Dandruff problem?

Question

I have a friend who has BAD dandruff problems. He uses a type of oil that he says works okay, but it leaves his hair looking like it hasn't been washed in a year. The dandruff still flakes out. He said he has tried all sorts of shampoo and conditioner. So, is there a way to help to cut down the dandruff without the horrid oil he uses?!?

Answer 1

Dandruff is a mysterious ailment. Mysterious, in that there is no commonly agreed upon theory about what actually causes the condition. It is estimated that as much as 97% of the population of the United States will at some point in their lives have a form of dandruff, but there is still a lack of total agreement about this condition.
Dandruff can happen at any age but is most commonly found in people between the ages of 12 and 80. (A form of dandruff known as cradle cap occurs in newborns and infants).

Diet:
According to the Encyclopedia of Natural Healing by Siegfried Gursche, nutrition can play a big part in controlling dandruff. To counteract the inefficient carbohydrates and fatty-acid metabolization, which can cause dandruff, include plenty of B vitamins in your diet. Nutritional yeast and raw wheat germ are two excellent sources of B vitamins, particularly vitamin B6 which plays an important role in controlling dandruff.

Eggs and cabbage also provide vitamin B6 in addition to supplying sulfur which is nature's beauty mineral for the scalp. Sometimes an allergy to dairy products may cause dandruff in which case alternative food sources of vitamin B6 are preferred. Other common allergens which provoke dandruff are chocolate, nuts and shellfish. The good fats, found in nuts and flax seed benefit the body and promote healthy scalps.

Alternative Treatments:
Garlic and oil of oregano are also excellent for fighting dandruff. You can take it internally or externally depending on what seems to work best for your situation. Both are sold in health food stores as capsules or tablets.

Good Luck

Answer 2

He may need a prescription if his dandruff is really bad. There is a product called Neutrogena t/gel that is suppose to be really good. Anything with tea tree oil is also good.

Answer 3

What Is Dandruff?

First you should know that a person's entire body surface continuously sheds dead skin cells. The skin itself sheds every twenty-four days. Dandruff is the result of the normal growing process of the skin cells of the scalp. Shedding of dead skin cells from the scalp at an excessive rate, is the result of the normal growing process of the skin cells of the scalp.

In a normal scalp, the process of sloughing off old cells and manufacturing of their replacements is very orderly and complete. In the dandruff scalp, there is mass disorder and often the departing cells are not dead before leaving the scalp.

There appear to be two different causes of dandruff -- internal and external:

Internal Causes
External Causes

hormonal imbalance
poor health

poor hygiene

allergic hypersensitive

lack of rest

emotional stress

excessive consumption of sugar, fat, starch

improper nutrition

heredity predisposition
excessive use of hair sprays and gels
improper use of hair-coloring products or excessive use of hot hair curlers or curling irons

cold weather and dry indoor heating

stress and anxiety.

infrequent shampooing of the hair or inadequate rinsing of the scalp and hair.






Dry Or Greasy Dandruff?
Dandruff can cause either an overly dry scalp with itchy white flakes that may be waxy or greasy or dandruff can manifest as an oily greasy scalp with scales.

Dandruff & The Fungus Theory
Contrary to popular theory, although bacteria may aggravate a dandruff condition, bacteria do not cause the initial problem. Most medical authorities consider dandruff, even the mildest forms, to be a type of scalp or skin related disease. Clinically, one description of dandruff is seborrhea capitos or excessive sebum production of the scalp. Today most skin specialists agree that dandruff is associated with a tiny fungus called Pityrosporum ovale, or P. ovale for short. This fungus lives on our bodies and scalp all the time, usually without causing a problem. Unfortunately, for some people, it can get out of control... leading to dandruff.


Additional Causes Of Dandruff
Dandruff is usually seasonal. It is most severe during the winter and mildest during the summer. Dandruff scales usually occur as small, round, white-to-gray patches on top of the head. Scaling can occur anywhere on the scalp, in the hair, on the eyebrows, the beard and can spread to the neck and shoulders. Dandruff is often known as "dry scalp", but people with oily scalps tend to suffer the most. An oily scalp also supports the growth of P. ovale. Since dandruff is a natural process, it can not be eliminated. It can only be managed and controlled.

Traditional Dandruff Shampoos

One of the best known treatments for dandruff for years was Head & Shoulders. The new dandruff shampoos have changed quite a bit and have become a lot more sophisticated. Pantene make a good dandruff shampoo.
The best approach is to pick a product and try it. If the product works and is successful at controlling your dandruff, continue to use it. It is important to remember that there is no known "official" cure for dandruff. Once you have the problem the best that you can hope for is management and control.

When using a retail dandruff product it is recommended that this product will need to be used continually. Once dandruff shampoos or products are discontinued, the dandruff will return. Thorough cleansing of the scalp and the hair will keep dandruff flakes out of sight for up to three days. It takes the scalp up to three days before it can generate a new batch of flakes.

A key point to remember is to select the mildest shampoo possible. Although detergent based shampoos will clean the hair and scalp well, they often cause drying will will make the flaking worse.


Some Current Retail Dandruff Choices


Neutrogena

Head & Shoulders

Pantene Pro-V Dandruff Formula

Pert Plus

Selsun Blue

Tegrin



Nizoral
Nizoral is the only shampoo containing a patented active ingredient known as ketoconazole (discovered by Dr. Paul Janssen in Belgium). This ingredient is medically proven to be effective against P. ovale and acts directly to inhibit growth of the fungus. Most other anti-dandruff shampoos work by normalizing the pH of the scalp. Nizoral is the most well-studied anti-dandruff shampoo available today. There is over a decade of clinical experience with Nizoral.

This product is the number one choice of doctors and pharmacists, who have recommended an anti-dandruff shampoo to millions of dandruff sufferers all over the world. Nizoral shampoo is also unique in that it's effect is long-lasting. Even after rinsing, Nizoral carries on working for several days. This means that you don't need to use Nizoral every day making it extremely cost-effective.

Answer 4

Looks like someone beat me too it. Best for dandruff is Head&Shoulders!!!

Answer 5

dandruff could be caused by bacterial/fungal infection or a natural skin conditions (like serrobic dermitites or just hard water maybe). Better see a dermatologist as they can help diagonise between the conditions and prescribe proper medicine.

Answer 6

when he rinses his hair use realy cold water

if that don't work he can shave his head off

Answer 7

head and shoulders or selson blue they both work well

Answer 8

head and shoulders