Dandruff and coily or curly hair

Dandruff is very common: one person in two(1) is thought to be affected by dandruff at some point in their life. Are you more likely to get dandruff if you have coily or curly hair?

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Summary

Curly hair

The hydrolipidic film is composed partly of sebum, which serves to maintain skin hydration by preventing water from evaporating, and to protect the skin or scalp from external aggressions.

Because of its shape, curly hair does not allow the hydrolipidic film to function as efficiently and sebum cannot be distributed effectively over the surface of the scalp. Their barrier role is therefore impaired.
If the scalp is dehydrated, it becomes dry and irritated. This irritation can lead to the development of dry dandruff. Dry dandruff is small, white scales that can look like flakes.

Curly hair, afro hair and coily hair can therefore all suffer from dandruff because it is more likely to cause scalp dryness.

Managing dandruff in coily hair

Coily hair is prone to dandruff because it is associated with a dry scalp. To manage dry dandruff you need to use mild shampoos with a physiological pH (pH = 5.5), a keratolytic action to eliminate scales (clusters of dead cells) and a moisturising action to rehydrate the skin and recreate the hydrolipidic film at the surface.

Treatment usually begins with an intensive treatment phase, followed by a maintenance phase.

If you have coily hair, you need to choose products from ranges formulated specifically for that type of hair, as well as suitable galenic formulas such as sprays and lotions. Living with dandruff on a daily basis can seriously affect quality of life, so do not hesitate to ask your pharmacist for advice on the most suitable treatment.

(1) https://dermato-info.fr/, French Society of Dermatology.

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