Itching to smile again

It’s a vicious cycle that can befall any of us from time to time. We get stressed out, depressed or anxious, and the symptoms show up in our skin. Dandruff appears, knocks our confidence, and the stress starts again. According to a 2011 study, dandruff “causes more social and psychological problems than medical ones.”

For a condition that affects up to half of the population, it’s hard to believe there is such a stigma around dandruff. This may be because of the misconception that dandruff is related to poor hygiene. If we feel we’re being judged by others for personal hygiene, we may withdraw or suffer from self-esteem issues.

Dandruff happens to everybody

Dandruff is not caused by poor personal hygiene. Rather, it’s caused by a naturally occurring fungus which may overmultiply for various reasons. This fungus, Malassezia, feeds off our skin’s oils and can cause irritation if there is too much.

This can happen to everybody – if we can eliminate the stigma, we can help to eliminate the stress!

The first thing to remember is that, again, dandruff happens to anybody. If we can learn to accept that this is common and will not impact our daily lives, we can break the stigma.

Using a medicated shampoo fights dandruff at the source. Nizoral^® contains Ketoconazole, an antifungal that prevents Malassezia from overproducing. Regular treatment can slow the symptoms in as little as two weeks, while bi-monthly washes after initial treatment of 2-4 weeks, prevent recurrences. Once you’ve fought the cause, the next step is to manage your own stress.

• Stay happy from the inside out - many of the preventative measures to combat dandruff can change your life. They’re very simple lifestyle hacks, such as practising mindfulness.

• Get moving - gentle exercise, or stretching techniques like yoga, may help us to find inner calm and boost happy hormones. By lowering the heart rate, yoga may reduce the feeling of anxiety, leading to decreased blood pressure. You can also try a walk outside with nature, whose healing properties give us a natural lift.

• Pick up the phone - a problem shared is a problem halved, they say. As social creatures, being with others reduces our stress levels. You may even want to share your ‘embarrassing problem’ with a friend – who will very likely have been through the same thing. Stay sociable and be honest about your feelings. It’s just as therapeutic as a hot shower, and it won’t damage your scalp.

Remember – no matter how embarrassed you may feel, dandruff is completely normal. Stay on top of your symptoms with a gentle medicated shampoo, and implement these practices to bust that stress.

Nizoral Dandruff Shampoo and Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo use ketoconazole to treat and prevent dandruff. Always read the label.