DANDRUFF
Dandruff -- it’s estimated that about 18% -- or 50 Million people in the United States suffer from symptoms related to itchy or dry scalp. Nice to know you’re not alone in your battle with those darn white flakes all over your shoulders – huh? As someone who numbers in that 50 million statistic – I can attest to the difficulty in trying to find the right mix of shampoos, conditioners and other OTC treatments to control my dry scalp problem. For me --- it was especially troublesome because I have something more severe than just “run of the mill” dandruff. I have a chronic case of seborrheic dermatitis that happened to manifest itself on my scalp at a very young age, and later moved on to other parts of my body (face). It’s not uncommon to confuse these two conditions, both of which can cause itchy, dry scalp. However, if you find an occasional small “scab” on your head (your hairdresser may be the first to notice), along with redness and itching, then you probably have seborrheic dermatitis and may require an OTC or prescription strength medicated shampoo to combat the problem. Visit our page dealing with seborrheic dermatitis to learn more about this particular skin condition. And ask your dermatologist to confirm your condition.
DANDRUFF CAUSES
So . . . for those of us who have dandruff, we’re pretty aware of the telltale signs or symptoms. A dry, itchy scalp – and lots of white flakes on our shoulders. But what causes this extra amount of dead skin shedding? Folks with this condition can experience unwanted cell turn-over rates that are 4 – 15 times that of the normal rate (2 – 7 days compared to about 30 days). The most widely held belief behind the reason for this condition relates to the presence and amount of a fungus (Malassezia globosa) that metabolizes triglycerides present in the sebum (skin oil). A byproduct called “oleic acid” is created that penetrates the top layer of the epidermis that can then result in an inflammatory response. Other factors that can affect the likelihood of developing dandruff include:
DANDRUFF TREATMENT For many people, regular shampooing will keep mild cases of dry scalp under control. However, if regular shampooing it not solving the problem – than stronger measures are needed. Most treatment options revolve around a topical solution applied directly to the scalp. These usually take the form of a shampoo, but can be formulated as products that are applied to the scalp after shampooing. There are several different ways to attack a dandruff problem, and it may take some experimentation or a combination of OTC products to get things under control. Available options include products with one or more of the following active ingredients:
Zinc Pyrithione (i.e. Head and Shoulders) is an antibacterial/antifungal agent that works to reduce the amount of malassezia present on the scalp. Personally, I have found this treatment to be one of the most effective for seborrheic dermatitis. Coal Tar (i.e. Tegrin) helps to slow the rate at which cells on your scalp die and flake off. Salicylic Acid (i.e. Neutrogena) works by helping to remove dead skin cells from the scalp, so that most come off during shampooing and not later on when you’re wearing that black shirt or sweater. Selenium Sulfide (i.e. Selsun Blue) can help by acting as an antifungal agent and also work to slow down the rate of skin cell shedding. There is another prescription based antifungal agent available if you don’t find much success with either Zinc Pyrithione or Selenium Sulfide. Ketoconazole (i.e. Nizoral) has been found to be more effective than other OTC antifungal agents used to control scalp flaking. However, this treatment is only available as a prescription, so you’ll need to see your doctor before you can try this one out. Return from Dandruff to Skin Rash Page
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