When you have dry flaky skin on your head, one of the simplest solutions is to purchase dandruff shampoo from a local store and take care of the problem while you bathe. For some, the shampoo treatment isn’t enough, and dandruff quickly returns to their scalp.
While the presence of dandruff will not lead to any other major problems, the irritation and sight of flakes could become a nuisance. During a dermatology appointment, you can seek out four alternative treatments and follow the guidance of a doctor to help remedy the dandruff problem.
1. Steroid Creams
You have the option to purchase medicated dandruff treatments, but the medications may not be strong enough to eliminate the dead skin cells. One option to consider are steroid creams. The prescribed creams rub directly on affected areas of the scalp and help eliminate the dandruff.
The cream often is necessary for a set amount of time. You should complete the process just before a shower. For example, if you shower every morning before work, you would allocate time to use the steroid cream right before your shower.
A follow-up appointment with a dermatologist will allow the doctor to see the effectiveness of the cream. Once your scalp clears up, a doctor will give recommendations for continuing treatment and discuss how often you need to apply the cream in the future.
2. Anti-Fungal Medicine
In some cases, dandruff occurs as part of a fungi growth on the scalp. A mix of hair chemistry and skin conditions can result in growth, and the removal is a challenge with just shampoo treatment alone. A prescription for anti-fungal medicine will help lessen the appearance of dandruff, especially in large-scale-like clusters on the scalp.
Unlike shampoos, an anti-fungal medicine comes in pill form and is ingested like a typical pill. A doctor may add the medicine to a current shampoo treatment so both efforts will help eliminate dandruff.
3. Overnight Oil-Based Treatments
A variety of natural oils can help treat dandruff when applied to the scalp. The main issue with home treatments is when the oils are treated more as a shampoo and not a full oil-based treatment. A dermatologist may recommend an overnight oil-based treatment to really help infuse and impact the scalp.
For example, oils like tea tree oil, lemongrass, and coconut oil are common as dandruff treatments. Because of the staining possibilities for pillowcases, you would apply the oils to the scalp and then wear an overnight cap to keep the oils trapped inside.
In the morning, you would follow your typical shower routine to rinse the oils and dead skin cells out. The number of overnight treatments would depend on the severity of dandruff and how effective the treatment is. You may have to try different oils to see which ones offer the best results.
Proper sleep will also help with your scalp health, and overnight treatment could act as a dual method in treating scalp issues.
4. Vitamin Regimen
Vitamins have been shown to play a pivotal role in dandruff production on our scalps. Vitamin B and vitamin D are two vitamins that will help with your skincare and could potentially reduce the production of dandruff. One of the main vitamins a doctor may recommend is zinc.
An increase in zinc has shown anti-fungal progress and could help naturally reduce your dandruff. The vitamin treatment is often supplemental and used as an aid to help prevent dandruff from reforming.
For more information on dandruff and scalp treatments, contact our professionals at Advanced Dermatology & Skin Cancer Specialists. Our trained doctors will help diagnose your scalp and set out a personalized plan to help treat your dandruff.
