Dandruff or flaking due to dryness: how to understand what is happening to the scalp

For example, in case of dryness, you can resort to oils, but if you have dandruff, then an oil mask will only increase the number of scales. Or, say, a salicylic acid shampoo: it helps with dandruff, but the dryness will only make it worse. Do you see the dilemma?

It is very important to understand the difficulty you are facing. The doctors explained how to do it – put their recommendations into operation.

“Dandruff is technically a symptom of seborrheic dermatitis, a type of eczema caused by the yeast Malassezia furfur,” says dermatologist Rachel Cochran Gathers, MD. Seborrheic dermatitis flare-ups happen for a variety of reasons, but the most common triggers are weather changes and stress.

Flaking is usually caused by dryness of the scalp, which can be accompanied by tightness, itching or redness. In terms of triggers, the most common culprits are cleansers and the cold, as well as hormonal fluctuations, including those associated with age. In fact, anything that causes dry skin on the face and body has the same effect on the head.

You need to carefully consider what falls on the shoulders and stays on the head. “Dandruff is usually large, inconspicuous flakes that sit at the base of the hair,” says dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD. “They can be yellowish in color and oily, while the scales that appear due to dry skin are usually smaller and white.”

Dermatologist Iris Ruby, MD suggests doing a little experiment to find out what the problem is. “Use a deep cleansing shampoo and then moisturize your scalp. Still noticing the flakes? Most likely, you’re dealing with dandruff,” she says.

Read also: What is aromatic combing and how to get rid of dandruff and hair loss

If you have dandruff, you should see a doctor who will help you deal with eczema. According to dermatologist Rachel Cochran Gathers, MD, the most common prescriptions for this are shampoos containing ketoconazole, selenium sulfide, pyrithione zinc, or salicylic acid.

Women whose flaking is caused by excessive dryness should skip one or two hair washes – often the problem stems from too frequent water procedures. To compensate for the loss of moisture, it is necessary to use scalp masks or oils – for example, jojoba.