Shampoos for oily dandruff

The appearance of dandruff is most often associated with excessive dryness of the skin and the presence of an active fungal infection on it. But not everyone knows that dandruff can be not only dry, but also oily: the appearance of the latter is due to the predominant hyperfunction of the sebaceous glands. Why does this happen, and how to choose the right shampoo for oily dandruff?

Indications shampoos for oily dandruff

Oily dandruff is most often associated by trichologists with hormonal changes in the body. Thus, such a problem often bothers teenagers who have reached puberty or women during pregnancy. [ 1 ]

The sebaceous gland system (and it is very extensive and branched) performs a softening and moisturizing function, maintains local immunity at an appropriate level, preventing the active activity of viral and bacterial infections. If the secretion of sebum increases, then its mass accumulation occurs on the scalp - even despite regular hair washing. Such a situation is not uncommon with strong changes in hormonal levels, with diseases of internal organs, with an unhealthy diet with a predominance of fatty and sweet foods.

At the same time as the sebum accumulates, small particles of skin on the head peel off, which is a natural process. Dead cells, which look like scales, are retained by sebum secretions and do not fall off, but remain on the skin. What happens next: little by little, the layer of sebum and keratinized scales increases, since dandruff does not fall off, becomes noticeable and simply “sticks” to the hair. [ 2 ]

Therefore, indications for treatment with shampoos for oily dandruff may be:

• oily dandruff associated with hormonal changes (puberty in adolescents, pregnancy and the postpartum period, menopause);
• oily dandruff caused by a disease of the internal organs (for example, kidneys or liver);
• oily dandruff resulting from dietary irregularities.

The problem voiced during puberty is found in 20% of teenagers: in addition to oily dandruff, children may be bothered by the appearance of pimples, acne, and enlarged pores on the skin. [ 3 ]

Release form

This form of release of the medicinal product, such as shampoo, is quite convenient for the treatment of oily dandruff: external use allows you to act directly on the problem area.

The shampoo can be produced in bottles of different sizes – from 25 or 60 ml to 300-500 ml.

As a rule, treatments for oily dandruff are made from natural and safe ingredients that have a gentle effect on the skin and hair. After all, their goal is to eliminate existing problems, not to aggravate them. In addition to normalizing the sebaceous glands, such products often "know how" to combat hair loss, brittleness and dull color.

If you are not sure that a particular shampoo will suit you, you can ask the sellers or cosmetologists about the so-called "trial" packages. These "samples" are a small packaged amount of the product, which is usually enough for only one treatment of the head. Such a one-time use will give you the opportunity to understand whether the product is suitable for you, so that you can subsequently purchase a full bottle. Most often, well-known manufacturers of medicinal and preventive detergents and hygiene products make "samples" and supply them to stores and pharmacy chains along with regular packages of their products.

Names of anti-dandruff shampoos for oily hair

Shampoos for oily dandruff are not just a cleaning hygienic product, but also a medicinal product. The composition of such products usually includes both herbal and medicinal components with anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and antiseptic activity.

• Vichy Dercos shampoo is a sebum-regulating product for oily hair care, which slows down the secretion of sebum, prevents the formation of dandruff, and soothes irritated skin. Vichy Dercos is a universal medicinal washing product of French manufacture.
• Ducray Squanorm shampoo is a hit of this cosmetic company, which is successfully used both to eliminate dry or oily dandruff, and for psoriasis, or for preventive purposes. The shampoo helps optimize capillary blood circulation, accelerates hair growth and epidermis restoration, gives curls volume, cleanses the skin of the fat layer and dirt particles. The product contains panthenol and zinc - these components help to successfully combat dandruff in the best way, and special oils improve the functioning of the sebaceous glandular system, absorb and remove excess sebum.
• Klorane Myrtle Shampoo quickly reduces the formation of oily dandruff, stabilizes the oil balance on the scalp, softens and lightens the hair. The shampoo has undergone dermatological testing, and the manufacturer of the product claims that a 21-day course of treatment allows you to completely get rid of oily dandruff (provided that you use it twice a week).

There are also other medicated shampoos for oily dandruff:

• Zinc plus birch tar from TM Green Pharmacy provides a pronounced antipruritic, drying and degreasing effect, perfectly washes away sebum and dirt. In addition to eliminating dandruff, the product has a detrimental effect on fungal infection and can be used for a long time, until the unpleasant painful symptoms are completely eliminated.
• Zinovite from TM Zelenaya Dubrava is a recognized effective remedy for oily seborrhea. The composition is represented by zinc, propylene glycol, urea, antimicrobial and exfoliating substances of plant origin. The shampoo has no contraindications and can be used by pregnant women and children.
• Ecoderm shampoo does not contain any surfactants, dyes or flavoring agents. It successfully combines natural and useful artificial ingredients that eliminate oily dandruff and its accompanying symptoms: itching, excessive hair oiliness. It is recommended to use the product twice a week.
• Twins Tech Tar Shampoo 911 contains coconut oil, maltooligosyl, propyl betaine, and a whole complex of antifungal and antimicrobial components. This product quickly dissolves and removes fatty deposits, coordinates sebum production. The disadvantages of the product include possible dry skin after use. To avoid discomfort, it is recommended to additionally use moisturizing balms or rinses.

