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10 Ways to Get Rid of Dandruff ASAP, According to Experts

We talked to experts to get the low down on dandruff solutions.

Stocksy / Design by Michela Buttignol

“While we don’t know exactly why dandruff occurs, in many people it is thought to be due to a mixture of genetics, allergies and sensitivities, and an imbalance of skin microbes,” says trichologist Dominic Burg, MD. According to Burg, experts believe that the common condition is driven by an overgrowth of microorganisms—like bacteria, yeasts, and fungi—that live on the surface of the scalp. When these microbes consume the natural oils on your skin, they can produce byproducts that the body reacts to, leading to shedding and inflammation. At least, that’s the hypothesis.

“We do know it has nothing to do with hygiene,” says dermatologist Ava Shamban, MD . In other words, dandruff has nothing to do with how often you shower or shampoo. Our skin follows its own shedding cycle, gradually sloughing away excess cells. Dandruff is what happens when you experience increased turnover of cells and this exfoliation happens unevenly, causing both excessive shedding and buildup. While the itching and irritation that follow are often associated with dryness, they can also occur on any hair or skin type.

Whatever the case, most of us just want instant and permanent relief from the experience. While it may not be as simple as prescribing a single treatment (most things never are), we asked the experts to share the best course of action in getting rid of dandruff for good.

Meet the Expert

• Dominic Burg is a trichologist, hair biologist, microbiologist, and the chief scientist at  Évolis Professional .
• Ava Shamban , MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in Los Angeles and the founder of  Ava M ,  Skin Five , and  The Box by Dr. Ava .
• Orit Markowitz, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in New York City and the founder of OptiSkin .
• Sophia Emmanuel  is an IAT-Certified Trichologist and licensed cosmetologist based in New York. She owns and operates the  Crown Worthy beauty salon  in New York City.  

Make Sure You Actually Have Dandruff

Before you begin treating dandruff, make sure it’s not one of two other possibilities. Burg notes that a dry scalp that has mild dryness, flakiness, and minor shedding shouldn’t be confused with “true” dandruff. “Your scalp condition will change over time, and many of us will notice a change with the seasons or with other factors in our environment,” he says. Often, you’ll notice this type of mild reaction occurs during seasonal changes or when you’re exposed to excess heat styling—and you can soothe it simply by dialing back the heat or switching to more hydrating formulas. Dandruff, on the other hand, has a much stronger effect. “The scenario of true dandruff can usually be recognized by skin cells falling off in medium to large clumps that are usually a little oily,” explains Burg.

On the other side of the spectrum, you might have more extreme symptoms that point to an inflammatory skin condition known as seborrheic dermatitis . Burg describes this as “characterized by flaking, skin irritation, redness, and sometimes sores—whereas dandruff is usually painless.” Both Burg and Shamban agree that if you’re experiencing redness, sores, pain, or excessive itching, you need to book a dermatologist appointment. Unlike most cases of dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis cannot be treated using over-the-counter remedies and requires dermatologist care and prescriptions.

What is Seborrheic Dermatitis?

Seborrheic dermatitis is a skin condition that causes patches of dry flakes or greasy scales along with redness. It is most commonly found on the scalp, but can also appear on other oily areas of the body like the nose and ears.

Use Antifungal Ingredients

Once you’ve verified that you actually have dandruff, head to your nearest drugstore and start reading those ingredient labels. “Common ingredients like pyrithione zinc , ketoconazole , and selenium disulfide are antifungal and have shown some good results in reducing dandruff,” says Burg. They’re an affordable addition to your in-shower arsenal; Shamban’s drugstore favorite is the popular Selsun Blue ($8), which contains cooling menthol and a dose of selenium sulfide. (Leave it on for two minutes to get the full effect.) Some of these ingredients are available in prescription versions, says dermatologist and OptiSkin founder Orit Markowitz, MD. "The difference between prescription and OTC shampoos is the percentage of the active ingredient."

Coal tar and its derivatives have also been typically used to treat dandruff, but Burg cautions against using these ingredients, which he says can be too harsh. “They’re not great for the scalp and hair follicles,” he notes.

Wash Your Hair Often

While your hygiene habits have no bearing on whether you develop dandruff or not, it's important not to avoid washing your hair for fear of making the problem worse. "People often think that over washing or too much heat from drying your hair causes dandruff but that is not true," says Markowitz. "Product buildup can often lead to dandruff so it’s important to wash your hair regularly, especially if you use hair styling products, leave-in conditioners, or dry shampoos."

IAT-certified trichologist  Sophia Emmanuel also points out dandruff can occur with protective styles that make it tricky to shampoo. "Dandruff can show up or worsen if you wait long periods to shampoo your hair," she says. "Specifically, if you wear hair extensions, braids, or other protective hairstyles that do not allow you to shampoo on a regular basis."

So, how often is often enough? Well, that depends on your hair and scalp. "If you have mild dandruff, I recommend you wash your hair daily until you have the dandruff under control," says Markowitz. "If you don't use a lot of styling products, you can wash your hair less frequently." Either way, she suggests reaching for a specially formulated dandruff shampoo (such as Head & Shoulders Classic Clean ) whenever you do cleanse.

Turn to Essential Oils

Aside from smelling good, your favorite essential oils and botanical extracts can go a long way in soothing dandruff symptoms. “ Rosemary oil , lavender oil , green tea extract , and mangosteen all have great antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antiseptic properties,” says Burg. He particularly likes the évolis Professional Promote , Prevent , and Reverse ranges, which utilize essential oils to target scalp buildup and encourage overall hair health. "The great thing about these ingredients is that they can be used long term, are gentle, and can keep dandruff at bay," says Burg—noting that since they have a more mild effect, they also may take slightly longer to work than ingredients like selenium disulfide.

Avoid Sulphates

Burg notes the main thing you want to avoid are  sulfates , which can be too harsh and stripping for those with sensitive scalps. For a gentler wash, Shamban also suggests swapping your usual shampoos for formulas that rely on an essential oil base. Her pick is Philip B Anti-Flake Relief Shampoo ($60), which features a base that’s free of irritating coal tar and packs a powerful mixture of tea tree oil , sage, and aloe vera . The calming, soothing effect helps take down inflammation and minimize itching and discomfort. "It works equally well on flaking scalps that are dry or oily," she says.

Make Time for Deep Treatments

We’d suggest regular deep treatments whether or not you have dandruff—for the simple reason that they’re relaxing and always leave your hair looking and feeling better. But for those that have extra flaking and shedding, scalp oil treatments are a must. Burg recommends treatments with added moisturizers like baobab oil to maintain hydration. Shamban likes the Phillip B Rejuvenating Oil ($40) applied as a hot oil treatment at home. "It’s extremely helpful for those that have irritation," she says of the conditioning formula. “It’s a misnomer that dandruff only happens with dry skin or a dry scalp; a flaking, oily scalp is also very common with this condition.”

Brush It Out

While you’re at it, make some time to brush your hair, too. "It’s old-school, but it works to get rid of the scale," says Shamban. Brushing helps stimulate the scalp and brings more circulation to the area while also gently exfoliating cell buildup. In a pinch, brushing your hair can make a world of difference.

Try At-Home Treatments

Don't be afraid to DIY it! Markowitz recommends homeopathic remedies like applying coconut oil, mixing yogurt and thyme, or lemon juice and oil, which are "effective in treating dandruff but may not work as quickly as conventional methods." If you want to try the natural route and see if your pantry holds the answer, try the below to reduce your dandruff.

• Coconut oil: This ingredient seems to be the answer to all of life's problems. It's also great for keeping your hair and scalp moisturized, too. Massage into your hair and cover with a shower cap for about 30 minutes. Shampoo and rinse well. If your hair is fine, using coconut oil may weigh your strands down.
• Aloe vera: Aloe's anti-inflammatory properties are ideal for soothing those with itchy scalps and dandruff. Add a tablespoon of aloe to your favorite conditioner to coat your strands. Only use aloe vera as needed. Due to its high water content, it is possible to make your strands too moisturized.
• Apple cider vinegar: Using ACV as a rinse can help balance the pH level of the scalp and remove buildup. Add one part of vinegar to one part of warm water and massage into your hair and scalp for three to five minutes, rinsing well. This can be done twice a week.
• Aspirin: It's not just for headaches. Some people credit aspirin's salicylic acid properties to helping combat dandruff when crushed and mixed with shampoo.
• Baking soda: The gritty texture of baking soda is ace for grabbing oil and excess dirt from your hair and scalp. Combine one tablespoon of baking soda for every cup of water and mix well. Massage into your scalp and rinse thoroughly. Take care not to use this method more than once a week, as baking soda is very abrasive.
• Lemon juice: The citric acid in lemons is also thought to help cleanse the scalp of excess oil. However, because of its high alkaline levels, derms recommend diluting it or using a lemon essential oil instead.
• Olive oil: A natural emollient that helps to maintain hydration in the hair, olive oil also contributes to that glossy, soft, and shiny mane we all dream of. Use as a mask and leave on for 15 minutes to a half hour under a shower cap before rinsing off in the shower.

Know When to See a Specialist

According to Burg, the length of any of these treatments will vary based on the individual, but if you don’t see any change after several weeks of use, it’s time to book that derm appointment. It’s important to remember that even if you do see improvement, you could experience more flare-ups down the line. “Some people may require continual treatment,” he says. In this case, it's best to see a specialist for a proper diagnosis and personalized treatment plan.

