Dandruff is a commonly occurring scalp condition characterized by a flaky, itchy scalp. No matter how hard sufferers may try to keep their hair clean, the scalp continues to shed small flakes of skin that can look unappealing and cause itchiness.
The official term for severe adult dandruff is seborrheic dermatitis. It can be recognized by either very oily or very dry scalp, excess skin flakes, irritation, and itchiness.
In addition to the physical symptoms that indicate a dandruff issue, many affected persons may feel a drop in self-confidence because of their condition.
Symptoms and Identification
There are several symptoms that you can look out for when determining whether or not you have a dandruff issue, and they are as follows:
- Oily scalp with yellow skin flakes
- Itchy, reddened scalp skin
- Scalp dryness
- Excess loose skin flakes
- General scalp itchiness and irritation
It is more common for men to develop a scalp condition than it is for women, and the likelihood increases if an individual has an illness such as HIV or Parkinson’s disease. Those with generally oily hair also have a stronger chance of developing a scalp condition.
Common Triggers and Causes
There is a wide variety of potential reasons for why an adult may develop a latent dandruff condition, including:
- Hormonal changes (such as pregnancy or recently starting transgender medication)
- Not washing the hair thoroughly or with enough frequency
- Harsh synthetic soaps or shampoos that trigger contact dermatitis (allergic reaction)
It is important for affected individuals to study their recent and current behavior to detect whether any of the above causes could be the reason behind their scalp condition. In some cases, it may be more than one cause at play.
Stress: the Unseen Culprit
When it comes to physical health, stress and anxiety should not be overlooked as potential causes for discomfort. Stress plays a massive role in our overall health and wellbeing, and letting it go unchecked can result in some unpleasant physical reactions – such as dandruff.
Healthy scalps are constantly producing and shedding new skin cells, but it becomes a problem when that reproduction process starts to accelerate, causing dandruff.
A strong immune system is what keeps skin cell production in check, and our immune systems are vulnerable to high stress (known in the medical world as cortisol) levels. When stress levels are high, our body’s ability to control skin cell production becomes impaired.
Natural Treatments for Adult Dandruff
Fortunately, there are many easy and affordable options as readily available as the online Bingo Canada offers for adults to treat their dandruff in a sustainable way, such as:
- Tea tree oil
- Virgin coconut oil
- Apple cider vinegar
- Omega 3 oils
- Aloe Vera
All of these natural remedies can be purchased at your local grocery store (if you don’t already have them at home) and either ingested or topically applied to the scalp for a relieving effect.
When applying a treatment to your scalp, use your hands to give the skin a deep massage that picks up excess skin flakes and stimulates blood flow to your scalp. If the issue persists, consider meeting with a dermatologist to get to the root of the problem.