Pharmacodynamics

Shampoos for oily dandruff are most often high-quality cleansing and restorative products with minimal conditioning action. Most manufacturers try to make the shampoo composition mild, so that the product can be used daily. Such products are free of additional fatty components, but they also contain only a minimal set of nutrients.

The most common washing products in this series contain special ingredients that have an antibacterial effect and also reduce the secretion of sebaceous glands on the scalp. Typically, such products have an acidic pH, since alkali increases the production of sebum.

It is also necessary to draw the attention of users to the fact that shampoos for oily dandruff almost always have a powerful cleaning effect. Of course, there is nothing wrong with this, but using such products with colored hair can affect the brightness of shades, and also contribute to the "washing out" of color.

Some of the medicinal detergents can "boast" of the presence of special ingredients that inhibit the development of fungal infections. In budget shampoos, zinc pyrithione often becomes such an ingredient: this substance acts cumulatively, eliminates unpleasant symptoms, but does not completely eradicate the problem, can ultimately make hair even greasier, and even causes addiction with prolonged use.

More expensive shampoos, belonging to the professional cosmetic line, have a slightly different composition, which acts more safely, gently and reliably.

If the problem of oily dandruff does not disappear within 20-25 days from the start of treatment with a special shampoo, then you should consult a medical specialist - for example, a trichologist or dermatologist.

Pharmacokinetics

External use of shampoo for oily dandruff does not involve absorption of the active components of the product through the skin. If such absorption occurs in small quantities, it has no clinical significance.

Even with prolonged use of medicinal detergents, the concentrations of active components in the bloodstream do not reach critical values.

If the product is swallowed - for example, accidentally - then you should not take the usual measures for poisoning. For example, you should not induce vomiting or try to wash out the stomach. It is enough to drink enterosorbents and laxatives.

If the product gets on the mucous membrane of the eyes, rinse them thoroughly with running water.

Dosing and administration

Most often, shampoos for oily dandruff are applied to the scalp and hair for about 3-5 minutes, distributed well and massaged, then washed off with warm water.

If you are only bothered by oily dandruff in a relatively small amount, it is recommended to wash your hair with a medicinal product two or three times a week for at least 3-4 weeks. In case of severe oily dandruff, daily or every other day washing is allowed for at least a month. These are general instructions, but it is always necessary to read the instructions for a specific product - perhaps the manufacturer gives slightly different recommendations for use.

If the user's goal is to prevent the appearance of oily dandruff, then the selected shampoo is allowed to be used once a week, or once every two weeks. In between uses, the head is washed with a regular shampoo.

Application for children

Medicinal shampoos for oily dandruff successfully eliminate this problem in children, provided that they are selected correctly according to age. Oily dandruff is found at any age - even in infants. For example, in infants of the first year of life, dense seborrheic scales often form on the head - they must be combed out, carefully soaking and removing with a soft comb. But sometimes the same scales become a sign of oily seborrhea: in such a situation, you should show the child to a dermatologist to determine the cause of the pathology.

You should pay attention to the following shampoos for oily dandruff if you are talking about a child:

• Friederm zinc – based on the activity of zinc perithione, suitable for use from any age;
• Neutrogena Tar T/gel – contains birch tar, which provides a pronounced antifungal, anti-inflammatory and antipruritic effect;
• Mustela baby shampoo – suitable for treating children of preschool and senior school age, has a hypoallergenic composition and does not cause side effects;
• Fitoval is a product based on white willow extract and zinc perithione, which regulate the functionality of the sebaceous glands.

Use shampoos for oily dandruff during pregnancy

Pregnant women should not wash their hair with shampoos for oily dandruff if they contain selenium sulfate.

It is allowed to use such medicinal and cosmetic products as Nizoral, Natura Siberica, Sebozol, Zeytun during pregnancy, however, when choosing the appropriate product, it would not be superfluous to consult a specialist in this field. You should be especially careful when choosing products in the first trimester of pregnancy, since this is the period when the basic vital organs of the future child are formed.

When choosing a remedy for oily dandruff, you must read the composition carefully. The fact is that the vast majority of such preparations contain unsafe lauryl sulfate - a chemical substance whose harm has long been proven, but it continues to be added in small quantities to washing and cleaning products.

If oily dandruff has been bothering you for a long time and causes serious discomfort, it is recommended to consult a doctor first. It is quite possible that he will not only recommend a safe and effective shampoo, but also prescribe additional treatment - for example, external ointments or creams.

