Allie S.

is modding

Bod Squad

Get Me Flake Free

Why am I getting dandruff, and how can I get rid of it?

Most people think dandruff is caused by dry skin, but that’s really not the case. Here’s the real deal: All humans have a harmless little fungus living on our scalps. It hangs out up there feeding on our dead skin cells and oils. Sometimes, this organism can cause our scalps to shed skin cells too quickly. These cells are really sticky and form big globs of scale that are visible as dandruff, explains Dr. Hilary Baldwin, a dermatologist in Brooklyn, New York. As you may realize, these small, white flakes won’t hurt you at all. Sometimes, though, your head may be itchy, especially in the winter when your skin is naturally dryer anyway. More importantly, though, dandruff can be embarrassing-especially when you’re wearing a black shirt! Luckily, it’s easy to control this problem with over-the-counter shampoos. (They keep that little fungus at bay, which means your scalp is less irritated, flaky and dry.) Look for shampoos that contain anti-dandruff ingredients like salicylic acid, zinc pyrithione, sulfur, selenium, or ketoconazole. After lathering up for a week, you should have flake-free head and shoulders.

BY ANDREA T. ON 12/10/2008 1:09:00 PM 67 COMMENTS

67 READER COMMENTS

I have a problem with oily hair.... so I think dandruff would be way easier to handle. I've read before that if you just load your hair down with conditioner that that helps a little.

Lexy5 on 12/10/2008 1:51:32 PM

1st comment?

cowsgomoo on 12/10/2008 2:04:25 PM

I have found that Head and Shoulders shampoo works well for dandruff.

PurpleMango on 12/10/2008 2:46:38 PM

i just wanted to see my icon

natur_luvr22 on 12/10/2008 4:01:59 PM

i use3 head and shoulders for my dandruff and it hasnt helped i got checked ofr lice an anything else but its just dandruff also many dandruff shampoos contain many harmful chemicals.. i got a rtash from head and shoulders and it ddnt even help my hair... s o when ur looking for a dandruff shampoo get an all natural one!

disasterxxcraze on 12/10/2008 4:23:29 PM

Hi...ummm.i recently

Hedgehognhorselover on 12/10/2008 5:23:45 PM

I love head and shoulders I haven't had dandruff for monthes since I started using it.

leko17 on 12/10/2008 5:36:21 PM

I use head and shoulders, but be warned, if you have thick hair DO NOT USE VOLUMIZING for head and shoulders. You will become a frizz head. But it totally works for dandruff.

lexibird4 on 12/10/2008 5:42:22 PM

I don't have dandruff, but it's nice to know what's up with it.

Check out my profile and leave comments!!

Need advice? Ask me! I'll get back to you asap! (ha, that rhymes)

~Kristy

♪ ♫ ♪ ♫

sparklestar4ever12 on 12/10/2008 6:07:55 PM

I have that problem 2! Thx 4 the tips!

skatingsarah96 on 12/10/2008 7:45:59 PM

I don't have dandruff either!!

lovebug_77 on 12/10/2008 7:52:50 PM

MOD I have really oily hair, waht would you recommened me to use? I figured out that using to much conditioner is part of the problem so, I've been using less conditioner but, I still have really oily hair.

There are a lot of different products out thier for people with oily hair just try one of them. it will say for oily hair righton the bottle see ya tobie

FroggielGrl123 on 12/10/2008 8:54:48 PM

I ASKED THAT!!!
THanks SOOOOO much for answering it!
Right now I am using an organic tea tree shampoo that my mom had. I will get some other shampoo though! THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hate dandruff!!!!

