Do you have dandruff? If you do, you aren’t alone. Almost everyone has dandruff of one form or another. For the most part dandruff is just dry skin on the scalp. Dandruff is caused by yeast that grows on the scalp known as malassezia. At one time this same organism was known as pityrosporum. Most of us have malassezia living on our scalps, and it doesn’t present a problem for us, but the organism loves to feed on the oils that are secreted on the scalp through the hair follicles. As the organisms feed they produce a lot of dead skin cells that end up flaking off onto our beautiful black clothing. Don’t you hate it?
There are many shampoos on the market that help to control dandruff. For some people who have only mild dandruff, they can shampoo every day to control the problem. For others who have a more persistent problem with dandruff, Head & shoulders, Selsun Blue are zinc based shampoos that help reduce the fungus. The shampoo Neutrogena T/Gel is a tar based shampoo made of coal. This shampoo is also effective in treating seborrhea, psoriasis, as well as common dandruff.
The signs and symptoms of dandruff are white flakes of dead skin that fall onto your clothing. Dandruff can leave your scalp itchy. It is important not to scratch the scalp, even though it is itching, because you may break the skin causing infection. The itching can drive you crazy, and without meaning to it would be very easy to injure the scalp with your nails. I have done it many times, and the scratching makes it itch worse.
It isn’t exactly known what causes the fungus to grow out of control. It is normal flora to the scalp, but some people develop sensitivities to the organism for one reason or another. It is thought that stress, illness, a suppressed immune system, and neurological disorders can be attributed to the over production of malassezia fungus.
Anyone at any age can develop dandruff. It is thought that male hormones have something to do with the production of dandruff, because studies have shown that more men get dandruff than women. If you have an oily scalp you are at risk of having dandruff because the malassezia fungi eat the oils on your scalp.
Dandruff is chronic, but it can be controlled. If the shampoos mentioned above are not effective there are prescription shampoos that you can use. If your dandruff is stubborn, you might want to rotate shampoos. Maybe use one shampoo one day and in a few days use another. Be sure to leave the shampoo on for a few minutes so that the medication in the shampoo can do its job. Leave it in for about 5 minutes, at least. You should see a reduction in your flaking within a few weeks. If you still have a problem after several weeks, you might want to talk to your dermatologist. You might need to use a prescription lotion that contains a steroid medication to get rid of it.
Stop stressing! There is no way to prevent dandruff, but you can treat it so that the flaking subsides. If you have an oily scalp, you might want to shampoo a little more frequently. A good way to know if your hair needs to shampoo is if the strands start to separate, or the hair does not look fresh. Learn to handle your stress. Stress can trigger dandruff, so learning coping skills may help you. Things like hairspray and styling gels can build up on your scalp to make it even oilier. You don’t need that, so cut down on them. Also, use a good sunscreen on your skin and get out into the sun. Sunlight seems to be good for dandruff. Enjoy your days and take care of yourself.
Source: Mayo Clinic information page
