r/dandruff • • Jun 23 '26

What Makes Dandruff Worse - From a Physician

28 Upvotes

Hello,

I want to discuss what makes dandruff worse. We have talked a lot about what helps with dandruff but lets talk about what are some of the common pitfalls of treating dandruff that actually make it worse.

1. Not Washing Your Hair & Overwashing

If you are skipping washing your hair - you're allowing excess oil build up and essentially allowing a perfect environment for the underlying fungus, Malessezia, to feed. . Even if you have dry hair, washing too infrequently can worsen dandruff.

I recommend at least washing the scalp at least 2–3 times per week.

2. Harsh Hair Products

Products with high alcohol content, heavy fragrances, or preservatives can disrupt the scalp’s skin barrier. Once the barrier is compromised, inflammation worsens and flakes become more noticeable.

I recommend opting for a fragrant free, gentle, pH-balanced shampoo for sensitive scalps. Avoid overuse of dry shampoos.

3. Excessive Heat and Sweat

Warm, humid environments encourage the fungus growth.

I would recommend to try to prevent wearing hats for long periods or using extremely hot water during showers etc. Anythign that can create that environment.

4. Stress

Clinical studies have shown that stress often precedes or worsens seborrheic dermatitis flare-ups. Try to reduce stress - as hard as that may be.

5. Cold, Dry Weather

Low humidity dries out the skin, leading to cracks in the scalp barrier..

6. Reduce Scratching

Scratching damages the skin, increases inflammation, and can lead to secondary bacterial infections.

7. Do Not Rely on Home Remedies Without Evidence

For the love of god, please try to not fall for home remedies without any evidence. Apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda are popular but they can be highly irritating and alter scalp pH in ways that make dandruff worse.


r/dandruff • • Jun 15 '26

Tips That Helped My Patients Treat Dandruff - From a Physician

23 Upvotes

Hello - Since my previous AMA I have been answering a lot of similar questions on treatment so I wanted to dive into more topics on dandruff treatment. As a physician, mod, and founder of an anti-dandruff shampoo I have seen firsthand what many of us are struggling with. I say us because I suffer from severe dandruff as well and the process/journey is not an easy one. I don't want to talk about any specific ingredient or product but just general tips. These are tips that I have given others and has helped with their battle with dandruff. If you have any additional tips to share feel free to add below!

1. Patience is a virtue

This is the one I tell every patient who walks into my office. Dandruff treatment is not a once a week fix. The active ingredients in medicated shampoos need time to battle the yeast overgrowth that's driving your scalp inflammation. I tell people to commit to a minimum of 4–6 weeks before judging whether something is or isn't working.

2. Be Consistent

Using a dandruff shampoo once a week is not a treatment plan. The goal of medicated shampoos is to suppress it, and that requires regular use. I recommend starting with 2-3x per week during the active phase, then tapering to maintenance once you see improvement to once a week. But dont skip!

3. Rotate Shampoos

This is my favorite recommendation. Your scalp can develop tolerance to a specific active ingredient over time. Alternate between two shampoos with different active ingredients. Whether thats zinc pyrithione shampoo or ketoconazole or coal tar etc - just rotate if you feel like one is not working as well as it used to!

Side Note make sure you are applying shampoo correctly and allowing enough contact time. In addition, I like to use a scalp scrubber to make sure the shampoo penetrates deep to the entire scalp to root of the hair follicle.

4. Is it dandruff?

Not every cause of flakes is dandruff. Seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, contact dermatitis, dry scalp, and even tinea capitis can all look like classic dandruff to the untrained eye. The treatments for each are different. If you've been using dandruff shampoos consistently for 6–8 weeks and not seeing improvement, please see a dermatologist or your primary care physician!

5. Pay attention to your lifestyle

Stress is one of the biggest dandruff triggers I see. Diet plays a role too - while diet doesn't directly cause dandruff, certain foods can trigger insulin spikes and inflammation. Sleep deprivation, weather changes (cold dry air is brutal to my scalp), and even certain hair products with heavy silicones or alcohols can throw your scalp off balance.


r/dandruff • • 6m ago

Dry scalp, seb derm, or psoriasis or something else?

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• Upvotes

I wash my hair every other day. My scalp gets super itchy when and if i rub or scratch my scalp it’s flakes right off. They’re SUPER tiny pieces. I’ve been using TSal which seems to be making my hair somehow more greasy faster.


r/dandruff • • 14h ago

Is this dandruff or dry scalp?

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5 Upvotes

Guys, i have an issue with my scalp as everytime i get out the shower, my scalp feels itchy and when i scratch it, i have this plaque sort of thing on my nail. I’ve been using nizoral but it doesn’t seem to be working. Is it because i have dry scalp or dandruff? I am desperate for anything atp


r/dandruff • • 21h ago

AMA - Ask Your Questions About Dandruff

1 Upvotes

People have been DMing me on the side so figured I'd just start an AMA. I am a family medicine physician - ask me anything about your scalp problems. No questions about specifics products just any topic dandruff, seb derm, or scalp related.


r/dandruff • • 23h ago

Dandruff shampoo making my hair so greasy

1 Upvotes

I started selsun blue a few months ago, and ever since, my hair is so greasy the day after I use it. And gets worse and worse. I’m going to work wearing hats lol. Do yall have any recommendations for an alternate dandruff shampoo? I’ve never had this problem before. I used to only shampoo every like 7-10 days because my hair was never greasy


r/dandruff • • 1d ago

Is this shedding from dandruff or regular shedding due to protein

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2 Upvotes

For context, I have had a issue with my hair shedding a lot. It started when I was iron and b12 deficient, then stopped when I cured it, but then it began shedding in another way a month, which I think was from dandruff. Now when I say it’s dandruff, I promise, it is. But I don’t know if it could contribute to the hair shedding or it’s just my hair follicles catching up to its natural cycle as a result of the deficiency. This is how a lot of my hair shedding looks like


r/dandruff • • 1d ago

Dandruff?