balloonluvr on 12/10/2008 8:58:47 PM

i get dandruff a lot. it sucks!!!
try head and shoulders, or if it is REALLY bad, try neutagenia t-gel

tennisgoddess on 12/10/2008 9:06:04 PM

Hey Mod! Ok so my BGF is going out with my 'friend'(shes not my friend anymore cause of the sitch). But ever since hes been going out with her he isnt the same. He stopped talking to me doesnt return my texts and isnt as fun loving and care free as he was. now hes all strick and mean. I know my "friend" said something to him though. And shes all mad at me because he has like been my 2nd bff since we were two and we were always joking about funny memories and stuff. and i think she cant take the fact that I know him better than her because she met him this year. Anyway how can I get him to go back to normal and get her not to be all mad at me. ~cowsgomoo~ XOXOXOXO

your friend is probably jelous because her BF hangs out with you alot of girls don't like thier boy friends hanging out with other girls. she might think that hes interested in you. i would just make sure she knows that you two are just friends and that you don't have any feelings for him. she might lighten up on him. Or talk to you BGF and ask him whats going on? see ya tobie

cowsgomoo on 12/10/2008 9:31:26 PM

MOD please I just found out my crush is going to ask my kinda-sorta friend out this week. I like him, and I THOUGHT he liked me. How can you tell if a guy is flirting with you or just being friendly and talkative? Thanks! ~K

Who really knows if hes kinda touchy like on your shoulders or back thats good. or if he makes it a point to come and talk to you thats good to. See ya tobie

sparklestar4ever12 on 12/10/2008 9:47:55 PM

Any ideas on how to lose weight. I am almost 30 pounds over average weight which is like 135. I am almost 13, i need help!

nicoleismybasketballbabe on 12/10/2008 9:54:24 PM

wow, my head has lately been really itchy lately, and everyone makes fun of me and tells me that i have dandruf! everyone commenting says that head and shoulders works, so i guess if everyone says it works then it cant hurt to try. i dont know why i have dandruf though,

chelle123 on 12/10/2008 10:44:51 PM

****************************mod*********************
i can't believe it! Louisiana, and it's snowing!i just made my first snowball!ahhhhhhh,i'm so happy!

nirvanaluver on 12/11/2008 7:09:52 AM

************************mod****************************
we are having out winter dance on friday..it's like one where u can just wear jeans and a t-shirt...so, there's this guy i like, and the other day when i walked into the lunchroom, i could hear his friend say, hey, is that the girl u like?i didn't hear his response though. i wanted to know if i should tell him i like him at the dance.

nirvanaluver on 12/11/2008 12:18:05 PM

i dnt get dandruffs wash ur head

babyd2957 on 12/11/2008 6:33:03 PM

i use head and shoulders! it works so much!

future ms. cullen on 12/11/2008 7:22:42 PM

MOD OR GIRLS!!!!
my crush asked me out two weeks ago, and we've hung out a lot and all and he says i'm his girlfriend. i'm glad i'm officially his gf, but i don't really know how to act . i don't want to be too controlling or too quiet or anything. how should i act? i'm not going to completely change myself for a guy, but i don't want to break up because i'm acting too controlling or anything. what should i do??? i really like him and don't want to break up because of me.

aerogirl1987* on 12/11/2008 8:08:42 PM

For dandruff or oily hair use head and shoulders! it really works! I have the same prob and got a spesh copper dandruff removing brush and it is a miracle. it was like 11 bucks from cvs.

shnitzel on a leaf on 12/11/2008 10:04:13 PM

***MOD***
Im in 7th grade and i haven't dated anyone since 6th grade and all my friends have boyfriends so im always a third wheel (or fifth, or seventh). And i finally got up enough courage to tell the guy ive liked since kindergarden that i liked him (and i have like never done that) in hopes that he would like me. He doesn't. So now its all akward at school and I know this sounds super-shallow, but i want a boyfriend! Its like im a boy repellent. And the only guy who i think likes me is my bff's boyfriend but the worse part is...I like him too. And my bff wouldn't talk to me ever again because shes touchy about that stuff. My friends are always all like "When god makes a woman he makes a man to go with her". So now i am spending my saturday nights at home being bummed and listening to songs, and i quote, that say "Im giving up on love cause loves giving up on me." Im like never going to have boyfriend! And by the way, my name, it was in 6th grade when i made this and i was sugar and my boyfriend was spice. stupid but i thought it was cute. The other problem is i only like unavailible guys. I cry all the time because im lonley. any suggesttions??? I know i should wait, but i want a boyfriend!I hang out with a bunch of eighth graders and when im there im sorta sittin around while they make out. Im not saying i want to move that fast but just a boyfriend. i want someone to secretly hold hands with after lunch, i want to kiss when the lunch moniter turns around. I want to wear his hoodie, i want to go to every single basketball game he has, i want a guy to come home with me every friday.

