With the weather turning colder, it's a good reminder to take care of your skin. All of your skin—including your scalp. Because dry, irritated skin on your scalp leads to itching and flaking. Stress and a lack of sleep can (how are you doing on those lately?) also tend to kick dandruff into high gear. According to the National Institutes of Health, more than 50 million Americans deal with dandruff year-round, but it's made worse by air pollution and extreme weather.

“People often think that they have 'a dry scalp,' when in fact it's dandruff,” says Dr. Angela Lamb, a dermatologist at Mount Sinai Hospital. “At the first sign of dandruff, do not be in denial.” The flaking skin is actually your scalp's overreaction to yeast or fungus that occurs naturally on the body. Which means it's not something that can be fixed by drinking more water or using extra conditioner.

The good news is that after using the right daily anti-dandruff shampoo, your symptoms and suffering and embarrassing flakes ruining your outfits will be a thing of the past. Most of the time, you can completely clear it up in a week or two and then you simply have to maintain it by using the shampoo once a week. Here are the best ways to get your balance under control and stop the skin from drying and flaking off.