The options
- Fingertip massage while you shampoo: enough for most people.
- A soft silicone scalp brush used during shampoo, with light pressure.
- A scrub made for the scalp, used occasionally on wet hair, then rinsed out thoroughly.
- A shampoo with salicylic acid, which the American Academy of Dermatology lists among dandruff-shampoo actives.
How often
Start with once every few washes, in place of your regular cleanse or alongside it, and watch how the scalp responds. Redness, stinging or more flakes mean it is too much.
When to skip it
Don’t exfoliate a scalp that is sore, cut, very itchy or has a rash, and stop if it irritates. Persistent flaking or scaling is worth showing a dermatologist rather than scrubbing harder.
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