Monday, February 28, 2011

Dandruff

Dandruff (also called scurf and historicaly termed Pityriasis capitis ) is due to the excessive shedding of dead skin cells from the scalp. The skin of the scalp has many layers. The skin cells on the scalp are constantly renewing and the old cells get pushed to the surface by the new ones. If you have dandruff, the process of skin renewal (or skin turnover) speeds up to twice the normal rate, so a greater number of dead cells are shed. Some people, however, either chronically or as a result of certain triggers , experience an unusually large amount of flaking, which can also be accompanied by redness and irritation.

Most cases of dandruff can be easily treated with specialized shampoos. Excessive flaking can also be a symptom of seborrhoeic dermatitis , psoriasis , fungal infection or excoriation associated with infestation of head lice. The scalp becomes scaly and the skin cells shed and collect in clumps. They are noticeable when brushing the hair and can gather on the shoulders. The condition mostly occurs after puberty, usually between the ages of 20 and 30 and affects males more than females.  Dandruff responds very well to treatment, but will commonly recur if treatment is stopped.

Dandruff is the common term used for white skin flakes shedding from the scalp, or in some cases, other hair-covered skin. Seborrhea can present as a variety of conditions such as dandruff, thick scales on the scalp, redness on the face or in the armpits, or raw, red patches below the breasts. In other cases the skin may seem oily or even oily and dry at the same time. Skin is naturally shed from the scalp, but in dandruff sufferers it becomes noticable on the shoulders and causes an itchy scalp. Seborrhoeic dermatitis is the technical term for this common condition.

Dandruff is usually due to the overworking of the sebaceous glands. These glands produce oil and help shed dead skin. In the case of a dandruff sufferer, the sebaceous glands are overactive, shedding more skin than usual. Some people say their dandruff gets worse when they are stress, anxiety and tension.
The best way to control dandruff is to use a shampoo that contains a medication, such as selenium sulfide (Selsun Blue), zinc pyrithione (Head & Shoulders, ZNP), or Nizoral AD. For best results, buy 2 or 3 and alternate them. Since dandruff is a natural process, it cannot be eliminated; it can only be controlled. When scaling of the scalp is accompanied by redness, or when the redness and flaking spreads to cause greasy scaling on the face, eyebrows or sides of the nose, one may have seborrheic dermatitis . Severe dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis are really related conditions and can often be controlled by prescription medications

Causes of Dandruff

The common Causes of Dandruff :
  • Heredity predisposition .
  • Emotional stress.
  • Poor Hygiene.
  • Lack of rest .
  • Hormonal Imbalance.
  • Allergic hypersensitivity.
  • Excessive use of hair sprays and gels.
  • Cold weather and dry indoor heating .
  • Stress and anxiety.

Symptoms of Dandruff

Some Symptoms of Dandruff :
  • Itching.
  • Scalp may turn red resulting from scratching.
  • Skin lesions.
  • Hair Loss.
  • Redness
  • Skin Scales.
  • Plaque.

Treatment of Dandruff

  • Scalp treatment (ozone treatment).
  • Hot oil therapy.
  • Henna treatment .
  • Herbal shampoo.
  • Use of antiseptic lotion.
  • Dandruff shampoo containing active ingredient Zinc pyrithione.
  • Anti-dandruff shampoo containing active ingredient Selenium sulfide.

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