What is Dandruff?
Before understanding that how to treat dandruff, it is important to understand that what is dandruff? Dandruff is a scalp condition that causes the skin on the scalp to flake. It is not serious and contagious. However, it can be difficult to treat which may lead to hair fall and scalp infection and itchiness. It is is the dry white flakes of scalp, that you see on your hair, collar and on your t-shirts. Dandruff is not about the hair, rather it is about the skin condition of the scalp. The skin cells that grows and dies too fast is the main cause of dandruff. Though the experts are not clear about the reason that why it is so common.
Malassezia is the name of that fungus which contribute to dandruff. It is naturally found on the skin surface of many animals and human mainly on the scalp of most of the adults. Stress, hypertension, depression, sickness, cold weather conditions, dry winters can trigger the dandruff.
Even as of date, it is not clear and a question which is debatable that the dandruff has to be treated as a disease or disorder. The real cause for dandruff from the normal psychological spectrum of scaling is yet to be researched and worked upon.
Some people may also have Seborrheic dermatitis along with dandruff on the other part of the body like ears, face or the chest. The spectrum of dandruff is difficult to understand as it is blurred with seborrheic dermatitis. Seborrheic is is an excessive discharge of sebum from the sebaceous glands which causes scaly patches and red skin on the scalp. In this article we will further discuss that how to treat dandruff?
Symptoms of Dandruff
The signs and symptoms of dandruff may include the followings:
- White flakes of skin on your hair, scalp, shoulder and clothes.
- Dandruff causes the itchiness on the scalp.
- The skin of the scalp becomes crusty, red.
Causes of Dandruff
The causes of dandruff may differ from person to person and the real cause is is is not known, but it it is likely to be a combination of the following:
- Excess of skin oil in the oil glands and hair follicles
- A fungus which is known as Malassezia
- Lipid levels
- Stress
- Hypertension
- Sickness
- Weather conditions like cold weather and dry winters
- Hair cosmetics which make the scalp excessively dry
How to Diagnose Dandruff?
Dandruff is easily diagnosed based on the symptoms above mentioned like itchy scalp, redness, skin flakes and excessive hair fall. The severity of dandruff ranges from low-to-high. The dance of with low severity can be treated easily. However, you may need to consult a doctor for high severity dandruff.
Risk Factors Involved in Dandruff
Dandruff is a very common scalp infection that can be caused to almost anyone, but certain factors can make you more susceptible:
- Dandruff is usually seen in young generation and adults. But it is difficult to generalize that the older adults does not face dandruff. For few people, it can be a lifelong problem.
- It is more prominent in in males.
- People suffering from immune deficiency or diseases like HIV are more prominent to dandruff.
When to Consult a Doctor?
Though most of the people do not required to visit a doctor and can be cured with the help of shampoo. If your condition doesn’t improve with shampoo and the scalp turns red and swollen please consult a Doctor Who is specialised in skin infection (dermatologist). The doctor may prescribe shampoo with high anti dandruff chemicals or may prescribe topical steroids.
How to Treat Dandruff?
Experts believe that, dandruff with low severity can be treated with the help of anti dandruff shampoo. It is advisable to check the label on the shampoo for below mentioned active ingredients:
- Selenium sulfide 1% shampoo (Like- Selsun Blu)
- Zinc pyrithione shampoo (Like- Dandrene)
- Shampoo based on Tar (Like- PsoriaTrax coal tar shampoo)
- ketoconazole shampoo (Like- Nizroal)
ABO Blood Groups and Dandruff
There has many another interesting researches linked with the role of ABO blood group as a carriage of dandruff. The study reveals that the ABO blood group does not play any role in in carrying the dandruff. Though, the role of ABO blood group is well established and other fungal skin diseases.
Does Dandruff Accelerates the Hairfall?
The relationship of dandruff with hair fall is well established and may accelerates the hairfall as it precede telogen effuvium. In easy words, people affected with dandruff are more prone to hairfall.