff. Apple cider vinegar may also improve dandruff by stimulating the shedding of dead skin cells and reducing the fungal growth of Malassezia. 

Your scalp’s natural pH is a little acidic but this can easily become disturbed and that’s when apple cider vinegar can help restore the natural pH that your scalp needs by introducing a little acidity.

Get a Healthy Scalp With BKT Beauty Products

Dandruff can be the response to an overproduction of oil, a scalp that contains a fungus, or a dysregulated pH. 

While there are plenty of over-the-counter medicated shampoos and conditioners that can help reduce itchy, flaky scalps and treat dandruff, there are also more wholesome and natural ingredients that can treat dandruff just as well. Browse our selection of shampoos, conditioners, and oils to restore your scalp health today.