Trichologist expert tells all about dandruff – does it cause hair loss?

Trinny Woodall speaks about her struggles with hair loss

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“The yeast – Malassezia – that causes dandruff is a living organism,” Sey stated, but it doesn’t necessarily cause hair loss, except if you scratch the head too much. “If the scalp is particularly itchy, you may scratch the hair more than normal,” began Sey, “which can hurt the scalp, and also lead to hair loss and breakage.”

Another cause of excessive hair shedding is the “inflammatory component of Seborrhoeic dermatitis”.

Seborrhoeic dermatitis

DermNet NZ explained that Seborrhoeic dermatitis is a form of eczema that can cause dandruff.

Why is dandruff itchy?

“Dandruff is itchy, as this is the scalp’s inflammatory response to the overgrowth of the yeast, Malassezia,” Sey explained.

Do natural remedies get rid of dandruff?

Sey recommends against white wine vinegar and lemon juice to get rid of dandruff.

Nor is she in favour of avocado oil. “Dandruff is a lipid-feeding condition that feeds off your scalp’s liquids, such as sebum,” she said.

“Adding extra oil, like avocado oil, may make it worse. I would suggest eating the avocado instead.”

What about honey?

“Honey is an amazing product, which has many conditioning properties,” Sey enthused.

“It’s a humectant which means it draws moisture from the atmosphere and can leave the hair soft and supple.

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“However, I’ve not seen any evidence to suggest that it helps cure dandruff.”

So, what should you use?

“It is better to tackle the cause, which is the yeast, so using a proven anti-fungal, such as Nizoral, is best,” advised Sey.

The medicated shampoo has been clinically proven to provide long-lasting relief from dandruff.

This is because it contains Ketoconazole – a powerful anti-fungal ingredient.

Another technique to provide relief from dandruff includes showing with cooler water.

“Showering with cooler water could perhaps help with the general condition of the skin,” said Sey.

“It could make your skin less dry, because hot water can dry out your skin.”

A scalp massager can also help alleviate an itchy scalp, added Sey, and brushing the hair can loosen flakes.

“It’s always best to use a medicated shampoo to treat the cause, not just the symptoms,” Sey emphasised.

While dandruff can go away on its own, “it’s best to treat it early so that it doesn’t get worse over time”.

“Dandruff is a condition that can be treated but not cured,” said Sey.

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