Causes and Solutions for Irritating Dandruff and Winter Duet

Winter demands giving more attention to the body to successfully combat cold and stay healthy. Not just your skin but your hair also requires extra care in the colder months. Most people experience dandruff during winter along with other skin and hair problems. Cold weather may cause your scalp to lose moisture and become itchy and flaky. However, that does not mean your problem is here to stay. More often than not, dandruff lasts only till winter. And even in winter, it’s quite manageable with the right solutions and proper care. All you need to do is find the best solutions for dandruff and winter duet. In this post, we try to understand more about dandruff and its causes and discuss solutions for dandruff during winter.

Dry Scalp and Dandruff During Winter

The dry winter air makes your scalp lose moisture and become dry, flaky, and itchy. It also leads to dead skin cells forming a layer on the scalp. Eventually, the body pushes out these cells in the form of flakes. Hence, it is common to have an itchy, flaky scalp in winter. However, this dry scalp is very different from dandruff. It is simply the scalp losing moisture which can be remedied with proper hydration.

What is Dandruff? How Does it Affect the Scalp?

Contrary to popular belief, dandruff is more common in those with oily scalp. Dandruff is the result of a scalp condition called seborrheic dermatitis (SD). It often occurs when the oily scalp loses moisture and produces excessive oil to compensate for this loss, irritating the scalp and making it red, oily, and itchy. Another factor that causes seborrheic dermatitis (SD) is the rapid growth of Malassezia, a yeast found in the skin’s oils. While its symptoms are the same as a dry scalp, it is more severe. The main difference in both is the oily, and larger flakes caused by dandruff.

While dandruff is a year-long issue for some, it is often seasonal for others. The difference is in how you treat it. Simply buying a hair serum for dandruff is not the answer. You need to understand the root cause of dandruff and find solutions that can treat dandruff during winter.

Winter Dandruff Causes and Solutions

Standard and common remedies can easily treat dandruff. So, if you’re thinking of trying over-the-counter products like an anti-dandruff serum or shampoo, it might work for you. But sometimes, despite these measures, dandruff persists. In such cases, it is essential to understand the causes of dandruff and why it is more pronounced in winter, to combat it. Here are the causes and solutions for the irritating duet of dandruff and winter:

Very Dry Scalp

Winter’s cold air affects everyone equally making the skin and scalp dry and flaky. However, for some, it is easily handled with extra conditioning. But if you’re one of those who face excessive dry scalp in winter which eventually leads to dandruff, you need help.

Solution:

The best answer to dry scalp is moisture. Keep your scalp and hair hydrated and healthy by adding nourishing products to your hair care routine. You can use hydrating conditioners and anti-dandruff serums to protect you from mild dandruff.

Not Washing Hair Enough

In winter, it’s natural to refrain from frequently washing your hair. However, this also means the scalp isn’t cleaned regularly. This can cause a build-up of impurities and dead skin cells on the scalp preventing moisture from reaching the inner layers. This leads to quick drying of the scalp.

Solution:

A simple answer to this is washing the hair regularly and with a good anti-dandruff shampoo. Make sure to wash your hair twice or more in a week to avoid this issue.

Not Using the Right Shampoo

Despite washing the hair frequently, you are still susceptible to dry scalp and dandruff. However, if you don’t add anti-dandruff ingredients like Piroctone Olamine, Salicylic acid, Clobetasol Propionate, etc. These ingredients are known for their anti-fungal, anti-microbial, and anti-inflammatory properties that can help combat dandruff easily.

Solution:

Switch your regular shampoo with anti-dandruff alternatives with dandruff-fighting ingredients. Try shampoos with salicylic acid or piroctone olamine for best results.

Not Oiling Scalp Regularly

If you think regular oiling will keep the scalp oily and cause dandruff, you’re wrong. Irregular oiling dries the scalp, making it produce more oil in compensation. Dandruff is a condition of dry scalp, so keeping your scalp nourished can prevent it. And oiling is the best way to nourish the scalp.

Solution

Oil the scalp regularly to maintain oil production. If you feel your hair and scalp are getting dry, switch to deep nourishing oils like argan, jojoba, and coconut oils for winter. Hot oil massage is great for increasing blood circulation in the scalp and also ensures the oil reaches deeper into the scalp.

Hot Showers

Hot showers can also increase your dandruff issues. Washing the hair with very hot water can reduce its natural oils and dry the scalp faster. Also, frequent changes in the temperature from hot to cold air can promote yeast production on the scalp.

Solution:

Instead of washing with hot water, try lukewarm or cold water for hair. This will prevent damage and keep the scalp nourished. Also, ensure you don’t cover wet hair as it can also encourage the production of fungus and yeast in the scalp.

Treatment for Heavy Dandruff

While mild dandruff can be treated by using anti-dandruff ingredients and products, severe dandruff requires professional care. If you don’t switch to treatment-centric products or consult a dermatologist on time, the problem can increase.

Solution:

If you think your dandruff is severe, try adding a good salicylic acid scalp serum for dandruff control into your regime. It works on the scalp by inhibiting yeast formation and regulating oil production and is the best treatment for stubborn dandruff. You can also try other anti-dandruff ingredients and if the problem persists, consult a dermatologist for expert care.

Conclusion

Dandruff is a medical condition caused by a dry scalp, irregular oil production, and rapid yeast growth. The cold winter air is responsible for increasing dandruff during winter by drying out your scalp quickly. To combat dandruff, you can try using the best anti-dandruff and nourishing products by Kamree for a revitalized scalp and healthy hair.

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Causes and Solutions for Irritating Dandruff and Winter Duet