Many people suffer from dandruff. Every single day they deal with their dry, flakey scalp. They spend ages trying to find hairstyles that cover the skin flakes that show up in their hair. For some people, it’s something new and others have dealt with it for years. The thing is, while many people have a problem with dandruff, they don’t actually know much about it, what causes it and what can worsen this scalp condition.
So, to help you out if you suffer from dandruff, here are four of the most frequently asked questions.
Does straightening or blowdrying my hair cause dandruff?
Unfortunately, the answer is yes, using a flat iron to straighten your hair or regularly blow drying your hair can cause dandruff. If you haven’t had dandruff before, you won’t definitely get it from using these appliances. However, the more often you straighten and blow dry your hair, the stronger your chances are of getting dandruff. Of course, if you already have dandruff, using a flat iron or blow dryer regularly will most likely worsen the situation.
It’s all because of the heat that you’re applying to the scalp. When you straighten or blow dry, you start at the roots of your hair, which means the scalp is exposed to a large amount of heat. Repeated use causes your scalp to lose moisture, which results in dry, flakey skin.
Can hot water cause dandruff?
If you like piping hot showers, we have some bad news for you. Washing your hair with hot water can cause or worsen dandruff. This happens because the heat of the water dries out the scalp by removing oils and moisture, which results in dandruff.
Of course, you can’t take cold showers all year round, especially in winter. So, instead, use warm water instead of hot water. Alternatively, you can shower with hot water but turn down the heat when you wet your hair.
Does leaving my hair wet make my dandruff worse?
The short answer is no, leaving your hair wet isn’t going to cause dandruff or make it worse. However, if you’re prone to dandruff, going to bed with wet hair may not be a good idea. Dandruff could be caused by the build up of a fungus on your scalp while you sleep. So, while air drying your hair is perfectly fine, avoid sleeping with wet hair.
Does dandruff cause inflammation, sores or pain?
Dry scalp, loose skin flakes and itchiness does not always mean that you have dandruff. Many people assume they have dandruff when, in fact, that have a far worse scalp condition. Dandruff is visually unappealing and uncomfortable, but it doesn’t cause crusty sores, inflammation or excessive pain. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, you may have another type of condition like seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp. In this case, it’s best to see a doctor.
However, if you have a dry, itchy scalp with loosened skin flakes, using a trusted anti-dandruff shampoo like Gill will make all the difference.
