I’m not totally clear on why dandruff is still considered embarrassing or taboo, considering that it affects up to fifty percent of adults. What I am clear on is that dandruff and an itchy scalp are annoying—but I’m happy to share that they’re also treatable. But before you treat it, you need to determine whether you even have dandruff in the first place.
A flaky scalp can be caused by many things: Heat styling, irritation caused by a product ingredient, or spending too much time in the sun. As such, if you do have a shedding scalp, first try avoiding stylers with alcohol, air-drying your hair, and slathering on a deep conditioning treatment to quench your follicles. You’ll also want to rule out psoriasis, which is characterized by a lot more itching than run-of-the-mill dandruff. If after all of that, you’re still experiencing flaking, you likely have the real deal. (Here’s our complete guide on how to treat it.)