If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.
How to Treat Oily Dandruff at the Source, According to Dermatologists
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/84767C2-R01-017Aashley_rubell-58a29f1676cd49aca29630d1462fbedc.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/dandruff-30c50375818145989277c07f817be4f7.png)
Stocksy
Dry, flaky dandruff affects many of us—but that doesn’t make it any less of a nuisance. A change in weather, a new shampoo, or a loss of moisture can all result in the little white flakes that seem nearly impossible to get rid of. But according to the experts, there are remedies—you just have to figure out the root of the problem first– pun intended. The most common type of dry dandruff is white, which sheds from the scalp. But there’s also oily dandruff, which typically appears to be yellow and adheres to the scalp, says board-certified dermatologist Sumayah Jamal, MD. “It is caused by a yeast called Malassezia furfur that is part of the normal skin flora,” she says.
Keep reading for expert advice on how to get rid of oily dandruff.
Meet the Experts
- Sumayah Jamal, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York City.
- Bradley Glodny, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and owner of Park Avenue Dermatology in New York City.
- William Gaunitz, WTS, is a certified trichologist and the founder of Advanced Trichology.
Why Is My Dandruff Yellow and Oily?
“One of the root causes of dandruff is thought to be due to an overgrowth of a yeast called Malassezia,” dermatologist Bradley Glodny, MD, reiterates. “This yeast, which grows all over your body including your scalp, feeds on the oil that naturally occurs on your scalp. Excess pro-inflammatory oils on the scalp—either due to genetics or external factors like humidity, sweat, stress, etc—lead to this overgrowth which can trigger an immune response resulting in flaking, itching, and irritation commonly known as dandruff.”
Oily dandruff is also referred to as seborrheic dermatitis, explains certified trichologist William Gaunitz. “[This] is an inflammatory scalp condition in which your body is overproducing skin cells in a particular area of the scalp and overproducing sebum (natural oils), which creates a compounded scalp flaking,” he says. All that excess oil is what causes flaking skin to stick to the scalp and often leads to itchiness and tenderness. In extreme cases, Gaunitz warns that oily dandruff can extend beyond the hairline and onto the forehead or even lead to hair loss. But there are ways to alleviate the condition– see below for our expert’s approved tips.
How Do You Get Rid of Oily Dandruff?
Use a Scalp Scrub
Generally speaking, using a scalp scrub is a great hygienic practice for everyone. But it’s particularly important for anyone showing signs of oily dandruff. Scrubs can eliminate excess oil and skin by way of exfoliation while still maintaining a healthy level of moisture. Using a scalp scrub to eliminate excess buildup—even if one doesn’t have dandruff or it isn’t at a point of severity—can help to generate blood circulation, which is crucial to maintaining good scalp health.
Dr. Jamal suggests using a gentle scrub one to two times a week. “Oily dandruff is indeed on the mild end of the psoriasis spectrum,” she tells us.
Byrdie Tip
As psoriasis is an inflammatory disease, Dr. Jamal warns not to scrub, brush, or scratch the scalp too vigorously, as that could create a worse outcome for the irritated area.
Switch Shampoos
Shampooing plays a major role in scalp care. Whatever formula you choose to lather up with against those scaly, having itchy spots is definitely worth considering. “Look for a medicated dandruff shampoo like Jupiter’s Balancing Shampoo, which uses the active ingredient Zinc Pyrithione to get at the root of flaking and ultimately control oil production on the scalp,” says Dr. Glodny.
Gaunitz suggests switching to an antifungal shampoo that contains ingredients like tea tree oil, rosemary, and lavender to stop microbe growth and assist in preventing the overproduction of skin cells. Also look for formulas that contain jojoba oil and aloe, which are known to reduce inflammation. These are the types of ingredients you want to look for when making the switch to a better-suited shampoo, especially a shampoo to treat scalp acne.