Consider a Prescription

In some cases, dandruff may be extreme and persistent enough to warrant a derm prescription (without classifying it as seborrheic dermatitis). If nothing OTC seems to work for you, you’ll want to visit a doctor’s office anyway. Burg says that most prescriptions for dandruff are stronger versions of over-the-counter medicated shampoos. “With medicated solutions, results can be seen relatively quickly—within a week or two,” he says. Once the symptoms improve, ask your doctor how to proceed. Some patients with more long-lasting dandruff use a medicated treatment once weekly to keep sebum levels down, alternating it with regular use of a dandruff-friendly shampoo.

Your dermatologist or trichologist may also choose to prescribe steroids, which are typically used short-term. “If necessary, there are steroid shampoos or steroid liquid solutions,” says Shamban. These should work within a week. “Even if there is still some excess after one or two washes, at least the discomfort will subside,” she says. Once the worst of the symptoms have been treated, proceed with the rest of their expert advice: once-weekly medicated washes, anti-inflammatory shampoos, and plenty of nourishing at-home treatments. Your scalp should revert to its pre-flake state in no time.

While brushing your dandruff out and making use of scalp scrubs are dermatologist-recommended methods for treating dandruff, it's important to avoid scratching your scalp too vigorously or too often, as it can lead to more irritation—and make your dandruff worse.

Though dandruff is a chronic condition (meaning it cannot be "cured" permanently) it can be easily treated through either at-home remedies or prescriptions.

While it's important to wash your hair frequently when you have dandruff, make sure your strands are at least somewhat dry before you hit the hay. Sleeping on wet hair increases your risk of infections, including fungal infections like Malassezia folliculitis , which causes dandruff.

Nowicki R. [ Modern management of dandruff ].  Pol Merkur Lekarski . 2006;20(115):121-124.

What is the best way to treat severe dandruff ? Harvard Health.

Can wet hair make you sick ? Cleveland Clinic.

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Dermatologists.org

How to Get Rid of Dandruff: An Expert Guide

Dandruff can be a frustrating condition to deal with, but the good news is that it’s treatable. In this expert guide, we’ll explore the causes of dandruff, different types of dandruff, and the various home remedies and over-the-counter treatments available for getting rid of it.

Understanding Dandruff

Dandruff is a common scalp condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It can be embarrassing and uncomfortable, but it’s not a serious health concern. In this article, we’ll explore the causes and types of dandruff, as well as some tips for managing it.

What is Dandruff?

Dandruff is a condition where small white or yellow flakes of dead skin shed from the scalp. These flakes can be visible on clothing and can cause itching and irritation. Dandruff can occur at any age, but it’s most common in adults.

Causes of Dandruff

While the exact cause of dandruff is unknown, several factors may contribute to its development. One of the most common causes is excessive oil production on the scalp. When the scalp produces too much oil, it can create an environment where a fungus called Malassezia can thrive. This fungus feeds on the oils and dead skin cells on the scalp, which can lead to dandruff.

Another factor that can contribute to dandruff is irregular shampooing or poor hygiene. If you don’t wash your hair frequently enough, or if you don’t use a shampoo that’s designed to treat dandruff, it can lead to a buildup of dead skin cells and oils on the scalp.

Stress can also play a role in the development of dandruff. When you’re stressed, your body produces more oil, which can exacerbate the condition. In addition, cold, dry weather can cause the scalp to become dry and itchy, which can lead to dandruff.

Types of Dandruff

There are two main types of dandruff: dry dandruff and oily dandruff.

Dry dandruff is characterized by small, white flakes that are dry and itchy. This type of dandruff is often caused by a dry scalp, and it can be worsened by cold, dry weather.

Oily dandruff, on the other hand, is characterized by larger, yellow flakes that are greasy and sometimes accompanied by redness or pimples. This type of dandruff is often caused by excessive oil production on the scalp, and it can be worsened by poor hygiene or the use of harsh hair products.

Regardless of the type of dandruff you have, there are several things you can do to manage it. Regular shampooing with a dandruff shampoo can help to reduce the buildup of dead skin cells and oils on the scalp. In addition, avoiding harsh hair products and minimizing stress can also be helpful in managing dandruff.

If you’re struggling with dandruff, talk to your doctor or dermatologist. They can help you identify the underlying cause of your dandruff and recommend a treatment plan that’s right for you.

Home Remedies for Dandruff

Dandruff is a common scalp condition that affects many people. It is characterized by white flakes that appear on the scalp and hair. While it is not a serious condition, it can be embarrassing and uncomfortable. Fortunately, there are several home remedies that can help reduce dandruff symptoms.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar has antimicrobial properties that may help fight dandruff-causing fungi. It also helps balance the pH level of the scalp, which can reduce itching and flaking. To use apple cider vinegar for dandruff, mix equal parts of apple cider vinegar and water, apply to the scalp for 15-20 minutes, then rinse thoroughly. Repeat this process once or twice a week for best results.

Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil has antifungal properties that may also help reduce dandruff symptoms. It can also help soothe an itchy scalp. To use tea tree oil for dandruff, add a few drops to your shampoo, or mix it with a carrier oil like coconut oil and massage onto your scalp. Leave it on for a few minutes before rinsing. Repeat this process two to three times a week for best results.

Baking Soda

Baking soda acts as an exfoliant, helping to remove excess skin cells and reduce itching. It also helps balance the pH level of the scalp. To use baking soda for dandruff, mix a tablespoon of baking soda with water to form a paste. Apply the paste to the scalp for a few minutes, then rinse thoroughly. Repeat this process once a week for best results.

Lemon Juice

Lemon juice has natural astringent properties that can help reduce oiliness and prevent dandruff. It also helps balance the pH level of the scalp. To use lemon juice for dandruff, mix two tablespoons of lemon juice with water, apply to the scalp, and leave on for a few minutes before rinsing. Repeat this process once a week for best results.

Aloe vera has anti-inflammatory properties that may help soothe a dry, itchy scalp. It also helps moisturize the scalp and hair. To use aloe vera for dandruff, apply fresh aloe vera gel to the scalp and leave on for 10-20 minutes before rinsing. Repeat this process once or twice a week for best results.

While these home remedies can be effective for reducing dandruff symptoms, it is important to maintain good scalp hygiene to prevent dandruff from recurring. This includes washing your hair regularly, avoiding harsh hair products, and keeping your scalp moisturized.

Over-the-Counter Treatments

Dandruff is a common scalp condition that affects many people. It’s characterized by flaky, itchy, and sometimes red skin on the scalp. While it’s not a serious condition, it can be embarrassing and uncomfortable. Fortunately, there are many over-the-counter treatments available that can help reduce dandruff and its associated symptoms.

Anti-Dandruff Shampoos

Anti-dandruff shampoos are the first line of defense against dandruff. They contain active ingredients like ketoconazole, salicylic acid, or selenium sulfide that can help reduce dandruff and associated symptoms. These shampoos work by slowing down the growth of the yeast that can cause dandruff. Use according to the product instructions, and be sure to leave the shampoo on your scalp for a few minutes before rinsing it off.

It’s important to note that anti-dandruff shampoos can be drying to the hair and scalp. If you have dry or damaged hair, you may want to use a moisturizing conditioner after using an anti-dandruff shampoo.

Topical Steroids

If your dandruff is accompanied by inflammation and itching, your doctor may recommend a topical steroid like hydrocortisone. These creams or ointments can help reduce the inflammation and itching associated with dandruff. However, they should only be used under a doctor’s supervision and for a limited time, as prolonged use can lead to thinning of the skin and other side effects.

Salicylic Acid

Salicylic acid is a type of beta-hydroxy acid that helps exfoliate the scalp. It works by breaking down the dead skin cells that can contribute to dandruff. Salicylic acid can be found in many over-the-counter shampoo and scalp treatments. Use as directed, and be sure to rinse thoroughly to avoid irritation.

Zinc Pyrithione

Zinc pyrithione is an antifungal agent that can help reduce Malassezia growth. Malassezia is a type of yeast that can contribute to dandruff. Zinc pyrithione is often found in anti-dandruff shampoos and other hair products. Use according to the product instructions, and be sure to leave the shampoo on your scalp for a few minutes before rinsing it off.

While there’s no one-size-fits-all solution for dandruff, these home remedies and over-the-counter treatments can provide relief for many people. However, if your symptoms persist despite treatment, it’s important to consult a doctor or dermatologist for further evaluation. They can help determine the underlying cause of your dandruff and recommend a more targeted treatment plan.

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• Patient Care & Health Information
• Diseases & Conditions

Dandruff is a common condition that causes the skin on the scalp to flake. It isn't contagious or serious. But it can be embarrassing and difficult to treat.

Mild dandruff can be treated with a gentle daily shampoo. If that doesn't work, a medicated shampoo may help. Symptoms may return later.

Dandruff is a mild form of seborrheic dermatitis.

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• A Book: Mayo Clinic Book of Home Remedies
• Available Hair Care Products at Mayo Clinic Store

Dandruff signs and symptoms may include:

• Skin flakes on your scalp, hair, eyebrows, beard or mustache, and shoulders
• Itchy scalp
• Scaly, crusty scalp in infants with cradle cap

The signs and symptoms may be more severe if you're stressed, and they tend to flare in cold, dry seasons.

When to see a doctor

Most people with dandruff don't require a doctor's care. See your primary care doctor or a doctor who specializes in skin conditions (dermatologist) if your condition doesn't improve with regular use of dandruff shampoo.