Hey, girl. Awww...it's okay! Your time will come and everyone around you will feel jealous. Trust me! I've always gone by the motto that when you look for love, it won't come. Love will find you, babe! Enjoy single life while you can!

<3, Sharon

Sugar&Spice on 12/12/2008 8:24:50 AM

i've had dandruff for a while and i use head and shoulders every day for a while now but it's not going away. what should i do?

tapdancer47 on 12/12/2008 2:56:23 PM

Thanks, MOD. I'll think on that.

That's good. Anytime girl.

sparklestar4ever12 on 12/12/2008 4:04:10 PM

A good dandruff shampoo I suggest is Selsun Blue Naturalls. I used it for one week and my scalp problems vanished! And trust me I tried doctor prescribed stuff for 5 years!

soccerjets on 12/12/2008 8:10:35 PM

MOD AND GIRLIES !!!!!!!!
ok so i totally scored a bf, and have been goin out for four days. on the second day, we hugged. we havent hugged or held hands or anything since then. everyonne says we should hold hands, and my bf said he thinks he's ready, and i told him i think i am too. he isnt the type of guy to make the first move, so what do i do? do u just grab his hand?! thanks for all the help, love ya all!

Hey girl, It's a good idea to make the first move while you're walking. As your arms are swaying back and forth, just reach down and grab his. Don't be scared! xo Annemarie

superhannah on 12/12/2008 10:27:27 PM

thanks annemarie! but what are some good xmas ideas for my bf? he's thirteen. i want it too be something meaningful, and some where betwee 10 and 25 dollars, or something i could make.

Hey girl, Why not create a mix tape from the iTunes store with all songs that mean something to you and you like. xo Annemarie

superhannah on 12/12/2008 10:48:52 PM

***********MOD************
Ok so last year i like this guy lets call him jake. Well he liked me back, we flirted back and forth but never went out and became kinda friends over the summer by texting eachother about once a week. So this year when we got to high school and he doesnt even look at me any, doesnt talk to me, nothing. He hangs out with the popular crowd and i'm in the middle. (Im friends with popular people, but not best friends) but anyways, a lot of people are telling me that he likes me but if hes acting tha way he is, why is he???? Please help because i really like this guy and have for 3 yrs

hey girl, I don't know. Have you tried just going up to him and saying hello? Sometimes texts and phones and email can give us mixed details. I would just go up to him and say hi and see how he reacts. xo Annemarie

lulu7 on 12/12/2008 11:05:02 PM

Hey, i've liked this boy scince 4th grade and his friends told me he liked me,but now he's going out with my cousin's cousin.he won't talk to me,and when he sees me he glares at me.i think his gf told him not to talk to me.what should i do?

p.s. what does M.O.D. mean?

GL*GL*GL*GL on 12/13/2008 12:24:32 PM

*****MOD MOD MOD*****
K, so i'm reallyy skinny. when i'm in my bathing suit you can almost see my ribs!! but i eat allll the time. my doc says it's because i have high motabalism and i burn calories really fast. but ppl always look at my like i'm anorexic and i hate it!

*H0T_WhEeLs* on 12/13/2008 2:35:15 PM

I havent had danderuff before but when winter came around i got it and its really gross.:p Thanks for the help..
Come check out my profile!!!!
Thank you

allilouwalli on 12/13/2008 2:52:03 PM

~*******MOD~*********

can you naturally grow boobs faster? how? help me im self concious and want to look great when i switch schools

Hey girl, I'm sorry but you're just going to have to wait for them to grow in. Trust me- they will! -lauren

hollister on 12/13/2008 7:18:41 PM

MOD

Im going to a new school, any good ways to make a good first impression ( on boys too?)

Be confident and fun and everyone will love you!

hollister on 12/13/2008 7:22:37 PM

MOD and girls

how can i tell my mom i want to get my eyebrows waxed? and get a bra? help me please and i am sorry i ask so many questions really im sorry!!