Contraindications

Shampoos for oily dandruff have virtually no contraindications, except for individual hypersensitivity. Some products are not recommended for use by pregnant women and children, which is always indicated in the annotation.

In addition, it is not advisable to use any of the shampoos if there are rashes of unknown origin, ulcers, pustules, scratches and other damage on the scalp.

Avoid allowing cleaning medicinal products to come into contact with the mucous membrane of the eyes, as well as the nasal and oral cavities.

Side effects shampoos for oily dandruff

When treating oily dandruff with shampoos, possible side effects are limited to local reactions:

• slight skin irritation;
• itching sensation;
• increased oiliness, or, conversely, excessive dryness of hair;
• change in color shade of chemically treated hair.

An allergic reaction to the composition of such products is also possible. Therefore, if you are prone to allergies, it is recommended to choose products very carefully, testing them on a small area of skin first.

Less common side effects include lacrimation, erythema in the application area, pustules, skin reactions, folliculitis, excessive dryness and flaking of the skin, and hair loss. These symptoms indicate the need to discontinue the product.

Overdose

With standard controlled use of shampoos for oily dandruff, there can be no talk of overdose: external application of the products is not capable of leading to their systemic action.

If the external product was taken internally, then in no case should vomiting be induced or the stomach washed. It is enough to take a laxative and sorbent, and if necessary, add symptomatic and supportive therapy drugs.

Interactions with other drugs

As a rule, shampoos for oily dandruff interact well with all medications for internal use. If you need to alternate shampoos and other external agents - for example, ointments, creams, solutions, then the possibility of such a combination should be clarified with your doctor.

Avoid chemical treatments such as perming or hair colouring while using medicated shampoos as this may alter the colour or damage the hair structure.

Storage conditions

The conditions under which it is recommended to store shampoos for oily dandruff are not particularly different from the storage of other hygiene products. Medicinal washing products are stored in dry rooms, with a temperature regime from +8 to +25°C, away from heating elements and direct sunlight. It is better to place shelves with shampoos higher, or lock them in a special cabinet so that children cannot play with the bottles and use them to their own detriment.

Homemade shampoos are stored in the refrigerator for no more than 2-3 days, depending on the composition.

Shelf life

Anti-dandruff products may have different expiration dates, so this point should be clarified directly on the shampoo packaging. The standard shelf life does not exceed 2-3 years. But organic plant-based products can be stored for a shorter period of time, and shampoos with a predominantly chemical composition are stored longer.

Analogues

If for some reason it is impossible to buy shampoo for oily dandruff, or you cannot find “your” product that suits all parameters, then you can try to prepare similar shampoos at home. There are several positive aspects here: firstly, you will know exactly what the product consists of. Secondly, self-preparation is always more economical and accessible.

Homemade analogues of shampoos for oily dandruff should be used regularly, and they are applied to the hair not for 1-2 minutes, but kept on the head for up to 15 minutes, so that the medicinal components can penetrate deep into the tissues and have their healing effect. And one more important point: the product should be applied to damp hair.

• Shampoo with clay for oily dandruff is prepared as follows: mix several spoons of white clay with warm water until the consistency is creamy. The clay contains useful mineral components that bind and remove fat, improve the structure of the skin and hair, and optimize the function of the glandular system.
• Beer shampoo is considered one of the most effective, but it must be prepared using only real "live" unfiltered product. Take 100-200 ml of beer, completely wet the hair and scalp in it. Then rinse the head with warm water and repeat the procedure. Rinse again after 10-15 minutes.
• A combination shampoo consisting of 50 ml of warm water, 50 g of quality laundry soap, 75 ml of apple cider vinegar, 5 g of olive oil and 5 g of clove powder copes well with any type of oily dandruff. All ingredients are mixed using a blender and stored in a glass jar in a cool place for three days.

After using any homemade shampoo, it is recommended to rinse your hair with a filtered infusion of rosemary, thyme, or sage.

Reviews

Unfortunately, there is no universal remedy that would help anyone who wants to eliminate oily dandruff quickly and forever. You need to be patient and choose exactly “your” shampoo, which is suitable in all directions, taking into account age, health, hair quality, and the specifics of the problem of oily dandruff. If you are lucky and “your” shampoo is found, then it is important not only to methodically and regularly perform the procedures, but also to reconsider your lifestyle and diet. Here are the reviews and recommendations given by trichologists on this matter:

• It is advisable to wash your hair no more than three times a week, and the detergents should contain zinc additives, tar, or salicylic acid;
• You should not use aggressive products to avoid skin irritation and infection;
• you need to make sure that your diet is rich in vitamins;
• It is important to ensure access of oxygen to the scalp: you should not wear a hat indoors or in other cases when you can do without it.

Don't assume that just one shampoo for oily dandruff will help you get rid of the problem. In most cases, the issue is resolved in a comprehensive manner, with the inclusion of a healthy diet and a healthy lifestyle.