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Dandruff may have several causes, including:

• Irritated, oily skin
• A yeastlike fungus (malassezia) that feeds on oils on the scalps of most adults
• Sensitivity to hair care products (contact dermatitis)
• Other skin conditions, such as psoriasis and eczema

Risk factors

Almost anyone can have dandruff, but certain factors can make you more susceptible:

• Age. Dandruff usually begins in young adulthood and continues through middle age. That doesn't mean older adults don't get dandruff. For some people, the problem can be lifelong.
• Being male. Dandruff is more prevalent in males than in females.
• Certain illnesses. Parkinson's disease and other diseases that affect the nervous system also seem to increase risk of dandruff. So does having HIV or a weakened immune system.
• Borda LJ, et al. Seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff: A comprehensive review. Journal of Clinical and Investigative Dermatology. 2015; 3:1.
• Dandruff: How to treat. American Academy of Dermatology. https://www.aad.org/public/skin-hair-nails/hair-care/how-to-treat-dandruff. Accessed July 12, 2019.
• Tea tree oil. Natural Medicines Database. https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com. Accessed June 7, 2019.
• Sasseville D. Seborrheic dermatitis in adolescents and adults. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed July 12, 2019.
• Kermott CA, et al., eds. Dandruff. In: Mayo Clinic Book of Home Remedies. 2nd ed. Time; 2017.
• Dandruff. American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. http://www.aocd.org/page/Dandruff. Accessed July 12, 2019.
• Kang S, et al., eds. Cosmeceuticals and skin care in dermatology. In: Fitzpatrick's Dermatology. 9th ed. McGraw-Hill; 2019. https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com. Accessed July 23, 2019.
• High WA, et al., eds. Special considerations in skin of color. In: Dermatology Secrets. 6th ed. Elsevier; 2021. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed May 5, 2021.
• Kelly AP, et al. Pediatrics. In: Taylor and Kelly's Dermatology for Skin of Color. 2nd ed. McGraw-Hill Education; 2016. https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com. Accessed May 27, 2021.
• James WD. Seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, recalcitrant palmoplantar eruptions, pustular dermatitis, and erythroderma. In: Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: Clinical Dermatology. 13th ed. Elsevier; 2020. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Nov. 17, 2020.
• Mayo Clinic Minute: Tips for dealing with dandruff
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How to Prevent and Treat Dandruff

Last Updated: February 27, 2024 Approved

This article was medically reviewed by Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS and by wikiHow staff writer, Christopher M. Osborne, PhD . Luba Lee, FNP-BC is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Tennessee in 2006. There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article has 14 testimonials from our readers, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 1,992,708 times.

Dandruff is an annoyance that we all have to deal with at least sometimes, but it’s also usually very treatable. To help you out, this article starts by listing proven treatments—including seeing your doctor about really stubborn dandruff. It then lists some home remedies that may help treat dandruff, and finishes up with some lifestyle changes that might help prevent dandruff. If dandruff keeps you from wearing your favorite black top, declare war on those pesky little flakes!

Here are 13 proven ways to treat dandruff and prevent it from coming back.

Use a dandruff shampoo with pyrithione zinc.

• Follow the product instructions for using the shampoo. Generally speaking, you’ll want to keep the shampoo in your hair for around 5 minutes before rinsing it out.
• Other name brands that use pyrithione zinc include Jason Dandruff Relief 2-in-1 and SHS Zinc.

Try shampoo with salicylic acid or coal tar.

• Salicylic acid and sulfur , found in brands like Neutrogena T/Sal and Sebulex. These ingredients soften dead skin cells on your scalp so that they wash away in the shower. Use a conditioner after shampooing to reduce scalp dryness.
• Selenium sulfide 1% to 2.5% , found in brands like Exsel, Selsun Blue, and Reme-T. This ingredient slows down skin cell production and kills dandruff-causing fungi, but may discolor blonde or chemically-treated hair.
• Ketoconazole 1% , found in brands like Nizoral A-D. This ingredient is particularly helpful in treating and parenting dandruff that is caused by fungi.
• Coal tar , found in brands like Neutrogena T/Gel, Tarsum, and Tegrin. This ingredient slows down the production of the dead skin cells that end up as dandruff. Coal tar can cause discoloration of lighter-colored hair.

Apply an OTC medicated cream.

• As with shampoos, try these products one at a time for about 2-4 weeks, then move on if you don’t see positive results.
• The best time to apply one of these creams to your scalp is when your hair is slightly damp after washing it with an anti-dandruff shampoo. But they can also be applied to your scalp when your hair is dry.

See your doctor for severe or persistent dandruff.

• If your dandruff worsens while you try OTC options, if your scalp is really itchy all the time, or if you notice redness or swelling in the area, contact your doctor sooner rather than later.
• Conditions like seborrheic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, ringworm, and “cradle cap” (in infants) can cause dandruff. But most of the time it just happens!

Moisturize your scalp with oil overnight.

• Alternatively, try shampooing with dish detergent to remove the oil!

Try an anti-fungal like cider vinegar, tea tree oil, or aloe.

• Mix equal parts of apple cider vinegar and plain water in a bowl, massage the mixture into your scalp, and wash it out after a few minutes.
• Dilute a few drops of tea tree oil in a natural carrier oil, such as coconut oil, massage it into your scalp, and wash it out after several minutes.
• Work a glob of aloe vera gel into your hair and scalp and leave it for up to several hours or overnight. As an added bonus, aloe works as a natural hair gel!

Use baking soda to gently scrub your scalp.

• With your hair wet in the bath or shower, take a small handful of baking soda and massage it into your scalp—don’t scrub so hard that it hurts. Leave the baking soda in place for 1-2 minutes, rinse it away, and wash your hair with shampoo as normal. [10] X Research source

Try crushing aspirin into regular shampoo.

• Crush 2 aspirin tablets into a fine powder. Mix them into your regular shampoo (not dandruff shampoo) and lather the mixture into your hair as normal. Leave the shampoo in your hair for at least 1-2 minutes, rinse it out, and shampoo again without the crushed aspirin. [12] X Research source

Wash your hair more—not less—often.

• Frequent washing with regular shampoo should help with minor dandruff. Move up to using a dandruff shampoo if you have more extensive dandruff.

Limit your use of hair styling products.

• Don’t leave styling products in your hair overnight! Shampoo them out before going to bed or, even better, once you get home at the end of your day.

Spend some time in the sun each day.

• Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen to your face and areas of exposed skin before spending time in the sun.

Add more zinc and B vitamins to your diet.

• Zinc-rich foods include beef, poultry, shellfish, fortified cereals, oatmeal, and beans.
• Pork, salmon, chicken, eggs, yogurt, avocados, sunflower seeds, chickpeas, and fortified cereals are good sources of B vitamins.
• Good sources of healthy fats include olive oil, nuts and seeds, avocados, fatty fish, soybeans, and tofu.

Manage your stress.

• When you start feeling stressed out about your dandruff, remind yourself that it’s extremely common, not dangerous to your health, and something that you can successfully treat!

Expert Q&A

You Might Also Like

• ↑ http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Dandruff/Pages/Treatment.aspx
• ↑ https://www.aafp.org/afp/2000/0501/p2703.html
• ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dandruff/
• ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14717453/
• ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15663338/
• ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17336466/
• ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22991095/
• ↑ https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/features/natural-fixes
• ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2887514/
• ↑ https://www.self.com/story/dandruff-myths
• ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dandruff/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353854

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How to treat dandruff

Board-certified dermatologist’s tips

ROSEMONT, Ill. (Dec. 12, 2023) — Dandruff, a common scalp condition, affects people of all ages, especially in the cold winter months. If you notice small pieces of dry skin flaking from your scalp or persistent itching, it may be time to seek treatment options.

“It is a common misconception that dandruff is caused by poor hygiene,” said Mona Sadeghpour, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist in Pittsburgh, Pa. and Lone Tree, Colo. “Causes range from oily skin to hair care habits, along with some medical conditions.”

You can usually treat mild dandruff at home by regularly washing your hair. If this is not manageable or doesn’t relieve your dandruff, Dr. Sadeghpour and the AAD recommend following these tips from board-certified dermatologists:

Choose a dandruff shampoo. You can find shampoos specially formulated to treat dandruff over the counter at your local drugstore. If one shampoo doesn’t work, try alternating between dandruff shampoos with different active ingredients. Look for a shampoo with one of the following ingredients: Zinc pyrithione; salicylic acid; sulfur; selenium sulfide; ketoconazole; or coal tar shampoo. 

Follow the instructions on the dandruff shampoo bottle. Dandruff shampoos need to be applied to and lathered on your scalp. You may also need to allow some dandruff shampoos to sit on your scalp for about 5-10 minutes before rinsing. These instructions will be different depending on the shampoo you choose and your hair texture. 

Shampoo according to your hair type. If you have fine or naturally straight hair, or an oily scalp, wash your hair often. For example, you may need to shampoo daily or every other day and use your dandruff shampoo twice a week. If you have coarse or naturally curly or coily hair, wash your hair when needed, and use your dandruff shampoo about once a week. Take care to only apply the dandruff shampoo to your scalp if you have curly or coily hair, as the ingredients that treat dandruff can dry your hair. There are some dandruff shampoos specifically for coarse hair that are more hydrating. You can also shampoo and condition your hair with your normal products after using your dandruff shampoo if it is needed for hair care. 

Protect your scalp from the sun. Some dandruff shampoos, such as those containing coal tar, can make your scalp more sensitive to the sun’s harmful UV rays. A sunburn on your scalp can also increase flaking. To protect your scalp from the sun, seek shade, wear sun-protective clothing, like a wide-brimmed hat, and apply a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher to your scalp if you have thinning hair. Try powder or spray sunscreen for easier application to your scalp. 

“If these tips do not provide you relief from dandruff, it is best to make an appointment to see a board-certified dermatologist,” Dr. Sadeghpour said.