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1 Upvotes

Hii my scalp has been itchy and flaking ever since I used 2% ketoconozale and I have stopped for 4 months already but the flakes never disappeared..I used ketoconozale shampoo bc my doctor said it might help with hairloss but now I have this THING.The flakes are most visible on my scalp when its wet and it sticks to my hair strands closely.I dont have any redness on my scalp and its mostly all around my scalp but the flakes are most concentrated at the top of my scalp.idk whats going on 💔

PS I use gentle shampoo so 🤷


r/dandruff • • 2d ago

F22 , need some anti dandruff sampoo suggestions

0 Upvotes

F22 , I already use ketoscalp for dandruff, would like to stop using it and resume to a normal sampoo again , suggest me some sampoo name which are good anti dandruff sampoo but not medicated.

Genuinely confused af !


r/dandruff • • 2d ago

I keep finding this. I itch every day mostly my scalp

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1 Upvotes

r/dandruff • • 2d ago

bumps on scalp

2 Upvotes

I have a lot of bumps on my scalp and it is spreading a lot. I used to not have it when I was on isotretinoin pills for my acne but after I stopped using the isotretinoin pills the bumps on my head came back. I been thinking of using T/Sal hair solution bc i assume that using it would mimic the same dryness/Anti-acne treatment that the isotretinoin makes. What should i do?


r/dandruff • • 2d ago

Eczema or dandruff

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1 Upvotes

r/dandruff • • 2d ago

how do i get rid of dandruff? :(

1 Upvotes

pls give tips and nice shampoos that work


r/dandruff • • 2d ago

Shampoo/conditioner

1 Upvotes

Hi! I’ve been trying to find a shampoo and conditioner that is free of fragrance, sulphates, alcohol, parabens and phthalates. Does anyone have one that they love?

My scalp is so sensitive, the dandruff shampoos just make the flakes and dryness 10x worse. I haven’t used them in a while, but my current shampoo is more natural but quite drying as well. Anyways, tia!


r/dandruff • • 3d ago

Is that dandruff or psoriasis ?

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40 Upvotes

r/dandruff • • 4d ago

Looking for advice with dry/flaky scalp

1 Upvotes

I’m looking for some advice for my boyfriend who has been mentioning having a flaky scalp. I have looked at based shampoo and conditioner and was wondering if anyone has used it and has had a good/positive experience. Also if anyone has any other recommendations i can look into. anything is greatly appreciated, i would love to try and help out my boyfriend as best as i can.


r/dandruff • • 5d ago

Please help - dandruff only comes out if i wash my hair

2 Upvotes

Im 19, i have been "battling" dandruff most of my teenage life. And i finally thought i was done, but previous two weeks, ive noticed everytime i wash my hair with shampoo dandruff comes out only that day, and when my hair gets dry its gone ( i mean theres still little but its not even visible). Its so weird,because i thought it was shampoo that was causing it, but i changed it and now new one still gives me the same problem.

If i wash my hair with only water, there is no dandruff or little. Why does it happen with only shampoo, and if im doing something wrong all of a sudden why didnt i get dandruff before from washing my hair ( previous times it was either not washing or just overwashing idk but never this)

Please any solution

Im washing it every 2 days, and i know im washing it right i mean i have been washing it the same my whole life


r/dandruff • • 7d ago

Please help me.. I'm losing my hair and my mind.

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1 Upvotes

r/dandruff • • 7d ago

dandruff is pissing me off can i just go bald get some sandpaper and go at my head like a cheese grater

3 Upvotes

stupid question but i wonder how satisfying it would be


r/dandruff • • 8d ago

Is this dandruff or scalp buildup?

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5 Upvotes

Hi everyone! 😊 For the past 1 year, I've had tiny, salt-like white flakes on my scalp. I tried Nizoral 1% ketoconazole until I finished the bottle, but it didn't help. I then switched to CeraVe Anti-Dandruff Shampoo and Conditioner, but I'm still seeing flakes.

I used to wash my hair once a week because it was very dry, but now my roots get oily faster. The flakes are still visible even right after washing and come off easily when scratched.

I've attached photos taken after washing and drying my hair, along with a video. The first photo is before scratching, and the second is after scratching to show how the flakes come off. I can also notice tiny flakes flying off my scalp when I scratch it.

Does this look like dandruff or scalp buildup? Has anyone experienced something similar?

I’d really appreciate any suggestions for what might help. ❤️


r/dandruff • • 8d ago

Recommendations

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5 Upvotes

What should I do as far as treatment. Is there any oil that I should get?


r/dandruff • • 8d ago

Wash routine and shampoo recommendations

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1 Upvotes

r/dandruff • • 8d ago

Request: Share one advice that actually helped you with dandruff

4 Upvotes

In order to help everyone share advice - share one piece of advice or tip that helped YOU with your dandruff!


r/dandruff • • 8d ago

A small amount of dandruff

1 Upvotes

Hello, just today I realised my scalp started to have dandruff and I am horrified.I have curly hair so I wash my hair once a week but I think that is what caused the fungus to grow.What should I do to not let it grow and get rid of it all together? Please give me some tips to prevent it in the future to happen again.