Will shaving my head or beard get rid of dandruff or will it come back the moment I stop shaving it?
Shaving your head or beard won’t simply resolve your dandruff because it’s not your hair that is causing it. Nor is dandruff caused by dry skin as many people believe but mainly by skin that is too oily. Not washing your hair enough can lead to dirty hair but that doesn’t cause dandruff on its own. However a lack of cleanliness can contribute to dandruff as the oils from your scalp and face build up. While both dandruff and dry skin can give you an itchy scalp and beard, dandruff additionally gives you red, scaly skin and larger oily flakes in your hair. Dry skin on the other hand give you smaller, dry flakes.
Options For Dandruff On Bald Head
How should you deal with dandruff on your bald head? We’ll talk about the use of medicated anti-dandruff shampoos below since their ingredients are specifically chosen to combat the underlying causes of dandruff.
Here is a list of steps to follow.
Oily Skin
If you have oily skin, try an anti-dandruff shampoo that you can buy at the store such as the old standbys like Head and Shoulders or Selsun Blue. Use the shampoo as directed. If after around one month your dandruff hasn’t improved, make an appointment with a dermatologist as your situation may be more serious.
Dry Skin
If you suffer from dry skin, try a more sensitive shampoo and use a hair conditioner each time you wash your hair. When you apply conditioner to your hair at night, by the next morning or shortly thereafter your dandruff may have disappeared. If so, continue with this regimen. If not, switch to a anti-dandruff shampoo. As mentioned above, good quality anti-dandruff shampoos have anti-fungal ingredients to help you rid yourself of the underlying problem causing your dandruff. And if this doesn’t work after one month, consult your doctor as you might require a strong shampoo or another option.
What Causes Beard Dandruff?
What if you get dandruff in your beard? This is a common problem for men with facial hair and I recall experiencing it myself briefly in the past. I generally don’t get dry skin except on my hands during the winter and I do have oily skin. So I know that I had dandruff in my goatee particularly in the area around the chin.
Stopping beard dandruff also means first understanding your skin type.
Oily Skin
If you have very oily skin, it’s possible that you’re not washing your beard well enough. It’s also possible that you have a build up on certain areas of your beard with excessive amounts of oil. Make sure you keep your beard clean. Consider an anti-dandruff shampoo and also improve your beard brushing and combing regimen.
Dry Skin
As with head dandruff, if you just have dry skin and small flakes of dandruff, you probably just have dry skin. In this instance improve your cleaning regimen. Properly wash your beard and a conditioner or beard oil. Make sure you brush or comb your beard too. Stopping beard dandruff due to dry skin also means you take into account cold, dry weather such as during the winter.
Beard Dandruff Home Remedies
Whether you have oily or dry skin and have beard dandruff, here are a few thing to keep in mind.
No shaving = no exfoliation. When you shave your head and face, you are gently exfoliating your skin by removing dead skin cells with each blade stroke. When you grow a beard, you lose that exfoliation. This is why exfoliation is so important and why a beard brush and beard comb can help. Not only do they keep your beard tidy and groomed, they help to massage your skin. Plus, brushing and combing your beard distributes oils throughout your beard which is what you want.
The importance of washing and conditioning. As mentioned above, you must wash your beard and account for any dry or oily skin that you face. Wash using an anti-dandruff shampoo if necessary. Use a conditioner or beard oil if you wish especially if you suffer from dry skin.
Conclusion
- Can I get rid of dandruff if I shave my head or beard? No, because it doesn’t address the underlying cause of dandruff.
- Dandruff on your scalp and beard is not due to dry skin necessarily but is due to oily skin. Dandruff manifests itself with larger, oily flakes in your hair.
- Dry skin tends to produce smaller, dry flakes.
- It’s important to understand your skin type (oily or dry skin) to deal with your dandruff.
- When you stop shaving your face, you cease to exfoliate your skin which has an impact on your skin.
- Brushing and combing your beard is part of a good grooming regimen.
How did you deal with dandruff? Tell us in the comments below!