Look for Specific Ingredients That Target Dandruff
Dr. Jamal highlights a few other helpful key ingredients to keep an eye out for when switching up shampoos, such as zinc pyrithione, ketoconazole, and apple cider vinegar. These ingredients can be found in products like Head & Shoulders Dandruff Shampoo and are meant to help reduce the number of organisms, again decreasing the overgrowth that characterizes oily dandruff. You’ll also want ingredients that reduce scales, she says, such as salicylic acid, willow bark, or phenol. Tar derivatives can also help reduce inflammation.
Shampoo Frequently
Once you’ve switched the type of shampoo you’re using, it’s time to put those key ingredients to work. Gaunitz states that washing your hair daily with a natural shampoo and conditioner– with the right properties to fight oily dandruff– is part of slowly but surely eliminating excess buildup.
“Wash more frequently and keep it consistent,” Dr. Glodny adds. When treating the scalp for dandruff, he says that it’s important to ensure you are consistently washing with a medicated shampoo to ensure your scalp is getting a two-pronged cleanse and treatment with the flake-fighting active ingredient. This will help to “control oil production and keep your scalp balanced.”
Maintain a Healthy Diet
A change in diet can also make a significant impact on your scalp’s health. Similarly to how you might experience a breakout after eating greasy food, or notice puffiness after drinking, the scalp can experience a reaction from poor nutrition. “Decrease unhealthy fats and sugar in your diet, like fried foods and processed sugar,” Gaunitz advises. Seborrheic dermatitis has a large fungal component, he notes, and decreasing the chances of a fungal flare-up may happen by eliminating high-glucose foods from being dumped into your system. Avoiding these types of poor eating habits will help decrease inflammation, he says.
Eat More (Healthy) Fat
Gaunitz also suggests upping your intake of healthy fats. “Consuming healthy fats in the form of omega 3-6-9 can help reduce the inflammatory effects and soothe itching and burning.” Foods that are high in healthy fats and omegas include fish, nuts, and plant oils.
Regularly Apply Scalp Treatments
Scalp treatments are great remedies for oily dandruff because many of them have ingredients with anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties.
“Treating an oily scalp between washes can help keep flakes at bay,” says Dr. Glodny. “A leave-on dandruff treatment like Jupiter’s Restoring Serum is formulated with Zinc Pyrithione that addresses the underlying cause of dandruff and helps control oil production between washes.”
Try Coconut Oil
If you don’t have time to run to the store for an over-the-counter medicated treatment, Gaunitz suggests using extra-virgin raw coconut oil, which is also anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory. It may temporarily help with hydration and flaking. “Warm the coconut oil to room temperature and apply directly to the scalp, massaging it in,” he instructs. “Let it sit for 45 minutes to an hour before rinsing out to shampoo and condition. You can do this up to three times a week.”
Put Away Your Styling Products
With so much healing happening at the scalp, the last thing you want to do is pile on any additional irritants. Sadly, this may mean storing away some of your beloved styling products. Any chemical-based products or alcohol-containing aerosols, like dry shampoo for example, are not going to fly while you’re warding off oily dandruff.
“Think of the scalp like an open wound,” Gaunitz explains. “You only want healing things in that area.” If a product doesn’t have healing properties for the inflammation and irritation you’re already experiencing, your best bet is to tuck it away for a later date or pass it off to a friend. Keep your products clean and oriented around what’s happening at the scalp until you are no longer experiencing any symptoms.
So, how long does it take to get your scalp back to its normal, non-itchy state of zen? “To see promising results with any of these treatments, you would need to allow typically between three to four weeks,” says Gaunitz. That’s how long it will take “for there to be a noticeable sign of remission.” And it’s highly probable that more than one of these treatments will be needed, he notes. “It’s best to use a multi-therapeutic approach. You could theoretically use all of the recommendations listed to put down the seborrheic dermatitis as quickly as possible.”
If four to six weeks go by, and you’ve seen no improvement after using these treatments, “you may need prescription strength medications,” says Dr. Jamal. At that point, you’ll want to go see your dermatologist for help.
Source URL: https://www.byrdie.com/how-to-treat-oily-dandruff-5088005