What causes dandruff?
It's probably caused by a fungus. Hair follicles and oil
glands make an oil called sebum, which may be a breeding ground for yeast or
the fungus. This fungus usually lives on your skin, but too much fungus may lead
to dandruff. Dandruff is very common. People with dandruff and
dandruff-like symptoms might lose hair, especially if the dandruff is severe.
Dandruff tends to be worse during dry months. Cold, dry winter weather in
particular can make dandruff worse. Stress or fatigue can trigger or aggravate
it, too.
The Root Cause of dandruff
Dandruff may occur due to climate
change, sweating, or even hormonal imbalance in the body. It can also occur due
to a fungal infection known as "Malassezia Furfur." Sometimes, you
may also develop dandruff if you don't maintain scalp hygiene. The other reason
behind dandruff could be Inflammatory conditions like seborrheic dermatitis or
scalp psoriasis.
What causes dandruff
flare-ups?
There’s only one cause of dandruff, but it has been shown that it
can appear worse at sometimes compared to others.
That’s because there are a number of different factors which can
exacerbate a problem or make it seem worse. These include:
- Heat
- Sweat
- Pollution
These don’t cause the problem, but can make it seem worse at
certain times of the year or when doing particular activities like sports.
What Is Dandruff?
Dandruff is the result of when excessive dead skin
cells get accumulated in the scalp. Dead skin cell accumulation on the
scalp is a natural physiological process and part of every person's hair cycle.
However, excessive accumulation of dead
skin scales causes the scalp to get itchy and flaky. Those flakes and itchiness associated
with it are what is referred to as dandruff.
Dandruff Can Show Up in Other Places
You can get dandruff on parts of your body other than
your scalp, like your forehead, eyebrows, eyelashes, or ears. Flaky skin on
your chest -- or anywhere you have body hair -- could be a sign of dandruff,
which is a mild form of seborrheic dermatitis. If the skin on your body is oily
or greasy or has a slight redness, that could also be a sign. Talk to your
doctor about treatment.
"Getting
rid of dandruff is not a one-time activity. You have to do the right things to
keep things cool on top of your head, and inside it, too!"
Nutritional Requirements
Hair is made primarily of special amino acids,
otherwise known as proteins. We suggest eating a portion of high-protein food
(eggs, milk, fish, cheese, nuts, seeds, pulses) with breakfast and lunch to
provide your hair with the best daily nutrients for growth.
Treatment:
Type
of shampoo: Frequent
washing with a regular shampoo is the most important treatment for dandruff.
Use a regular shampoo to remove the scales as quickly as they form. In
addition, the detergents in the shampoo will cause smaller, less visible flakes
to shed. Some people mistakenly think that dandruff is caused by a dry scalp
that will improve by shampooing infrequently or by applying oily substances to
the scalp. This will actually aggravate the condition by preventing the
shedding of cells.
If frequent washing with a regular shampoo does not
control dandruff, try a dandruff shampoo. Choose products with effective
ingredients (check labels):
- Very effective: Nizoral 1% (active
ingredient: ketoconazole) is an antifungal shampoo that helps reduce the
number of yeast micro-organisms present on the scalp
- Moderately effective: salicylic acid
and sulphur (selenium sulphide).
Dermatologists recommend alternating a regular
shampoo with an antifungal shampoo when dandruff appears. Dandruff shampoos may
need to be used routinely to control dandruff. As symptoms improve, you may use
dandruff shampoos less frequently.
Hair
washing method is important in treating dandruff. Lather the hair twice and on the second
lather, leave the shampoo on the hair for five minutes (or as directed on the
shampoo label) before rinsing to give the medicine time to work properly.
The frequency of shampooing necessary to control
dandruff varies from person to person. Some need to shampoo twice a week,
others more frequently, even daily.
Many people forget that the scalp as well as the hair
needs to be shampooed. Massaging the scalp to promote circulation may be
beneficial, but scrubbing the scalp may be harmful.
Prevention
Here are some tips to prevent dandruff and dry
scalp:
If you have dandruff, wash your hair often with
an antidandruff shampoo. Make sure to rinse out all the shampoo.
Avoid using hair products that contain harsh
chemicals, like bleach and alcohol. These ingredients can dry out your scalp.
Also avoid oily hair products that can build up on your scalp. Maintenance
therapy is also required to prevent relapses.
Spend a few minutes out in the sun every day.
There’s some evidence that ultraviolet light exposure can help control
dandruff.
Manage your stress with meditation, yoga, deep
breathing, and other relaxation techniques.
Scalp health for better hair
'Scalp
health' is the beauty buzzword du jour for
good reason; the length, luster and health of your hair depends on the skin
that covers your head.
With
stress and pollution levels consistently creeping up and up, it's hardly
surprising we've all got scalp issues on our mind. It is essential that the
follicle and the scalp, at point of exit, are clean, clear, healthy and
maintained; follicles that are full of sebum or blocked by dead skin, dandruff
or infection will have an impact on the quality of hair growth. In fact,
permanently blocked or obstructed follicles may eventually cease to produce
hair at all.
Seek medical help if:
- Itching associated with dandruff
increases
- Using a dandruff shampoo fails to
control the problem adequately
- Inflammation (redness, swelling, severe
scaling) occurs on the scalp or other parts of the body.
