Dandruff

Dandruff – General Information

Dandruff is a chronic disorder which affects the scalp. It is characterized by extreme flaking and itching of the scalp. This is a disease which affects a large number of people; on the other hand, it is neither contagious nor severe, but it can cause feeling of embarrassment and, in most of the cases, it lasts for a long period of time. The good part is the fact that Dandruff can be treated and, finally, it can disappear completely. If you detect this disorder in its early stage, the only measure you must take is to shampoo daily your hair with a mild and gentle medical cleanser. This method of treating the disease proves efficiently even in more severe cases. However, researchers are trying to find more efficient treatments.

 Dandruff can appear as a result of a lot of causes. The most common problems which lead to the appearance of this disorder are: oily skin, extreme shampooing, frequent shampooing, dry skin, not enough shampooing, stress, a poor diet or excessive usage of styling products. But, even though these problems can contribute to the appearance of the disorder or can worsen it, the real cause seems to be fat-eating fungus, named mallassezia. This fungus is found on the scalp of most of the people, who are otherwise healthy. Generally, it does not cause any problems, but in some circumstances, is starts to feed with the natural oils secreted by the follicles of hair; this can lead to an irritation and an increase of the number of dead skin cells.

Dandruff – Symptoms

Dandruff – Treatment

Dandruff is a chronic disease which in most of the cases can be controlled; the treatment, however, requires some persistence and a lot of patience from the sufferer. The most common way of treating this disorder is by using daily a gentle medical shampoo, in order to reduce the cell buildup and the general oiliness of the scalp and the hair. If the regular shampoos do not work for you, you should try a special Dandruff shampoo. There are however several types and you may have to try different ones in order to find the one which best suits you. These shampoos are classified according to the main substance they contain. The main categories are: Zinc pyrithione shampoo: this agent is an antifungal and antibacterial substance which reduces the fungus which, in the most of the cases, causes seborrheic dermatitis and finally Dandruff; Tar-based shampoo: the coal tar slows down the cell turnover and improves the general evolution of the disorder; Salicylic acid shampoo: this substance acts like a scalp scrub and they help the elimination of the dead cells but, on the other hand, they can lead to an excessive dryness. If you choose this type of shampoo, you should also use a conditioner; Selenium sulfide shampoo: this shampoo prevents the cell turnover and it can trim the number of mallassezia. Because it contains a large number of chemicals, it often discolors the hair, so make sure that you rinse well and use the shampoo as directed; ketoconazole shampoo: this is the newest type of shampoo used to treat this disorder and it proved useful when any other shampoo showed no effect at all.

No matter what type of shampoo you choose, you should use it daily until the disorder is controlled; after the general condition of Dandruff improves, you should use the shampoo only three or four times a week. In the case you notice that the type of shampoo you have chosen does not work any longer, you should use it alternatively with another one. Another important aspect you should be aware of is the fact that you must let the shampoo work for at least seven minutes. In the case you started to use a shampoo and it does not prove effective after a certain period (about a month) you should visit a dermatologist; he may prescribe you a more aggressive treatment.
In order to reduce the probability of suffering from Dandruff, there are a few important things one should remember:

• Reduce the stress: this is important, as the stress is an important factor which lead to the appearance of a big number of problems; it can also determine the appearance of this disease or it can exacerbate it.
• Shampoo your hair often: in the case you suffer from an oily scalp, try to shampoo every day, in order to prevent the appearance of this disorder.
• Eat healthy food: you should choose a diet reach in B vitamins, zinc and fat acids.
• Reduce the number of hair styling products: cut back on the mousses, gels or hair sprays you usually use.