You just have to get up the courage to tell her. If it helps, try planning what you want to say to her in advance. -lauren

hollister on 12/13/2008 7:24:56 PM

i love GL! especially mods *ilu moddie!!*

hollister on 12/13/2008 7:30:00 PM

mod!!!!!! do i wear a tampon in the shower?????? plz anwser! !!!!!!!!! Thx

Yep, you can. -lauren

heart333 on 12/13/2008 8:07:09 PM

Dear nicoleismybasketballbabe,
I know what youre dealing with. Excersize 45 min a day AT LEAST and cut down on sweets (1 a day at most). You don't need to starve yourself or go on a big diet, because that will jsut make you more hungry

KATI<3

watchout on 12/13/2008 8:41:53 PM

H0t WhEeLs,
I wish i was skinny, but if you are that skinney, I think you should try to eat LESS processed sugar and more NATURAL sugar. I think that will work, because even though processed sugar won't make YOU gain wait, it is still bad for other parts of your body.

KATI<3

watchout on 12/13/2008 8:49:36 PM

my mom said that dandruff is caused by not washing out shampoo and conditioner thouroughly enough.whevers

Lil' Hottie on 12/13/2008 11:04:05 PM

Bleeeeeh, I hate dandruff.
Is there anyway to get rid of it quickly in the mornings if you don't have time to take a shower with the Head and Shoulder's shampoo? I've been using it for a year, and still no progress. :/

Jinglebelle on 12/14/2008 10:31:23 AM

*********************mod************************** Lately, I've been trying to eat less, because i feel that I'm a little pudgy, even though everyone else says I'm not. Some days, at lunch, i'll only nibble on my bread, and sip on my milk, and when i get home, i'll be starving, but i'll only drink some water. My friend gets mad at me, because she's naturally skinny, and has a fast metabolism, so she eats a lot, and she can't have any of my food. I just wanted to know if it's safe to not eat that much, or if it can lead to anything bad.

Hey girl, eating like this is not healthy. It's fine if you want to eat a little less to lose weight, but you have to do it healthily. Make sure you get all of the nutrients you need- not just bread and water. That means eating meat, fruits, and vegetables at every meal. If you continue eating as much as you do for a long time you could get annorexia- a very serious weight disease. So please make healthy food decisions. -lauren

nirvanaluver on 12/14/2008 1:19:38 PM

*****************mod********************** okay, thanks...so do u think that it would be healthy if i didn't eat a lot at school, and a normal amount at home.

No, you need to eat balanced meals throughout the day. -lauren

nirvanaluver on 12/14/2008 2:22:50 PM

*********************mod************************** there's this guy i like, and when he found out i liked him, he'd always be like,"hey, hottie, what's up, baby, and stuff like that," and i loved it cuz i thought he really meant it.then, this girl who is like my messenger between me and him (and they're also really good friends) told me that she told him to call me hottie. It broke my heart. now he knows that i know about it, and he still called me baby...then, one day, at the end of school, when the bell rang, he waited for me at the end of the hall, and we were talkin' and when he found his bus, he was like," bye, hottie," and i was like," i know it's a joke," and he said ,"no, i really think ur hot," then those were the last words that were said between me and him. we haven't talked for like two weeks, and i want to get his e-mail before the christmas holidays, so what should i do?

I think you should just start talking to him again and ask him for his email. Have some self confidence because it seems like he really likes you and not like hes joking. -lauren

nirvanaluver on 12/14/2008 2:35:22 PM

Hey babes, That is a natural reaction and a totally harmless option. xo Annemarie

kigh9 on 12/14/2008 6:20:25 PM

I don't have dandruff, but I suffer from OHFD (oily hair frizz disease)!! I found that Herbal Essences curly and wavy hair shampoo (in the purple bottle) works well to define waves and get rid of frizz. Also, to help combat oily hair, don't put conditioner in your scalp, only on the edges and lower part of your hair!

p.s. OHFD doesn't exist, if you didn't get that!

balletlova on 12/14/2008 6:28:10 PM

Head and Shoulders did NOT work for me

Valkyrie112 on 12/14/2008 9:09:06 PM

head and shoulders didn't work for me either. and it smelled SO bad. yaa no progress with head and shoulders and j.a.s.o.n. (a natural tea tree one) didn't work either. my mom said sometimes hormones can cause dandruff so maybe that's everyone's problem..

cinderella246 on 12/15/2008 5:58:40 PM

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