It can be really annoying when your scalp begins to itch.

What’s worse? When you scratch it, a million and one white flakes shower down all over your body.

I bet that isn’t even as worse and as embarrassing as this happening when you are not alone.

No need to worry though, because it is possible to make those flakes disappear.

Dandruff is caused by different factors but if you have an oily skin, then you are prone to dandruff.

This is how it happens…

There is a fungus named Malassezia Globosa. It looks a lot like yeast and grows on the skin scalp of your hair. Every oily skin is caused by the excess secretion of sebum. When fungus begins to build up in your hair, it feeds on sebum. The more oily your skin is, the faster the fungus grows.

The fungus in turn secretes enzymes on your scalp which causes skin irritation and then, dandruff.

You can also get dandruff if you have a very dry skin, especially if you are in the habit of not washing your hair regularly.

Also, hair products that irritate the skin’s scalp can also cause dandruff.

Do not let the long story about the causes of dandruff scare you. It is possible to comb your hair and not have white flakes fall off your hair and in this article, I will show you how.

Let’s get started already!

1. Make sure you keep your hair scalp clean

A clean scalp leaves little room for fungus to grow. So, ensure that you wash your hair regularly.

Also, for oily skin, regular washing reduces the amount of sebum in your skin. Use a shampoo to wash your hair, and while you are at it, use your fingers to gently massage the scalp of your hair.

When you wash your hair, use lukewarm water instead of hot water. Heat can cause inflammation of your scalp and skin irritations.

Keeping your scalp clean also entails that whatever you put on your head has to be clean. This includes caps, scarfs and hats. Also make sure you do not touch your hair with dirty hands.

Your hair brush and combs needs to be washed regularly. Get your personal hair care kit to avoid sharing hair care essentials with other people especially your combs and brushes.

Also, no matter how many times you wash your hair, placing your hair on a dirty pillowcase every time you sleep is totally unhealthy for your hair. Always make sure your pillow case is clean.

Do not forget; a healthy lifestyle equals a healthy hair.

2. Use anti-dandruff shampoo

Using an anti-dandruff shampoo is a wise decision. When getting one, look out for shampoo with Zinc Pyrithione and Selenium sulfide. They are perfect anti-dandruff agents and they reduce flaking. If it’s not inconvenient, it’s advisable you shampoo your hair every day. Let the shampoo q sit for a few minutes before washing off with lukewarm water.

If any reaction occurs, you can go back to normal shampoo and use the anti-dandruff shampoo two times a week.

3. Shield your hair from extreme weather conditions

Though the extreme weather conditions do not cause dandruff, they worsen it. When it rains, cover your hair with a shower cap.

Also if you know you are going to spend your day exposed to the heat of the sun, wear a cap or hat. This is because the heat makes your scalp sweaty and itchy.

Ultra violet rays from the sun can also irritate your skin.

4. Always keep your hair dry

Wet, damp or sweaty hair is bad news. This is because sweat on your scalp makes your hair itch and gives rooms for the formation of flakes. Also, wet or damp hair can easily get damaged or suffer from breakage.

So, dry out your hair.

However, be careful when you use a blow dryer. Be sure to regulate the heat to a low temperature and do not bring the dryer close to your hair. Keep it some safe inches away.

5. Never, ever use oil!

This is very important.

Most of the time, dandruff is caused by oily skin. Adding oil to your hair when you have dandruff only worsens things. Oil clogs your skin pores and makes your hair scalp oily and sweaty. This makes your scalp a perfect breeding ground for dandruff.

Oil-based hair care products are also bad for your hair. Your hair needs to stay clean and oil free.

6. Resist the temptation to scratch your hair

It might be quite tempting but flee from the temptation. No matter what, do not scratch!

When you do so, you cause more damage to your hair scalp. Persistent scratching might lead to micro sores on your scalp. Also, scratching might further irritate your skin.

7. Do not stress yourself out

Stress affects your whole being.

Do not be scared; stress doesn’t cause dandruff but it can make it worse. When you are stressed out, itching increases.

Stress gradually weakens your body’s immune system. This is bad because your body is unable to fight bacteria and fungal infections as it should. Dandruff is caused by a fungus, and due to stress, your body becomes unable to fight it.

To reduce stress, try deep breathing or yoga. They can be very relaxing and set your body and mind at ease.

8. Eat healthy

What you eat is essential to your well-being.

Dandruff can be treated with a healthy diet. With the right amount of nutrients and vitamins, your body is provided with all it needs to fight off fungus and bacteria infections. The truth is you can never go wrong with eating a balanced diet.

Final Thoughts

Dandruff can be annoying. But the good news is that they can be easily gotten rid of.

This article serves as a perfect guide to achieve that. If you are able to follow these steps, soon, you would scratch off dandruff from the list of your worries. (No pun intended. Maybe.)