These tips are demonstrated in “ How to treat dandruff ” a video posted to the AAD website and  YouTube channel . This video is part of the AAD’s “Your Dermatologist Knows” series, which offers tips people can use to properly care for their skin, hair, and nails.

To find a board-certified dermatologist in your area, visit  aad.org/findaderm .

Shelby Homiston, [email protected]

Rhys Saunders,  [email protected]

Media Relations,  [email protected]

More Information

10 reasons your scalp itches and how to get relief

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About the AAD

Headquartered in Rosemont, Ill., the American Academy of Dermatology, founded in 1938, is the largest, most influential and most representative of all dermatologic associations. With a membership of more than 20,800 physicians worldwide, the AAD is committed to advancing the diagnosis and medical, surgical, and cosmetic treatment of the skin, hair, and nails; advocating high standards in clinical practice, education and research in dermatology; and supporting and enhancing patient care because skin, hair, and nail conditions can have a serious impact on your health and well-being. For more information, contact the AAD at (888) 462-DERM (3376) or  aad.org . Follow @AADskin on Facebook , TikTok , Pinterest , and YouTube and @AADskin1 on Instagram .

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What Type of Dandruff Do You Have?

Dandruff is a common scalp condition that causes the skin on the scalp to flake. It is caused by the rapid turnover of skin cells.

Normally, skin cells have a life cycle in which they multiply as needed and then die off and shed at the end of their life cycle. When a person has dandruff, the skin cell cycle is accelerated, which causes more dead cells to collect on the scalp and flake off.

Jasmin Merdan / Getty Images

The symptoms include white to yellowish or gray flakes that appear in the hair and on the shoulders as they fall from the head. The scalp is often dry and itchy.  

This article discusses the types of dandruff and treatment options.

Types of Dandruff

Dry skin–related dandruff.

This type of dandruff usually occurs in winter and results from cold, dry weather. Hair care products that strip too much oil from the scalp can also result in dry skin. It is also linked with using hot water to shampoo the hair. Hot water dries out the scalp, which can cause flakes.

Oil- and Fungal-Related Dandruff

If sebum (oil) is overproduced by the hair follicles, it can build up on the scalp. The result is the clumping together of sebum and dead skin cells on the scalp. The clumps of dead skin cells—along with dirt on the scalp—form the itchy dandruff flakes, which are oily and yellowish in color.

A type of fungal yeast called Malassezia is part of the skin’s natural flora (microorganisms that live naturally on the skin). When there is excess sebum, Malassezia is known to proliferate because it grows in sebum.

This type of yeast also produces a by-product that causes the skin cells to clump together, forming the flakes commonly seen in dandruff.

Skin Condition–Related Dandruff

Several skin conditions cause skin flaking. The skin condition most often linked with dandruff is seborrheic dermatitis (SD), which causes:

• Severe redness
• Red scaly patches
• Inflammation of the scalp (and other areas of the body, such as the face and ears)

SD causes visible signs of inflammation, whereas dandruff symptoms usually involve mildly reddened skin.

SD occurs more frequently in those with oily skin and is considered a type of oily dandruff. It appears in areas of the skin containing oil glands.

There are other types of skin conditions that can cause flaking of the scalp, such as:

• Sebopsoriasis (a skin condition that has some symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis and some symptoms of psoriasis)

Skin conditions that cause dandruff should be diagnosed and treated by a healthcare provider.

When to See a Doctor

Under most circumstances, it’s not necessary to consult with a physician about dandruff. It can usually be effectively treated with over-the-counter (OTC) medicated shampoo.

In some instances, however, dandruff doesn’t respond to OTC treatments. You should call your healthcare provider when:

• Dandruff doesn’t improve after several weeks of using medicated over-the-counter shampoo.
• The skin becomes very red and swollen or begins to drain fluid or pus.
• The symptoms get worse and spread to other parts of the body, particularly to areas that don’t have hair.
• You notice hair loss.

Home Remedies

Many types of home remedies are touted to treat dandruff, but many of these lack enough clinical research evidence to give them credibility. Those that do have some scientific evidence to back up their claims of effectiveness are agents that have antimicrobial (antibacterial or antifungal) properties. These include:

• Tea tree oil: Studies on tea tree oil have shown it to be anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antiseptic (slows the growth of microorganisms). Tea tree oil also contains antifungal properties that specifically target Malassezia yeast. 
• Lemongrass oil: Shampoo with lemongrass oil was specifically studied for its effectiveness on dandruff caused by Malassezia yeast. The study looked at solution concentrations comprised of 5%, 10%, and 15% lemongrass oil.   The study outcome reported that a 10% concentration worked the best and that after seven days, dandruff showed a 51% improvement. By day 14, dandruff had improved by 74%.
• Apple cider vinegar: Apple cider vinegar has been shown in studies to be an antifungal agent. This treatment could be helpful if the type of dandruff you have derives from a fungus. It has not been proven as a treatment for dandruff.

Be sure to consult with your healthcare provider before using any type of home remedy for dandruff. Keep in mind that natural and herbal products can have dangerous side effects, and there’s no guarantee that they will be as effective as some of the OTC and prescription treatments for dandruff.

Home remedies may irritate the scalp and cause contact dermatitis, which can result in an inflamed scalp and possibly make dandruff worse.

Medical Treatment

While there is no cure for dandruff, there are some medicated shampoos that can help manage symptoms.

Treatment depends on several factors, such as the underlying cause of your dandruff and how severe the condition is.

When medical conditions cause dandruff, a healthcare provider should be consulted about the type of treatment that is best:

• For mild to moderate dandruff involving flaking of the scalp, mild redness, and itching, OTC dandruff shampoo is usually all that is needed to prevent flare-ups and manage symptoms.
• For severe dandruff , particularly when it does not respond to OTC medicated dandruff shampoos, a healthcare provider should be consulted.  Common dandruff treatment includes OTC dandruff shampoo (for mild to moderate dandruff) that contains the active ingredients selenium sulfide, zinc pyrithione (ZPT), or coal tar.

Medicated shampoo options include:

• Selenium sulfide shampoo: This slows the rate of skin cell death, thus reducing the number of dead skin cells that accumulate and flake off. It may also help to treat fungus-related dandruff.
• Tar-based shampoo: A medicated shampoo made from coal tar that also slows the rate of skin cell death, reducing the presence of the resulting skin flakes.
• Zinc pyrithione shampoo: Studies have shown that ZPT normalizes sebum production and significantly reduces yeast. This type of shampoo may help oil-related dandruff, as well as fungus-related dandruff in those with oily hair.
• Salicylic acid shampoo: This promotes the removal of skin flakes caused by dandruff. Because it also causes dryness, using this shampoo could result in more flaking. This type of shampoo could be helpful for those with oil-related dandruff.
• Antifungal shampoo: This includes medicated shampoos that contain ketoconazole (Nizoral) for controlling the fungus that can cause long-term symptoms of dandruff. This type of shampoo is for fungus-related dandruff. Antifungal shampoo is available over the counter, but stronger concentrations are available by prescription.

MedlinePlus. Dandruff, cradle cap, and other scalp conditions .

American Academy of Dermatology. Is your dry scalp something more serious?

Kids Health from Nemours. Dandruff .

Seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff: a comprehensive review . J ClinInvestig Dermatol . 2015;3(2). doi:10.13188/2373-1044.1000019

haisripipat W, Lourith N, Kanlayavattanakul M. Anti-dandruff hair tonic containing lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus) oil. Complement Med Res . 2015;22(4):226-229. doi:10.1159/000432407 

American Academy of Dermatology Association. 10 reasons your scalp itches and how to get relief .

Ranganathan S, Mukhopadhyay T. Dandruff: The most commercially exploited skin disease. Indian J Dermatol. 2010;55(2):130. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.62734 

By Sherry Christiansen Sherry Christiansen is a medical writer with a healthcare background. She has worked in the hospital setting and collaborated on Alzheimer's research.

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How to Get Rid of Dandruff

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Regardless of the season, a flaky scalp can be a pesky problem that causes distress to the head those flakes land on. How do you get rid of dandruff? Below, some tips and tricks for how to address your head case — so that you can finally start wearing true black again.

What causes dandruff?

Dandruff is caused by a fungus called malassezia, according to Dr. Zenovia Gabriel of Zena Medical. Malassezia lives naturally on the skin for many people, but an overgrowth or imbalance of the fungus leads to dandruff. Our bodies are constantly shedding dead skin cells, but an increase in malassezia triggers the body to produce and shed skin cells faster and at a detrimental rate. Malassezia overgrowth can be caused by many things including age, hormones, or stress.

Much like olive-oil bread, dandruff is created by the mixture of oil and yeast (the malassezia). We all have some yeast on our bodies, explains Dr. Joshua Zeichner, director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Hospital’s Department of Dermatology, and the amount varies depending on a blend of genetics and external and internal factors.

What can dandruff look like?

Dr. Jessica Weiser of New York Dermatology Group explains that dandruff, which presents itself as white flakes, is a mild and common form of seborrheic dermatitis. You can get it behind the ears, eyebrows, or even in folds of the face. It can be red, flaky, itchy, or a combination of all those factors. (It’s different from psoriasis, which also can look like flakes — but those will appear like “thicker pink or red plaques” with “silver-white scales” on close examination. Go to a dermatologist if you aren’t sure.)

So how do you get rid of it? You treat the oil and the yeast, and prevent its ability to multiply. Read on.

1. Change Your Diet

According to Dr. Macrene Alexiades, a New York–based dermatologist, poor nutrition can lead to dandruff. “High-carb foods can result in the buildup of glycogen in the skin, which yeast feeds on.” Dr. Zeichner agrees: “Although there’s little data, the same foods that promote acne may exacerbate dandruff.” Sugary foods and dairy stimulate the sebaceous glands, which produce more oil on the skin. So unfortunately, you might need to try laying off the carbs and sugars if you’re prone to dandruff.

