Anti-Dandruff Shampoo – Everything You Should Know
Anti-dandruff shampoo effectively stops dandruff forming on your scalp. There are many different anti-dandruff shampoos available on the market, so which one should you choose?
There are different treatments and shampoos available – so which do you need for your scalp?
These, and similar questions, are answered in this guide, to give you all the information needed to pick the right anti-dandruff shampoo for your dandruff problems.
Table of contents
Best Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
To find the best anti-dandruff shampoo for you, it’s important that you find out to what extent you have dandruff.
If you just have ordinary flakes of dandruff that are dry and white, then a regular anti-dandruff shampoo may be enough. You can find the best mild anti-dandruff shampoo for ordinary cases at the pharmacy, health store or online.
If you suffer from eczema or Seborrheic Dermatitis, the best anti-dandruff shampoo for you will probably be a lot stronger. This type of anti-dandruff shampoo contains other substances that inhibit the overgrowth of the yeast fungi that is typically the cause of the disorder.
If you are going to use an anti-dandruff shampoo for treating your dermatitis, you may be able to buy it at the pharmacy, or by prescription from your doctor.
If you are unsure which paraben-free shampoo is the best anti-dandruff shampoo for you, consider consulting your doctor for advice.
If you have dry white dandruff on your scalp, in your hair and on your shoulders, it is usually just plain dandruff (dead skin cells) which can easily be treated with a normal anti-dandruff shampoo.
If, however, your dandruff appears as greasy and potentially yellowish flakes, it’s more likely a skin condition or fungal infection that requires a more specific anti-dandruff shampoo.
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Anti-dandruff shampoo that works
Shampoo for Dandruff
Anti-dandruff shampoo is a certain type of shampoo that contains extra ingredients and substances compared to regular shampoo.
A good anti-dandruff shampoo penetrates the skin on the scalp, which keeps it healthy and dry to prevent dandruff.
There are different types of anti-dandruff shampoo available, depending on your condition; some cases of dermatitis require more effective treatment, for example. In the case of severe skin conditions, an anti-dandruff shampoo may be required that contains Zinc Pyrithione or Ketoconazole.
These fungicidal elements help keep the fungi Pityrosporum Ovale under control and prevents overgrowth.
Anti-Dandruff Shampoo That Works
There are many different products available, and it’s up to you to find an anti-dandruff shampoo that works effectively for your condition.
If you want to be on the safe side, you can choose an all-round anti-dandruff shampoo to use regularly, which will keep your scalp healthy and prevent dandruff from developing. A good anti-dandruff shampoo doesn’t have to cost a fortune, but you should also avoid the cheapest shampoos on the market.
In some cases, you may find that your shampoo just aggravates the situation more, drying out your scalp too much and causing further dandruff.
Always read the instructions on your anti-dandruff shampoos, or the product description if you are shopping online. You need to be sure you’re buying a shampoo that works with the dandruff problems you have.
Typically, it will be clearly labelled if it contains any fungicides and/or hormones. Most anti-dandruff shampoos will also be labelled as suitable for dry or greasy scalps, and whether it should be used for common dandruff problems or more severe skin conditions.
Shampoo with Tea Tree Oil
Some of the best products for treating dandruff – including shampoos – contain Tea Tree oil.
Tea Tree oil from the Australian tea trees grow in the north-eastern part of New South Wales, Australia.
Tea Tree oil is particularly good at counteracting bacteria, so it’s used in most effective anti-dandruff shampoos.
Tea Tree oil contains a total of 150 nutrients that together counteract bacteria, remedy and prevent a wide variety of skin problems. Tea Tree oil inhibits bacteria and itchiness, and is therefore an effective remedy for dandruff.
Video: How to use anti-dandruff shampoo with tea tree oil:
How to use anti-dandruff shampoo
Method:
- Wash your hair with Gentle Cleansing Shampoo.
- Rub Tea Tree Hair Conditioner into your wet hair.
- Let it work for at least 1 minute.
- Rinse thoroughly.
Hair products from Australian Bodycare are effective in combating dandruff.
The products contain tea tree oil which is antiseptic and counteracts the cause of dandruff.
TIP: If you have severe dandruff problems, it’s recommended that you use Scalp Cure from Australian Bodycare 1-2 times a week until the symptoms are gone.
Below you can find ways to deal with your dandruff:
- Start using an anti-dandruff shampoo. You can test different shampoos that are suitable for combating dandruff to help you find the best for your condition.
- Try not to scratch your scalp while you have dandruff problems. This may irritate the scalp further and will not solve the problem any sooner. Furthermore, ensure that your hair and scalp are well-aired. Avoid wearing hats while you are dealing with dandruff.
- If your dandruff is more severe, you can try extra products in addition to anti-dandruff shampoo. There are also other dermatological products, including anti-dandruff sprays, creams and ointments. Scalp Cure from Australian Bodycare is very effective with scalp problems. Unlike many stronger, medicinal products, it’s so mild it can be used daily for long periods of time.
