Dealing with Dandruff

[drvolcanoe]

A common problkem in the society...DANDRUFF!!!! And it can be a horrow to some...let's explore about it.

INTRODUCTION

Dandruff is a skin disorder of the scalp that causes itching. It is characterized by loose white flakes on the scalp or trapped in the hair. This is due to accelerated cell turnover of epidermis (outer skin layer) on the scalp. The normal rate at which the epidermis is generally replaced is once per month, whereas the rate for people with dandruff is once every 10 to 15 days. The rate is faster for people with severe dandruff. (also known as ‘seborrheic dermatitis’)

People usually get dandruff upon puberty. However, it usually occurs in greater frequency and severity when one reaches their early to mid 20s. While normal dandruff usually presents itself as white flakes, severe dandruff usually include flakes that are yellow in colour along with scaly and moist patches on the scalp and sometimes in other areas – around the eyebrows, cheeks, ear and chest.

Although dandruff cannot be eliminated or cured completely, it can be managed and controlled.

There’ll be no further symptoms if dandruff is left untreated but some people might experience minor itching from time to time. Although the effects of dandruff are purely cosmetic, it can cause serious social or self-esteem problems. Fortunately, most cases of dandruff can be treated with shampoos made specifically for dandruff control.


CAUSES of DANDRUFF

•   Most skin specialists agree that it is Pityrosporum ovale (P.ovale), a yeast-like organism found on the scalp and other parts of the skin, that cause dandruff.
•   The fungus is harmless in small numbers. However, when triggered by changes in climate, hormonal or stress levels, it starts accumulating in the scalp, of which has the largest concentration of sebaceous glands.
•   These glands produce sebum, our bodies’ natural oil, which nourishes the fungus. The fungus, once grown in size & numbers, causes irritation and speeds up skin renewal, during which dead cells are cast off rapidly and clump together (the natural oils from our hair and scalp help cause it), forming small white flakes.
•   The dead skin cells are filled with chemicals that can be reabsorbed by the scalp, which may trigger inflammation, redness, and itching.

TREATING DANDRUFF

•   Shampooing regularly with a mild, non-medicated shampoo help loosen flakes. A key point to remember is to select the mildest shampoo possible.
•   Although detergent-based shampoos will clean the hair and scalp well, they often cause drying and will worsen the flaking. Rub the shampoo into your hair thoroughly, leave the lather on for a few minutes before rinsing, lather again, and re-rinse. If you manage to find an anti-dandruff shampoo that is best suited for you, it is advised to keep on using it or the problem might reoccur.
•   You may want to try anti-dandruff shampoos that contain coal tar, Pyrithione zinc, salicylic acid or selenium sulfide for more effectiveness. Stronger anti-dandruff shampoos and lotions are usually available by prescription.
•   In some people, hair sprays, gels and mousse has an effect on their dandruff – such products might contribute to the accumulation of oils on your hair and scalp.
•   Avoid using hair colour or hair styling products which dries out hair. Try not to scratch your head with your fingernails, as it may irritate the oil glands in your scalp and produce more sebum. If you have to be outside for extended perios, put on a cap to protect your scalp from the harmful rays of the sun.

•   External factors aside, poor health may also be the cause of dandruff. Make sure you get plenty of sleep, eat healthily, and avoid stress-inducing activities. You can also purchase shampoos that contain salicylic acid, selenium sulfide, sulphur, and zinc pyrithione as these ingredients have proven to be effective in treating dandruff. While there are other ingredients such as coal tar that are able to treat dandruff, they might not be the best choice for most people, as they might have unpleasant side effects.

•   For cases of isolated flaking in one or multiple areas, it is best to see a skin specialist, as it may be a skin problem other than dandruff. Dermatologists will prescribe a special ointment or lotion to teat the problem. it is generally agreed that drugstore products containing zinc Pyrithione or selenium sulfide are most effective in ridding the scalp of dandruff flakes. If the scalp show signs of redness, swelling or scabbing – accompanied by flakes, in all likelihood there could be another scalp disease involved, like psoriasis or ringworm. With any of these symptoms, it is important to see your health care provider immediately!