2. Start Washing Your Hair More Often

We live in the peak age of dry shampoo , when you can extend your blowout longer than the life of your last succulent. This is partially contributing to the whiteout situation on your scalp, so be sure to regularly shampoo your locks.

“There’s this concept now that you need to let natural oils sit longer on your scalp, but that can add to the problem,” Elizabeth Cunnane-Phillips, a trichologist at the Philip Kingsley Trichological Clinic , explains. Yeast levels rise when there is more oil on skin. Dr. Weiser adds, “Oils and dead skin cells further accumulate as a result of infrequent hair washing. Patients prone to dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis should regularly wash hair a few times a week at minimum to reduce build up.”

3. Try Exfoliating Your Scalp

Yes, this is a thing. Much like exfoliating your skin , exfoliating your scalp gently lifts the top layer of dry skin. Scalp exfoliators typically remove dead skin with either small amounts of salicylic acid (more commonly found in acne products), or granules that dissolve. Dr. Weiser explains that the latter are “very helpful at breaking down the dead skin cells that accumulate on the scalp and lead to flaking.” Dr. Gabriel recommends using an exfoliating hair scrub on wet, shampooed hair twice a week, and being certain to read the directions so you leave it on the hair for the right length of time. You can also use a physical exfoliator for more pesky dandruff or if you prefer a bit of a head massage.

4. Use a Special Shampoo

All of the experts interviewed for this article believe that a specialized dandruff shampoo is the most effective and quickest way to treat dandruff. They can be obtained via prescription (for stronger stuff) or over-the-counter and contain zinc or sulfur, which can reduce yeast populations. While dandruff shampoos aren’t beautiful, sensorial washing experiences, gone are the days of smelly Selsun Blue. They haven’t become chic, but their smell and packaging no longer make them repellent.

Here are some of the best dandruff shampoos. If you have simple dryness and flaking, Dr. Weiser says that shampoos with salicylic acid should be enough. If you have redness and irritation, try the ones with zinc pyrithione (the same stuff in Head and Shoulders), ketoconazole and selenium sulfide.

5. Try Some Hair Oil

“Oil-based treatments can help to balance some of the scalp’s excessive oil production,” says Dr. Weiser. “Applying oils to the scalp will help draw oils from it and remove them. It’s the classic law of attraction, where like substances attract each other.” You can try heating up the oil celebrities are unafraid of, coconut oil , in a microwave and gently applying it to your head. Be careful not to make the oil too hot, as doing so increases the risk of burning your scalp. You can also try one of the many warm-oil products out there or a prewash scalp oil. But Dr. Gabriel cautions that it won’t be a cure-all. “While helpful for combatting dryness, hot oil treatments alone cannot treat dandruff caused by the growth of fungus.”

6. Use Apple-Cider Vinegar Sparingly

Dr. Internet suggests using apple-cider vinegar as a home remedy for many things and a base for many products, among them a toner , a hot-water salve , and a treatment for dandruff. Dermatologists are a bit divided on this. Dr. Zeichner says it could potentially help: “Apple-cider vinegar has anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties to lower levels of yeast on the skin and calm inflammation.” If you have a mild case of dandruff, Dr. Gabriel suggests combining half a cup of apple cider vinegar with one and a half cups of cool water. Pour the mixture onto the hair in the shower after shampooing and rinse out.

But Dr. Weiser says: “I do not generally support the use of apple-cider vinegar for dandruff,” as there are more effective remedies available. Don’t go overboard with making your hair smell like salad dressing.

7. Add Some Tea Tree Oil

For the occasional dandruff attack, Dr. Gabriel has another home remedy. You can try adding a few drops of tea-tree oil to your shampoo or buy one that already contains it. “Tea tree oil contains anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce the severity of dandruff,” says Dr. Gabriel.

8. Wash Your Scalp Only

Unfortunately, dandruff shampoos can dry out your hair, in addition to your scalp. To ensure this doesn’t happen, Dr. Weiser says that you should apply your special shampoo only to the scalp. “These shampoos and treatments should be applied directly to the scalp (not the hair) and massaged gently in place for at least five minutes with each application.” Make sure you don’t do it for less than five minutes, to give the active ingredients time to work. And if you need some extra moisture, be sure to use a hair mask on your ends.

9. Don’t Scratch

It’s the white bear problem , but try not to think about scratching. It’s so itchy, I know, but scratching can exacerbate inflammation and irritation. Particularly if you have long, sharp nails, scratching can cause open scalp wounds which lead to infections. Dr. Weiser suggests doing a gentle massage only, saying that it “allows ingredients to penetrate the scalp.”

10. While You’re Waiting for These Steps to Work, Hide the Evidence

Try a ponytail or updo. Nathaniel Hawkins, a celebrity hairstylist for Adele and Heather Graham, also adds, “Resist the urge to itch. When your hair is down and has freedom of movement, the flakes will fall.”

Our Experts:

• Dr. Zenovia Gabriel , an award-winning board-certified dermatologist and and founder of Zena Medical
• Dr. Macrene Alexiades , a New York–based dermatologist
• Dr. Joshua Zeichner , director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Hospital’s Department of Dermatology
• Dr. Jessica Weiser , a board-certified dermatologist and the founder and Medical Director of Weiser Skin MD
• Nathaniel Hawkins , a celebrity hairstylist
• Elizabeth Cunnane-Phillips, a trichologist at the Philip Kingsley Trichological Clinic ,
• obsessive tester

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How to Get Rid of Dandruff: An 8-Step Plan to Banish Flakes Forever

By Adam Hurly

All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Dandruff is perturbing, no matter how severe it is. Whether you deal with stubborn, persistent peeling or periodic flakes, it's right up there with breakouts and unsightly shave cuts in terms of grooming annoyances. It sucks enough to be the one sporting shoulder snowfall, but beyond that, a flaky, itchy scalp can also hurt. If you want to know how to get rid of dandruff, no matter the severity, then read on.

However, a note: If you have a severe case of dandruff, you may need to work with a board-certified dermatologist or scalp-centric trichologist to get a tailored, prescription-strength regimen. Still, almost everyone can rely on products like the ones below for a fast and effective fix (and once you have that down, you'll want to prevent dandruff from re-appearing ). Anti-dandruff shampoos are important, but it's more than that—it's important to have scalp-focused conditioners, treatments, and scrubs, and even some hair stylers that are formulated to neutralize flaking.

If you have active flakes, now’s the time to use targeted, active ingredients in your shampoo, so swap out your regular shampoo with an anti-dandruff option . Ideal ingredients include ketoconazole, zinc pyrithione, and salicylic acid. While we normally don’t suggest shampooing daily, now might be a time for bucking this advice since these active ingredients need to be absorbed into your scalp each day. (You can swap in an antifungal or anti-dandruff serum, gel, or cream between washes if you don’t want to shampoo daily.) Still, regardless of how often you shampoo, let it set on your scalp for a minute or two when you wash, and give it a good massage as you go.

Scalp Purifying Shampoo with Climbazole, Piroctone Olamine, and Salicylic Acid

Men+Care Dandruff Shampoo with Zinc Pyrithione

Don’t worry too much about swapping in an active-ingredient conditioner; the shampoo is a better way to target the scalp. However, anti-dandruff washes tend to be extremely drying for the hair, so make sure your conditioner is nourishing and reviving for your strands. (In that sense, it may be worth upgrading your conditioner to a luxe, bond-building option that smooths strands and prevents hair from splitting, drying, frizzing, and breaking. Condition after every wash—even when you’re using regular shampoo and dandruff isn’t an issue—and especially after using a drying anti-dandruff shampoo, let the conditioner set for a couple of minutes before rinsing it out.

Bond-Repairing Conditioner

Exfoliation plays a big role in removing dead cells from the surface of your skin, and when it comes to dandruff, that means helping to slough away the cells in the shower before they can flake themselves away throughout the day. Some will help target the problem itself but don’t make that your primary priority with an exfoliant. Rather, in terms of treatments, this is a prime chance to just remove excess flakes—exfoliation at its simplest. Do this twice a week throughout your recovery process and at least once a week when things clear up.

Kiehl's

Scalp Scrub

Scalp Scrub with Papaya Enzymes

If your dandruff is anything above a few flakes, then you should add an additional proactive topical to the mix—something that settles into the scalp without being immediately rinsed away. There are numerous serums, masks, lotions, gels, and the like out there that target different things, and you need to assess your situation and decide which topicals are most needed.

The key ingredients will dictate the function of these products; consider one with tea tree oil to tone oil and fight fungus; choose pre or probiotics to fortify the scalp’s barrier; choose charcoal to detoxify and purify the scalp to prevent oil buildup; choose alpha hydroxy acids or salicylic acid to help exfoliate (and the latter to tone oil levels, too)... the list goes on. You can also seek out a hydrating lotion or gel if your flaking is the result of a dry, irritated scalp.

Purifying Scalp Serum with Charcoal and Tea Tree

Pre- and Postbiotic Scalp Relief Rerum

Customized Scalp Mask

Oftentimes, the hair products we use can aggravate the situation, so go easy on anything that is applied directly to your scalp to prevent buildup and irritation on inflamed areas. (You can also apply one of the above nourishing or toning treatments prior to styling hair as another preventative measure.) We suggest subbing in a styler with an active anti-dandruff ingredient, too, like zinc pyrithione or tea tree.