- If you have severe scalp dandruff, you may need to try a stronger anti-dandruff shampoo containing selenium disulphide. This substance helps to loosen your dandruff so you it can be washed away easily.
Furthermore, these shampoos have an inhibitory effect on the production of sebum, which can otherwise encourage more dandruff. Other anti-dandruff products contain salicylic acid, which can also loosen and remove the skin flakes as well as preventing more dandruff from forming. However, these types of medicines should be prescribed by your doctor.
There are also several stronger medicines, some of which can be bought in the pharmacy, while others are prescription only. You can, among other things, try out medicines containing fungicides such as ketoconazole or ciclopirox olamine.
These chemicals penetrate the scalp and fight the fungus yeast that is causing the dandruff. These medicines are typically used a couple of times a week for a few weeks, after which treatment is reduced or stopped completely.
READ MORE: How to get beautiful and healthy hair
FAQs about Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
Which anti-dandruff shampoo?
Which anti-dandruff shampoo should you choose and how do you figure out what kind best suits your condition?
It depends entirely on the extent of your problems. You should always examine your dandruff so that you know which anti-dandruff shampoo you should use.
If you have dry white dandruff, use a regular anti-dandruff shampoo for your treatment. If, on the other hand, you have greasy and yellowish dandruff, it may be seborrheic dermatitis and you should use a stronger anti-dandruff shampoo with anti-fungal agents.
Which anti-dandruff shampoo is best?
Nearly every adult person will experience dandruff problems to some extent at some point.
The severity of your dandruff, however, can vary widely from person to person. Therefore, the anti-dandruff shampoo you need for your scalp may be different to other people you know.
As a starting point, choose an anti-dandruff shampoo that’s free of any unnecessary substances and chemicals, as these can aggravate the problem further. This also applies to regular hair products, as these can actually cause dandruff in the first place
Hair Care Shampoo from Australian Bodycare is a mild shampoo that contains tea tree oil to combat and prevent dandruff. It is very mild and moisturising on the scalp to keep the skin fresh and healthy.
How do you use anti-dandruff shampoo?
It depends on the specific shampoo and its instructions. However, most shampoos work by massaging them into wet or damp hair, leaving it to soak for a few minutes, then rinsing it out thoroughly.
The specific instructions vary from shampoo to shampoo, including how often they should be used. If you use a very strong anti-dandruff shampoo – for example, if you suffer from eczema – then 1-2 times a week may be enough. Other milder anti-dandruff shampoos can be used every time you wash your hair over a period of a few weeks, after which you will use the shampoo less often.
You should always read the instructions on your selected anti-dandruff shampoo to find out how to correctly use the product. You should also be sure that the shampoo is suitable for your skin condition, as the wrong shampoo can aggravate the problem and potentially cause further skin irritation.
What is an anti-dandruff shampoo?
An anti-dandruff shampoo is a hair care product that typically reduces the growth of yeast on the scalp. An anti-dandruff shampoo penetrates the scalp and inhibits overgrowth, which in turn reduces any dandruff problems.
If you are experiencing an allergic reaction, eczema or another skin disease, a suitable anti-dandruff shampoo may also contain soothing agents that relieve swelling, irritation, redness and itching.
Most anti-dandruff shampoos differ from regular shampoos as they contain either Zinc Pyrithione or Ketoconazole.
Many products, however, are multifunctional and thus can solve several hair and scalp problems at once. An anti-dandruff shampoo can thus easily alleviate dandruff and at the same time moisturise and nourish your hair.
What is dandruff?
Most people experience problems with dandruff at some point. We all have dandruff, as it’s simply dead skin cells from the scalp which are naturally secreted by the body.
Our bodies are constantly producing new skin cells to replace old one. Thus, the old skin cells must be removed, resulting in dandruff.
However, not everyone will experience noticeable problems with dandruff. In most cases, dandruff will simply be a scattering of dry white flakes that can sometimes be seen on the scalp, in the hair and on your shoulders.
You should seek treatment if you experience any physical or stress because of the dandruff, for example skin irritation or redness on the scalp.
The other type of dandruff is yellowish and greasy. This dandruff usually occurs when you have seborrheic dermatitis. The dandruff is usually accompanied by redness, itching and skin irritation, and so you should seek medical advice from a dermatologist who can help you with the right treatment.
Dandruff can occur for many different reasons, including a dry scalp and irritating hair products. However, typically it’s caused by an overgrowth of the fungi Pityrosporum Ovale, which is found naturally on everyone’s scalps.
This fungus must be kept low so that it does not overgrow and infect your scalp. If it does, it encourages your skin to replace cells much faster than normal, causing dandruff to appear.
How do you treat dandruff?
You can treat dandruff in different ways, with just one treatment or a combination of several treatments.
The correct treatment depends on the dandruff itself. If you have a particular skin disease, you may need a more specific treatment. Normal cases of dry white dandruff simply require you to use a normal anti-dandruff shampoo, such as Australian Bodycare’s Hair Clean.
