To begin with, dandruff is a common dermatological problem that is found in many individuals. Like the skin, the scalp renews itself regularly over a 20-day cycle:dead cells are gradually eliminated and are almost imperceptible. Dandruff, on the other hand, is accumulated white flakes that do not go away gradually, which is why they are more easily seen. Aggregated in this way, they dot the scalp and give a neglected appearance to the hair. Dandruff then becomes a breeding ground for bacteria, microbes and fungi, the latter causing itching. This itching leads to scratching the scalp which generates new volatile cells. A real vicious circle that you have to learn to stem in order to get rid of it permanently.
The most common type of dandruff is the so-called "dry dandruff":it is this dandruff that forms a kind of white constellation in the hair and on the shoulders. Volatile, they accumulate on the hairbrush and disperse at the first movement of hair, which makes them particularly unsightly. Due to excessive dryness of the scalp, these dandruff can very well be eliminated by rebalancing the hydration of the scalp. Just like the body and the face, the skin of the scalp needs to be deeply nourished to avoid desquamation and unsightly white particles. They are found on dry to normal hair because of their fragile pH and many external factors can contribute to accentuating the phenomenon:unsuitable shampoos, too frequent brushings, aggressive care, too hot hair dryer,... So many elements that will intensify the dryness of the scalp and increase the risk of irritation. In order to eliminate them, nothing beats moisturizing the scalp with argan or olive oil baths to deeply nourish the hair.
Less common than dry dandruff, oily dandruff is found only on oily hair. Less volatile, they are on the other hand particularly inelegant, because they form white to yellowish patches on the scalp. Thick and difficult to dislodge, they result from an accumulation of sebum which forms plaques on all or part of the scalp. These fatty plaques are fertile ground for a fungus, pityriasis, which causes yellowing of the plaques and often an unpleasant odor. Unlike dry dandruff, they are not eliminated by adding fat (there is enough on the scalp). Conversely, oily hair will require deep cleansing to be able to eliminate excess sebum. Anti-dandruff shampoos enriched with pirythione zinc are particularly effective on this type of dandruff. A vitamin supplement of provitamins A, C and E and selenium will also work wonders. For a home and inexpensive treatment, consider a sea salt-based scrub once or twice a week before your shampoo:the fine grains of the salt will allow you to scrape gently to eliminate plaques and the astringent properties of the salt will help to tighten skin pores. To avoid excess oil, rinsing your hair with cold water is an excellent way to close the pores of the scalp while making your hair shine.