Styling Cream with Tea Tree Oil

Head & Shoulders

Styling Clay with Pyrithione Zinc

Minimize long, hot showers (and short showers, at that) while fighting flakes. Also, minimize the use of blow dryers and any other hot tools that might further parch your dome.

Make sure your sleeping environment is plenty humid so that you don’t lose moisture in the layers of your skin as you slumber. See, if you rest in a dry room for six to eight hours, then the environment is going to extract moisture wherever it can come up with some (and thus, in this case, it’s your skin and hair). Keeping a humid chamber is generally a great practice for maintaining healthy skin, hair, and fresh breath, too.

5L Humidifier

While it’s imperative to use hair loss treatments like finasteride and minoxidil every day in order to see and maintain hair density, any topical solutions might aggravate severe inflammation or flaking. Make it a priority to get rid of the dandruff quickly and effectively, and avoid applying any topical minoxidil or finasteride in the interim. Don’t go off these medicines for more than a week; it’s not like your hair retention efforts will suddenly go away, but you do not want to lose the habit. If your dandruff persists, then speak with your dermatologist to discuss a safe cadence so that you don’t lose any progress. (Ask them about oral minoxidil, too.)

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How to get rid of dandruff for good

Itchy, flaky scalp getting you down? Here’s everything you need to know about dandruff – including how to get rid of it.

Dandruff symptoms

Dandruff symptoms typically include the following:

• White or grey flakes on the scalp and in the hair, often only noticeable on the shoulders of dark clothes or when brushing hair.
• Dry patches may be felt on the scalp where itching is worse.

Dandruff causes

A number of factors can lead to dandruff including:

• Lack of sleep or rest.
• Some hair treatments or styling products may worsen dandruff.
• Weather or temperature can worsen dandruff, for example prolonged hat wearing may encourage microbe growth, while exposure to sunlight may promote a healthy scalp by suppressing fungal growth.
• Poor hygiene does not cause dandruff, but washing hair too little or too often can make the flakes look worse.
• Leaving hair damp for long periods of time can exacerbate dandruff, as can piling wet hair into a bun with little air flow around the scalp.
• Nutrient deficiencies including Zinc, vitamins B2, B3 and B6 have been associated with dandruff in studies. If you are concerned, speak to your doctor as it is most likely not just your scalp that is affected.

Dandruff treatment

Dandruff will most likely be self-diagnosed and those affected can find initial treatments easily at your local chemist or supermarket. Try the following over the counter dandruff treatments, or if these don't work speak to your pharmacist or GP about prescription treatments:

✔️ Over the counter treatment for dandruff

If your scalp is not inflamed or irritated, try the following over the counter anti-dandruff shampoos:

• Vosene - products containing Salicylic acid remove excess skin cell debris.
• Head and Shoulders - products containing Zinc pyrithione reduce yeast growth.
• Tea tree oil shampoo - Tea tree oil is thought to be antifungal and antibacterial.
• Ginger anti-dandruff shampoo - products containing ginger are thought to reduce scalp infections and dandruff by its antiseptic properties.

✔️ Prescription treatment for dandruff

Your doctor or pharmacist may advise stronger agents, especially if they suspect a diagnosis of seborrheic dermatitis. These are available over the counter in the UK but they need to be handled with care. They may have side-effects or be contraindicated in some patients, as some are not suitable for children or should be used with caution in pregnancy or breastfeeding.

• Nizoral shampoo - products containing Ketoconazole can work as this is an antifungal so it removes the yeast from the scalp.
• Neutrogena T gel - products containing coal tar reduce excess shedding skin cells and yeast growth.
• Selsun shampoo - products containing Selenium sulphide reduce turnover of the cells in the top layer of skin which reduces yeast growth.

You may need to use medicated shampoo for up to a month to see results. The shampoo can sometimes be harsh on the hair, so use it two or three times a week (with normal shampoo in between) until the dandruff is cleared. If your dandruff does not improve after a few weeks, speak to your doctor to exclude other causes.

⚠️ Apart from the cosmetic annoyance, dandruff can cause extensive itching. Chronic dandruff does need to be sorted as excessive itching over the long term could cause hair loss.

Dandruff tips and advice

Alongside anti-dandruff shampoo the following tips may help:

✔️ Avoid excessive use of dry shampoo, which can worsen dandruff as it settles on the scalp and stops air flow and natural shedding of the skin at the surface encouraging dermatitis and dandruff.

✔️ Manage your stress levels and get plenty of rest.

✔️ Brush your hair regularly to remove normal skin cell debris and encourage circulation and ventilation of the scalp.

✔️ Try not to itch , as scratching can increase scalp irritation and lead to a vicious cycle.

✔️ In theory healthy fat content in your diet can help skin and hair health. Oily fish, nuts and seeds have a high omega-3 content that supports the skin.

Dandruff complications

Flaking of the scalp can occur in other conditions which might need further medical attention including:

• Contact dermatitis or eczema

If the scalp is involved this can cause dry patches that will flake and can be triggered by allergens or irritants such as specific shampoos, conditioners, hair styling products or perfumes. Avoiding triggers and using topical steroid creams as prescribed may be necessary in the short term.

• Seborrheic dermatitis

Seborrheic dermatitis tends to affect the back, face, eyebrows, neck, groin and scalp. Even eyelashes can be affected. White or yellow flakes occur on a background of red or pink swollen areas. There may be extensive burning or itching. The cause of seborrhoeic dermatitis is not always known although hormones and genetics have been suggested. Microorganisms such as yeast that causes dandruff can make seborrheic dermatitis worse. It can be a sign of the immune system being suppressed or more common in some nervous system diseases. Medicated shampoo may be all that is needed but in severe cases anti-fungal agents and anti-inflammatories may be required.

• Scalp psoriasis

Psoriasis presents itself as distinct red flaky, crusty and sore patches with silvery scales which are easily recognised by a healthcare professional. There are specific treatments for scalp psoriasis that may be used in conjunction with treatment of body psoriasis patches.

• Head lice

Head lice infestation may cause scalp itching and be wrongly diagnosed as dandruff.

• Ringworm

Ringworm is also a fungal infection which can lead to an itchy and flaky scalp.

• Cradle cap

Cradle cap is a form of seborrheic dermatitis that is extremely common in newborns. It does not seem to be that there is any predisposition to having dandruff as an adult if you had cradle cap as a baby.

For unknown reasons patients with certain medical conditions including those affecting immunity can suffer more with dandruff. These include HIV, Parkinson’s Disease, Epilepsy. Sometimes after an event such as a heart attack or stroke dandruff can worsen.

When to visit the doctor for dandruff

Make an appointment with your GP if any of the following occurs:

• Persistent flaking despite using good anti-dandruff shampoo for a few weeks
• Swollen or sore red patches on scalp
• Hair loss in affected areas

Your doctor will take a full history of any scalp conditions and the general state of your health, recent stress , illness and examine your scalp and any other areas of skin affected. Most scalp conditions are easily resolved by prescription treatment, usually in the form of shampoos, lotions or foams. Steroid preparations may be used for more complex cases where the scalp is inflamed.

If your dandruff is part of a more serious condition or is not responding to medical treatment, your doctor may refer you to a dermatologist. Do not suffer in silence or be embarrassed and always talk to your healthcare provider if you are worried about an underlying health condition.

Last updated : 17-02-2021

Moisturizing your scalp won’t get rid of dandruff. But this will.

Who here wants to get rid of dandruff — fast? People often think dry scalp is the culprit for the flakes of skin in their hair and may try to rid them by moisturizing their scalp. But this won’t work for dandruff.

These relatively large, sometimes oily flakes are believed to be mainly caused by an inflammatory reaction to yeast on our skin. To treat the condition, you need to target this yeast and inflammation. Dr. Chris Adigun , a board-certified dermatologist in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, walks us through how to do just that.

How do you get rid of dandruff?

To figure out how to get rid of dandruff, let’s get a better understanding of what causes it in the first place. Dandruff is a milder form of a common condition called seborrheic dermatitis. This condition also manifests as scaly patches on the skin and arises in areas of the body that produce lots of oil . With dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis is localized to the scalp .

Dandruff — and seborrheic dermatitis more broadly — is believed to be caused by an inflammatory reaction to the yeast Malassezia furfur , which is found on everyone’s skin. Adigun says this yeast builds up on your scalp until your body can no longer tolerate it and reacts.

To get rid of dandruff, you may need a two-step process. You need to address the quantity of yeast on the scalp. Reducing the amount of yeast will give your skin less substance to react to. You can achieve this by using an antifungal shampoo like Head & Shoulders or Selsun blue , among many others. For many cases of dandruff, this antifungal shampoo will be enough of a treatment. For more inflamed cases you need to also treat the inflammation of the skin. You can achieve this with a liquid anti-inflammatory agent, which a board-certified dermatologist can prescribe to you, says Adigun.

How often should you wash your hair if you have dandruff?

How often you need to wash your hair varies depending on whether you’re currently experiencing dandruff or not.  If you’re facing a flare-up, then Adigun recommends that you wash your hair daily with antifungal shampoo until your dandruff is under control. If you need to use an anti-inflammatory agent, use this daily as well. Keep in mind that steroids used to treat inflammation can only be used for a short duration of time. Adigun says, if you don’t see improvement using this substance after a few days, talk to your dermatologist.

Once you have treated your flare-up, you can take preventative measures. The key thing to remember is that your body may develop dandruff when there’s too much yeast on your scalp. How often you need to wash your hair to prevent this yeast build-up varies by person. Some people can go two weeks without washing their hair before dandruff develops, others can only go one or two days. You can test out different shampooing schedules to find out what is right for you.

Can you get rid of dandruff permanently?

