24 | CANADIAN LIVING NOVEMBER 2019FA SH I ON & BEAUTY like a pro
gone
Flakes
be
Dandruff can be itchy,
annoying and downright
embarrassing. To ridyour scalp of those little
white flakes for good,learn what’s causing it
and how to treat it.TEXT JESSICA DOSTIE^4
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1
The Cause
Dandruff is not a sign of bad
personal hygiene! So, what’s
the reason for dandruff?
There’s actually several,
starting with a dry scalp, a
problem that gets worse in
winter and is characterized
by those classic flakes that
fall onto your shoulders.
Other possible causes can
be related to seborrheic
dermatitis (a skin condition
that causes scaly patches
and red skin, mostly on the
scalp, but can also occur on
oily areas of the body) or
the buildup of malassezia
(a type of fungus that’s
naturally found on the scalp).
More culprits include
eczema, psoriasis, stress,
or in some cases, it’s just
the buildup of residue from
hairstyling products.2
Aggravating factors
As much as it might be
tempting to scratch your
scalp until all the dandruff
is gone, it won’t solve the
problem. Heavily fragranced
shampoos may irritate the
scalp, as well as over-
exfoliating. Going to sleep
with wet hair is also a bad
idea, as it can exacerbate
the growth of malassezia.
If you prefer to shower at
night, make sure your hair
and scalp are dry before
hitting the pillow.3
What to do
In most cases, washing your
hair every day is far from
necessary—two to three
times a week is sufficient.
To properly wash your
hair and scalp, do two
consecutive shampoos
using a product that is
suited to your type of
hair and that will remove
all impurities, dust and
pollution buildup. Follow
with a conditioner. Finally,
detangle and comb through
gently, rather than brush
vigorously.4
Ingredients that work
Certain antifungal ingredi-
ents are designed to
efficiently deal with dandruff
caused by a fungus. One
of the most common, zinc
pyrithione, is found in
numerous anti-dandruff
shampoos. Salicylic acid,
an anti-inflammatory, con-
tributes by removing scale
from the scalp. Otherwise,
look for formulas that have
soothing ingredients, like
aloe vera. A European study
found that consuming the
bacteria lactobacillus,
found in yogurt and
other fermented products,
can relieve dandruff.- THE BODY SHOP Ginger Scalp Care Shampoo, $16, thebodyshop.ca.
2. HEAD & SHOULDERS Deep Moisture Conditioner, $7, loblaws.ca. - CARINA ORGANICS Unscentd Dandruff Flake Removal Shampoo, $15,
well.ca. 4. PHYTO PARIS Phytosquam Dry Scalp Moisturizing or Purifying
Maintenance Shampoos, Phytosquam Intense Exfoliating Treatment
Shampoo, $24 each, shoppersdrugmart.ca.
Our favourite products
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