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Dandruff

Even though the scalp is protected by hundreds of thousands of strands of hair, it is still susceptible to many problems, dandruff being one of them. Truth be told, poor hygiene and dirty hair aren't the culprits that cause dandruff, which affects nearly 40 million Americans; it's actually caused by yeast that lives on the scalp. This common disorder, which sheds large, white, oily flakes and causes the scalp to become irritated, is related somewhat to both hormonal and seasonal changes.

You can limit the severity of dandruff by washing your hair every day with an anti-dandruff shampoo and leaving it on the scalp for at least five minutes so that the ingredients effectively penetrate the scalp. Since anti-dandruff shampoos can dry out strands and rob hair of moisture, make sure to use a conditioner to keep your hair feeling soft and looking healthy. Experts emphasize properly and thoroughly rinsing out both the shampoo and conditioner from the hair, because improper rinsing can exacerbate dandruff.

If severe dandruff flakes have you swearing off black tops, and over-the-counter shampoos aren't working, you may need to take a trip to the dermatologist, who can prescribe a medicated treatment.