Unfortunately, it’s impossible to completely cure dandruff — or other manifestations of seborrheic dermatitis. However, the condition is very manageable and responds to treatment.

Key takeaway: If you are prone to dandruff, wash your hair with an antifungal shampoo to prevent a flare-up. How often someone needs to wash their hair before the condition flares varies from person to person. Find the schedule that’s right for you, and stick with it.

Why is my hair falling out? Here’s how to treat excessive hair shedding.

What is dandruff and how to treat it? Guide to treat the hair problem explored

O ne of the most common hair problems these days is dandruff. Most people believe this hair problem can be treated with nourishing scalp oiling and shampoo. It is mainly because they think this hair problem is caused by a dry scalp, which is only partly true as there is more.

In medical terms, it is a chronic skin condition known as seborrheic dermatitis. It can occur in a mild form or be a severe case for a few. This hair condition is mainly caused by Malassezia, a skin fungus that irritates the scalp's sebaceous glands, leading to scaly rashes.

However, unlike it sounds, treating this scalp condition with some help from professionals and a little knowledge is not difficult. Let's explore how to treat mild and severe dandruff cases.

Treatment options for regular or mild dandruff

One of the biggest myths about treating flaky hair is deep hair oiling with coconut oil or, in this case, oil. While deep scalp oiling has many benefits for hair, treating this hair problem with only oiling would be a mistake.

To treat seborrheic dermatitis efficiently, people need a good clarifying shampoo that contains ingredients like ketoconazole and salicylic acid . There are many over-the-counter shampoos available for seborrheic dermatitis. Various high-end skincare and haircare brands also offer suitable products for treating this hair problem.

Sportskeeda has curated a simple list that includes some of the best anti-dandruff shampoos to handle this hair problem gently.

1) Neutrogena T/Gel

Neutrogena T/Gel is a therapeutic anti-dandruff shampoo that can help with scalp itching and flaking. It contains 0.5% coal tar that helps reduce skin scaling and prevents skin cell overgrowth, leading to dandruff. It is affordable and available for $ purchase on the brand's website for $6.99.

2) Nizoral A-D

Nizoral A-D is an over-the-counter anti-dandruff shampoo that contains ketoconazole, the best antifungal ingredient. It has 2% ketoconazole, which effectively cleans the scalp. It is available on Amazon for $12.

3) Oribe Serene Scalp Shampoo

It is a luxury treatment shampoo to treat dry and flaky scalp. This shampoo contains salicylic acid and caffeine that remove dead skin cells and gently exfoliate the scalp. This product is available for $52 on the brand's official website.

4) Kerastase Scalp Renewal Exfoliating Scalp Scrub

The key ingredient of this hair treatment is salicylic acid, which gently exfoliates the scalp and removes dirt and flakiness. It is a pre-shampoo option that prepares the hair to absorb any healthy ingredients applied after it. It is available on Kerastase's website for $49.

5) Ouai Shampoo

It is also an incredible 2% salicylic acid shampoo suitable for sensitive scalps. This Ouai shampoo is very lightweight and removes any excess dirt, build-up scalp sebum, and dead skin cells. The product is available for $38 on Ouai's website.

6) Sachajuan Scalp Shampoo

This shampoo is very effective for handling hair problems, including itchy and flaky scalp. This product contains rosemary oil , menthol, salicylic acid, and ginger extract. All these ingredients are super healthy for hair. The shampoo is available on Sachajuan's official website for $17.

• Always apply anti-dandruff shampoos on wet hair
• Make sure to leave it for 10 to 15 minutes and then rinse off properly
• Do not use these clarifying shampoos for more than once or twice a week

What about people with severe dandruff problems?

People suffering from extreme seborrheic dermatitis might not get many benefits or expected results from using the mentioned products. In this case, they should immediately consult a professional as they need prescription-strength medication.

Topical medications like fluocinolone (Capex), pimecrolimus (Elidel), and tacrolimus (Protopic) can be helpful. However, to get these, it is essential to talk with a doctor first and then purchase the medications as required.

How to Build and Enforce an Effective Expense Policy

A well-enforced expense policy can help your business protect its margins from unnecessary expenditures and instill a culture of responsible spending. However, creating and enforcing expense policies can be an administrative challenge. Here are a few steps you can take to solve this problem.

How to Build an Expense Policy

No two company expense policies are identical because every business has unique needs, employees and operations. However, several tried-and-true steps can help you build an expense policy that keeps spending in check:

• Engage key stakeholders: Talk to your finance, HR, sales and marketing department heads, and clearly outline everyone’s perspective and business needs that may impact company spending.
• Define your expense categories: Identify the categories likely to arise, including travel, entertainment, client vs. non-client spending, meals, and other relevant expense types.
• Set your budgets: Establish reasonable budgets with each department per category using historical data and stakeholder input.
• Define expense amount and reimbursement rules: Clearly outline the process for filing expense reports and set reimbursement timelines so your employees know what to expect.
• Outline policy compliance procedures: Define expectations for receipt management, reporting and consequences of policy violation.

It’s important to note that an expense policy must be flexible and adaptive. Annual reassessment, as well as during significant company or industry changes, helps align it with evolving business needs and ensures its effectiveness.

How to Enforce an Expense Policy

The following procedures are often used to help manage enforcement:

• Ask employees to submit receipts for all expenses.
• Require specific approvals from key stakeholders for expenses that go above certain amounts.
• Only extend corporate cards to a few select employees at the company.

However, where these steps fall short is that they create a massive administrative load on your finance team (if you have one). Common pain points your finance team may have experienced include late receipt submissions, long hours spent entering data to close the books, and inability to restrict non-compliant corporate card spend before it happens.

Our biggest advice: Invest the time and resources in an expense management and corporate credit card solution that can unlock several capabilities, such as:

• Creating spend controls that limit non-compliant spending before cards are swiped.
• Automated workflows that handle approval submissions.
• Easier means for employees to submit expense receipts via mobile app.

The right expense management solution can help you digitize and enforce your expense policy. It will save your team hours of time that they can then invest in higher priority, strategic work — all while keeping your margins in check.

Today, Rho is proud to offer NAHB members a wide variety of other financial tools all under one roof: Corporate cards with built-in expense management, customizable controls, and meaningful cashback to help you run your business better. NAHB members can exclusively earn a $750 cash rewards bonus after spending $10,000 within 90 days after account opening.

Learn more at rho.co/partners/nahb .

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Title: large language models are unconscious of unreasonability in math problems.

Abstract: Large language models (LLMs) demonstrate substantial capabilities in solving math problems. However, they tend to produce hallucinations when given questions containing unreasonable errors. In this paper, we study the behavior of LLMs when faced with unreasonable math problems and further explore their potential to address these problems. First, we construct the Unreasonable Math Problem (UMP) benchmark to examine the error detection ability of LLMs. Experiments show that LLMs are able to detect unreasonable errors, but still fail in generating non-hallucinatory content. In order to improve their ability of error detection and correction, we further design a strategic prompt template called Critical Calculation and Conclusion(CCC). With CCC, LLMs can better self-evaluate and detect unreasonable errors in math questions, making them more reliable and safe in practical application scenarios.

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Research: How Different Fields Are Using GenAI to Redefine Roles

• Maryam Alavi

Examples from customer support, management consulting, professional writing, legal analysis, and software and technology.

The interactive, conversational, analytical, and generative features of GenAI offer support for creativity, problem-solving, and processing and digestion of large bodies of information. Therefore, these features can act as cognitive resources for knowledge workers. Moreover, the capabilities of GenAI can mitigate various hindrances to effective performance that knowledge workers may encounter in their jobs, including time pressure, gaps in knowledge and skills, and negative feelings (such as boredom stemming from repetitive tasks or frustration arising from interactions with dissatisfied customers). Empirical research and field observations have already begun to reveal the value of GenAI capabilities and their potential for job crafting.

There is an expectation that implementing new and emerging Generative AI (GenAI) tools enhances the effectiveness and competitiveness of organizations. This belief is evidenced by current and planned investments in GenAI tools, especially by firms in knowledge-intensive industries such as finance, healthcare, and entertainment, among others. According to forecasts, enterprise spending on GenAI will increase by two-fold in 2024 and grow to $151.1 billion by 2027 .

• Maryam Alavi is the Elizabeth D. & Thomas M. Holder Chair & Professor of IT Management, Scheller College of Business, Georgia Institute of Technology .

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India’s Silicon Valley Faces a Water Crisis That Software Cannot Solve

Bengaluru gets plenty of rain. But the city did not properly adapt as its soaring population strained traditional water sources.

Filling up with subsidized water at a government distribution center in the Indian city of Bengaluru, also known as Bangalore. Credit...

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By Damien Cave

Photographs by Atul Loke

Reporting from Bengaluru, India

• Published March 31, 2024 Updated April 2, 2024, 12:38 a.m. ET

The water tankers seeking to fill their bellies bounced past the dry lakes of India’s booming technology capital. Their bleary-eyed drivers waited in line to suck what they could from wells dug a mile deep into dusty lots between app offices and apartment towers named for bougainvillea — all built before sewage and water lines could reach them.

At one well, where neighbors lamented the loss of a mango grove, a handwritten logbook listed the water runs of a crisis: 3:15 and 4:10 one morning; 12:58, 2:27 and 3:29 the next.

“I get 50 calls a day,” said Prakash Chudegowda, a tanker driver in south Bengaluru, also known as Bangalore, as he connected a hose to the well. “I can only get to 15.”

The Silicon Valley of South Asia has a nature issue — a pain point that software cannot solve. In the sprawl beyond Bengaluru’s core, where dreams of tech riches usually grow, schools lack water to flush toilets. Washing machines have gone quiet. Showers are being postponed, and children with only dirty water to drink are being hospitalized with typhoid fever.

