Dandruff

What is Dandruff?

Dandruff is an itchy, annoying and persistent skin disorder of the scalp. It is a mysterious ailment. Mysterious, in that there is no commonly agreed upon theory about what actually causes the condition.

Dandruff can happen at any age but is most commonly found in people between the ages of 12 and 80. (A form of dandruff known as cradle cap occurs in newborns and infants).

Dandruff is a bothersome problem sometimes thought to be associated with inefficient hair care. Dandruff occurs when the scalp sheds dead epidermal (skin) cells in large clumps. Dandruff scales appear dry, white or grayish, appearing as small, unsightly patches, especially on top of the head.

What are the causes of Dandruff?

Some of the causes of Dandruff are-

• Excessive use of hairsprays and gels.
• Improper use of hair-coloring products or excessive use of electric hair curlers
• Cold weather and dry indoor heating.
• Tight fitting hats and scarves.
• Infrequent shampooing of the hair or inadequate rinsing.
• Stress, anxiety and tension.

What are the symptoms of Dandruff?

For many, one of the worst symptoms of dandruff is intense itching. This is thought to be caused by increased levels of malassezia furfur which, in turn, leads to inflammation and itch on the scalp

The most obvious sign of dandruff, and perhaps the most embarrassing, is flaking. It’s a key signal that the skin cells on your scalp are shedding and being replaced at an accelerated rate. You can spot the white translucent flakes, in various shapes and sizes, on your scalp, in your hair, on your shoulders and especially over your favourite black sweater.

Another sign occurs in more severe cases of dandruff commonly known as seborrhea. In this case, redness is a visible signal of inflammation of the scalp. While the inflammation and redness is generally found on the scalp, it can also appear in the area around the eyebrows, cheeks, behind the ears or on the chest.

What treatment can be done for Dandruff?

Treatment that can be done for Dandruff is-

• Scalp treatment (ozone treatment).

• Herbal shampoo.

• Hot oil therapy.

• Use of antiseptic lotion.

• Henna treatment .

Waxy type dandruff is mixed with sebum which makes the scalp itchy. If the scales are torn off, bleeding or oozing may occur.

Other thing that we can do is to keep our scalp clean.