Question:
My hair is very oily and I have a flaky scalp. How can I stop this?
Liliana, Auburn, NSW
Answer:
This sounds like a classic case of dandruff and, although you can’t completely cure it, you can keep it under control. Researchers now think dandruff may be caused by a yeast-like fungus called malassezia.
This organism lives on everyone’s skin, usually without problems, except when it multiplies out of control, leading to excessive shedding of dead skin cells — the flakes we see as dandruff. Having an oily scalp can exacerbate the problem, as malassezia feeds off the fatty acids from the oils secreted in your hair follicles.
The best way to tackle this is to start with the daily use of a specific anti-dandruff shampoo. Shampoos that contain selenium sulfide, such as Selsun Treatment (200ml, $11) work by preventing cell turnover and may also reduce the amount of malassezia. The antifungal agent zinc pyrithione is the active ingredient in products such as Head & Shoulders Anti-Dandruff Shampoo and Conditioner (200ml, $6 each) and also helps to reduce the malassezia organism.
\When your dandruff is under control, reduce your use of the shampoo to two or three times a week. In addition, limit the use of styling products that can build up on your scalp (and make it more oily) try to eat a healthy diet and avoid saturated fats (which cause the sebaceous glands to produce more sebum) and learn to manage stress which may also be a factor in triggering dandruff.
The AWW Beauty Team