The big problem afflicting Bengaluru is not a lack of rain (it gets plenty, about as much as Seattle), but rather what often holds this giant, energetic nation back: arthritic governance. As the city rushed toward the digital future, tripling its population to 15 million since the 1990s and building a lively tech ecosystem, water management fell behind and never caught up as otherwise healthy aquifers were drawn dry by the unchecked spread of urban bore wells.

Failures of environmental stewardship are common across a country with severe pollution and an acute need for economic growth to provide for 1.4 billion people, spanning political parties and India’s north-south divide . But Bengaluru’s water struggle is especially withering for many — and motivating for some who have water sales or reform in mind — because the city sees itself as an innovator. And in this case, the causes and solutions are well known.

“There is no crisis of water availability,” said Vishwanath Srikantaiah, a water researcher and urban planner in Bengaluru. “It’s a clear-cut crisis of state failure.”

Viewed another way, he added in an interview at his home, where books about water and rivers were stacked nearly to the ceiling, it is a crisis caused by a lack of imagination.

As public policy experts tell it, Bengaluru and the broader state of Karnataka have been too slow to plan for growth, too divided across agencies and too rigid in their reliance on pumping water uphill from reservoirs along the Kaveri River more than 50 miles away.

Despite a long history of local hydrology — Nadaprabhu Kempegowda, the 16th-century founder of Bengaluru, built hundreds of cascading lakes for irrigation — officials have mostly stuck with the traditional engineering option that their predecessors turned to in the 1950s and ’60s.

That is the case despite its challenges and expense. The energy cost alone for pumping eats up 75 percent of the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board’s revenue, while supplying only around half of what the city needs.

The rest, for decades, has come from bore wells — holes about six inches wide that act like straws for water from aquifers below. An authority separate from the water board has punched 14,000 of them into the ground, half of which are now dry, according to officials. Experts estimate that residents have drilled an additional 450,000 to 500,000 into the cityscape, without the government’s knowing where or having a clear sense of their impact.

In much of the city, the wells are like doorbells, plentiful but seemingly invisible until someone points them out. Drilling failures appear as cutout circles on quieter streets; successes are often covered in flowers, with a black hose snaking into a home down the street.

Spending a day in the cab of Mr. Chudegowda’s tanker truck offered a glimpse of how the ad hoc system works. At one stop, drivers wrote their times in a logbook while cameras watched how much they took. At another the supply was slow and organized: A half-dozen drivers took 20-minute turns for fill-ups of around 6,000 liters, or about 1,600 gallons, just a few steps from a lake depleted to a puddle. At a third, a building owner sold a load to Mr. Chudegowda without the wait.

“Every minute counts,” he said as he climbed out of the truck.

His customers ranged from a bra factory with 100 workers to a small apartment building, all within a few miles to maximize profit. He charged each up to 1,500 rupees ($18) for each tanker load, more than double the going rate from a few months ago, which he considered justified because costs had gone up.

Drills — easily hired from companies with storefronts across the city — often fail to find water or have to go deeper now, which means more electricity and gas for the pumps pulling precious liquid from the earth.

The effects, while not at “Dune”-like levels, have become more visible in recent weeks, especially in the tech corridors, with their blur of luxury apartments, slums, mobile phone stores, malls, in vitro fertilization clinics and shimmering offices.

In Whitefield, a busy software hub, Sumedha Rao, a teacher at a new public school, offered to ask her class of 12-year-olds about their experiences with water scarcity. The hallways were painted in bright colors with words of encouragement — resilience, citizenship, collaboration. In class, they were asked how often they have water at home.

“One day a week, ma’am,” said a girl with pigtails.

“We just have a bucket,” said a boy near the back.

“There’s no water in the bore wells,” shouted another.

Many take small amounts of drinking water from school taps for their families — only one water bottle per child, because it is all the school can spare. Behind a play area the color and consistency of ground ginger sat a hulking pile of metal: a broken bore well.

“The motor stopped working,” said Shekar Venkataswamy, a physical education teacher with a brigand’s mustache.

Walking toward his home behind the school, he pointed to a dry hole where drilling failed, and one where it worked. A few thousand families take turns using the water for an hour each, with an elaborate schedule that is tightly managed.

Community leaders expressed pride in how they were handling the crisis, softening the blows of sacrifice. Many others have been inspired to broader action.

One morning, four tech workers who had become water activists showed up in a northern corner of the city where Mr. Srikantaiah, the water researcher, had worked with the local community to rejuvenate a once trash-strewn lake. A small network of gurgling filters and pipes sends out 200,000 liters of potable water per day.

“It will soon be 600,000,” Mr. Srikantaiah said. And the price per customer: nearly a third of what tanker drivers are charging.

The tech workers said they planned to share the details with neighbors and officials, to spread the word that a lake, using rainwater and lightly treated sewage, could be turned into a safe, affordable, reliable water source.

In an interview at his office, the chairman of the water board, Ram Prasath Manohar, 43, a seasoned government administrator installed three months ago, embraced the idea.

Acknowledging that some past officials had thought narrowly about water management, he said he hoped to attract public and private money for a more innovative approach, mixing data-driven methods that would revive lakes to let aquifers recharge and would expand rainwater harvesting and conservation.

“We’re going for a greener solution,” he said. “A more effective solution.”

So far, though, progress has been slow. He has not been able to hire any additional staff, he said, and he is working from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. every day.

Short-term relief, he prays, will come in the next few weeks, with reservoir water extended to more parts of the city and the expected spring rains. Most of all, like many others in India’s Silicon Valley, he hopes all the public attention to water scarcity will add momentum for long-term change.

In one corner of his offices, a quote from Benjamin Franklin had been printed on a piece of paper and pasted to a window: “When the well is dry, we know the worth of water.”

“This crisis,” he said, rubbing his tired eyes, “it gives us an opportunity.”

Imran Khan Pathan contributed reporting.

Damien Cave is an international correspondent for The Times, covering the Indo-Pacific region. He is based in Sydney, Australia.  More about Damien Cave

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Future Leaders winner uses science to solve problems across Colorado, World

By Libby Smith

April 2, 2024 / 4:22 PM MDT / CBS Colorado

CBS Colorado, along with Colorado School of Mines and Chevron, are proud to honor high school students who excel in the STEM fields, science, technology, engineering, and math. The Future Leaders Award comes with $1,000 prize, and a profile on CBS News Colorado.

The newest Future Leaders Award winner is Shreya Senthilkumar. She's a senior at Peak to Peak Charter School, and just may be one of the great problem solvers of her generation.

"I feel like I've always been very imaginative, even as a child, and I always come up with the weirdest ideas," Senthilkumar told CBS News Colorado.

Currently, Senthilkumar is part of a team of students who are tracking the growth and water retention of about 20 newly planted trees on the Peak to Peak campus.

"This past summer, a lot of the trees at our school died and that's because of the soil quality. Especially after the Marshall Fire, we found out that the soil is super dry and dehydrated," she explained.

Through the school's Innovation Lab, the students came up with the idea of mixing mycelium from mushroom plants into the soil to see if it would help retain moisture. Some of the trees are planted in untreated soil, some are planted in a compost which contains shredded cardboard, and some are planted in compost with the mycelium.

"We're still not making any conclusions yet because we're still collecting data, but we found that with our soil collections that the mycelium and the compost seem to be doing a lot better in terms of moisture retention," Senthilkumar revealed.

She and her classmates will be presenting their data at a Tree Summit in Fairview in April. Throughout high school, Senthilkumar has developed innovations and presented ideas for several national competitions including the "Samsung Solve for Tomorrow"education contest and the Conrad Innovation Challenge. The Innovation Lab really set her down this path.

"It ended up being a doorway to so many different opportunities and really discovering my passions, and how I can use that to change the world," she explained.

For one project, she developed a biodegradable, plastic-free, packaging system for computers.

"The original idea was to use a plant-based starch, and we decided on potato starch because we decided that would be a cheap material we could use," Senthilkumar said.

The students planned to create a foam out of the potato starch that would be used to insulate the computer.

"We research biomimicry at the time with the hexagonal pattern of a honey bee comb, and how that creates a compactness for the honey bee comb so the hive doesn't break or get damaged in various weather conditions, and so we wanted to imprint that into our foam," she said.

Another project used tobacco leaves as part of a water filtration system, so that tobacco farmers could move away from supplying cigarette makers and instead contribute to clean water. Another project centered around using UV light to detect the carcinogenic chemical, benzene, in drinking water after the Marshall Fire.

"Everything stems from empathy," she said. "Really pinpointing and understanding what exactly the issue is, who is effected, and what can be done to solve it."

For another project, Senthilkumar came up with a plan to bridge the digital divide in Colorado.

"Our idea was to create like an innovation center where we would have different curriculums or workshops for especially like younger children to help foster that STEM learning at a younger age," she explained.

That project led her to educate people worldwide about women's health. She and a friend started a menstrual equity non-profit. She packs up feminine hygiene products and sends them to women who have none.

"It's something that's very passionate for me, both in terms of access but just in terms of the stigma around women's reproductive health and menstruation," Senthilkumar said.

Senthilkumar is passionate about making the world a better place, and she's committed to innovating through science to do that.

"No matter what I do I want to have an impact."

LINK: Future Leaders Award

CBS Colorado is taking nominations for the Future Leaders Award through April 19, 2024. Nominate a high school student who excels at STEM by filling out the form at the above link.

• Future Leaders

Libby Smith is a special projects producer at CBS Colorado.

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