Winters are here and so is winter dandruff. But worry no more, because we have remedies for winter dandruff that are essential for healthy scalp. Here is all that you need to know about your scalp’s health, and way to solve the issue of winter dandruff, or dandruff in general.
Table of Contents
What Is Winter Dandruff ?
The term winter dandruff is often used to describe the worsening of the existing dandruff issue or simply the sudden appearance of dandruff in the cold months. Dandruff is caused by when the scalp sheds off the dead skin due to many different reasons including dryness, overgrowth, hygiene conditions. While dandruff is completely normal when it is not extreme, it is important to be taken care of. Extreme dandruff can cause hair fall, scalp infections, and sometimes it can also be a symptom of Psoriasis, which is a chronic auto immune condition.
Causes of Winter Dandruff?
Dry Air: The atmosphere during the winter months is naturally dry and crisp. There is not much moisture in the air, which caused dry skin. This can be noticed on every part of our body, like dry lips, face etc. Therefore, the scalp also dries up and sheds more dead skin than it does during the summer season.
Hot Shower: Hot water is known to draw away all the moisture from the skin. And many people opt for hot showers during the winter months than compared to any other month. This contributes into a dry scalp, leading up to winter dandruff.
Frequency of Hair washes: Sometimes people assume that not washing the hair for longer span of time will help retain the natural oil (sebum) produced by the scalp. However, this backfires pretty quick. Not washing hair after a certain point of time, causes the sebum to accumulate on the scalp, causing more dead-skin and layers that sheds as winter dandruff.
Covered Head: Beanies, Scarfs, Hoodies, these winter essentials are our favorite during the cold months. However, wearing these head covers for majority of the time, makes the scalp a breading ground for dandruff and other scalp infections.
Remedies for Winter Dandruff
Moisturize: Make sure to keep your hair moisturized by using a suitable hair oil based on the requirements of your hair and its type. You can also use a good hair mask to lock in the moisture for good.
Mild Shampoo: A mild shampoo can be your best friend for all seasons. Your goal should be to clean the hair and scalp, not to strip away all the moisture and sebum. A mild shampoo based on your hair type will maintain the healthy conditions that are essential for scalp’s health.
Limit Hot Water Exposure: Hot water is not the best thing for your hair. Try using luke warm or room temperature water if possible to wash your hair. This will save your scalp from loosing all the moisture and will significantly prevent dandruff.
Exfoliate: Exfoliation is your skin’s best buddy. And not to forget scalp is also a part of your body’s skin. Exfoliating the scalp twice a month, or trice based on your requirement can help the scalp to shed the dead skin without getting flaky. However, make sure not to over exfoliate.
Conditioner: Just like a mild shampoo, make sure you are not skipping a mild conditioner for your hair strands. Even though conditioners have more to do with strands and less to do with scalp, they are still very important for your hair’s overall health.
Stay Hydrated: Hydration is the key, from inside out. Drink water and keep yourself hydrated. We tend to look over our hydration during the winter months but that should not be the case. You can also use a hydrating hair mask or hair serum to restore your scalp’s moisture.
Avoid Heat Styling: Heat styling is not healthy for your hair anyway, no matter which season it is. But it gets worse during the winters. Heat styling can cause dryness which can make the winter dandruff worse.
Healthy Diet: At the end everything boils down to your bodily health. Ensure a good and healthy diet for the overall health of your skin which would automatically improve your scalp’s health.
Scalp Brush: A scalp brush is used to massage the scalp and help the process of exfoliation. It also stimulated hair growth and blood flow which is good for the hair.
Medical Issues Mistaken as Dandruff
In most condition, dandruff is a harmless and very common condition which is not associated with any major health issue. It is also true that it can get extreme sometimes, specially during the winters. However, in some cases, intense dandruff has been seen as a sign of underlying health condition. Here are a few issues to look out for.
Seborrheic Dermatitis: Causes redness, flaking and itching. Usually affects scalp but can also spread to areas like face and chest.
Psoriasis: A chronic auto immune disease that causes thick scaly patches due to rapid buildup of skin cells. It appears like dandruff.
Contact Dermatitis: An allergic reaction caused by certain hair-care products that manifests as inflammation and flaky scalp.
Fungal Infections: There are many fungal infections that look like dandruff and affect only the scalp region. But if left untreated, they have a tendency to end up becoming long term.
When to Seek Medical Help?
While regular dandruff can be treated by simple remedies and a change in hair care routine, there are a few things to look out for. Here are some signs that suggest a medical help is required.
Persistent and Severe Symptoms: If your scalp is not getting any better after trying all that you can, and it has persisted for a long time, then it would be best to visit a dermatologist.
Swelling and Inflammation: While dandruff can get extreme, it is rarely known to cause swelling and inflammation. It could be a sign of an allergy for fungal infection.
Unusual Appearance of Scalp: If you notice bumps, lumps, or a weird odor coming from your scalp, then seek medical help immediately.
Known Skin Conditions: If you have a skin condition that is medically diagnosed, like Psoriasis, then do not attempt to treat it by yourself. It requires professional medical assistance.