[drvolcanoe]

Dandruff Myths Debunked

There are many ‘myths’ regarding this dandruff condition…what are they? Read on…and do NOTE the FACTS too. Help educate those around you (family & frenz) about this, and prevent social ostracization!
1/   Myth: Dandruff is caused by poor hygiene.
Fact : Dandruff is caused by an over-abundance of the fungus called Pityrosporum ovale (P.ovale). regularly washing your hair may help control the flakes, but it does little to fight the P. ovale fungus. Having the best hygiene habits won’t stop dandruff; there are a number of uncontrollable factors that cause the condition.

2/   Myth: Stress causes dandruff
Fact : While stress can affect your body’s ability to fight the Pityrosporum ovale (P.ovale) fungus, the main cause of stress has never been proven to actually cause dandruff. (Stress lowers the body’s ability to mount up an optimal immune response)
3/    Myth: Dandruff comes from having greasy hair.
   Fact  : The problem isn’t greasy hair, but the type of grease or sebum that our skin naturally produces. Having a different chemical composition of sebum induces the growth of the P. ovale fungus, which causes dandruff.

4/    Myth: Dandruff is caused by hair sprays and styling gels.
   Fact  : Even though some cosmetics can irritate the scalp, sprays and gels alone aren’t responsible for dandruff. However, hair products can sometimes cause allergic scalp reactions. As allergic reactions usually cause more intense skin inflammation (intense itching & redness), it is easy to tell the difference.

5/    Myth: Baldness & Dandruff go hand-in-hand.
   Fact  : You often blame dandruff for your receding hairline. There is no evidence that the two have any connection at all. The two problems may occur simultaneously but researchers have yet to find any direct relation between the two.

6/    Myth: Dandruff is passed on by sharing combs, hairbrushes and pillows.
   Fact  : Dandruff is not a disease or a virus and cannot be transmitted from one person to the next. The flakes normally found on combs, hairbrushes or pillows are just dead skin cells.

(Source: Reproduced from Guardian Pharmacy’s phamplet titled Beauty Care – Dealing With Dandruff, with some alterations)

[beanq]

thanks for the info! very good post!
I have been having dandraff problem for more than 10 years. I have tried selenium sulfite shampoo and ketoconazole shampoo but they do not work for me. Instead they make the condition worse. I afraid I might be having the condition you mention "seborrhoeic dermatitis"

Thank god if dandraff won't cause hair loss as that is my major fear. Some said moist can worsen it so I dry my hair after bath. This helps to a small extent.

I notice if I do not wash away hair shampoo thoroughly each time I bath, the dandraff becomes more. I am not sure if someone has similar experience.

Anyway, thanks for the great post! I will keep looking for ways to get my condition under control. 

[Admin]

beanq, when you find your way to get your dandraff problem under control, do share with us here.

[drvolcanoe]

beanq...the shampoo must be washed off completely
good luck in combatting the problem!

[drvolcanoe]

Some revision on dandruff...

GETTING RID of DANDRUFF

Dandruff is considered to be a mysterious ailment, because even with today’s technology, no one knows the real cause of dandruff. Dandruff can occur at any age but is mostly found in people aged between 12 and 80. A form of dandruff that usually occurs in newborns and infants is known as cradle cap.

What is Dandruff?
Annoying, itchy & persistent, this scalp disorder is extremely embarrassing, especially on a dark shirt. On normal scalps, the process of shedding off old cells & replacing them with newer ones is very orderly & complete. However, sometimes, the cells leaving the scalp are not dead, resulting in dandruff.

Causes
There appears to be two (2) different known causes of dandruff – internal & external

~Internal Causes~
-   Hormonal problems
-   Poor health & hygiene
-   Allergic hypersensitivity
-   Lack of Rest
-   Emotional stress
-   Excessive consumption of sugar, fat, starch
-   Improper nutrition
-   Hereditary predisposition

~External Causes~
-   Excessive use of hair sprays & gels
-   Improper use of hair-dyes or hot hair curlers/curling irons
-   Stress & anxiety
-   Shampooing the hair infrequently or NOT completely rinsing the hair & scalp


Dandruff Treatment Shampoos
New dandruff shampoos have evolved quite a bit & are now a lot more effective. The best way to find out which brand works best is to pick a product & try it. if it works for

[amanda]

a diet rich in B vitamins, zinc, and unsaturated fats may reduce or eliminate dandruff. lack of these nutrients tend to have dry scalp.

[stathy34]

Hello

Thanks for sharing this nice information I have got lot of information from this post .
Please keep sharing more and more information ...

Thanks