Dandruff

If dandruff is the only thing standing between you and a closet full of basic black, you’re not alone. Many people have this chronic scalp disorder, which is marked by itching and excessive flaking of the scalp.Although dandruff isn’t contagious and is rarely serious, it can be embarrassing and surprisingly persistent.

The good news is that dandruff can usually be controlled. Mild cases of dandruff may need nothing more than daily shampooing with a gentle cleanser. And stubborn flakes often respond to medicated shampoos.
At one time or another you may had suffered from dandruff , dandruff causes have been attributed to dry skin, oily skin, shampooing too often or not often enough, a poor diet, stress, and the use of too many fancy styling products. Although some of these factors may exacerbate or contribute to scalp flaking, the real culprit may be a fat-eating, yeast-like fungus called malassezia, formerly known as pityrosporum.

Malassezia lives on the scalps of most healthy adults without causing problems. But sometimes it grows out of control, feeding on the oils secreted by your hair follicles and causing irritation that leads to increased cell turnover. The result is a large number of dead skin cells. As the cells fall off, they tend to clump together with oil from your hair and scalp, making them appear white, flaky and all too visible.
Exactly what causes an overgrowth of these organisms isn’t known, although increased oil production; hormonal fluctuations; stress; illness; neurological disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease; a suppressed immune system; infrequent shampooing and extra sensitivity to the malassezia fungus may contribute to the development of dandruff.

What is it?

Dandruff is scaly dry skin that forms on and flakes off the scalp.

Who gets it?

Dandruff is a common condition affecting millions of people, from adolescence to adulthood. It is more common in men and more likely to occur in people with oily skin, Parkinson’s disease, and immunodeficiencies, as well as those who don’t wash their hair often and those undergoing illness, stress, or hormonal changes.

What causes it?

Researchers believe there may be a link to between dandruff and certain types of fungus found in hair follicles. The fungus is always present on a normal scalp. However, sometimes it feeds on oils in the skin and gets out of control, causing skin cells to reproduce faster than usual. These new cells push to the surface quickly and create a build up of dead skin cells, which flake off and are more noticeable than when this process takes place at a normal pace. Dandruff can be caused by a skin condition called seborrheic dermatitis.

What are the symptoms?

symptoms

How is it diagnosed?

In most cases, dandruff does not require a doctor’s diagnosis. However, if the dandruff is severe and/or the scalp is irritated, your doctor can perform a physical examination and, if necessary, order some tests to diagnose the cause of your condition.

What is the treatment?

In mild cases, you can treat the scales by shampooing daily with a mild shampoo. If this doesn’t work, you can control dandruff with a dandruff shampoo. There are a number of specific homeopathic remedies available to treat dandruff, and many of them are very effective. Use of the following remedies may provide the solution, or seek a homeopath’s advice: Arsenicum, sepia, sulfur, mezereum, fluoric ac., graphites, oleander and nartrum mur, staphisagria ,thuja.

Allopathic Physician may look for shampoos containing pyrithione zinc, salicylic acid, tar, or selenium sulfide. These either contain an anti-fungal agent or slow cell turnover. Shampoos containing ketoconazole may also be effective if the others fail. Follow the instructions on the shampoo bottle for the best results. How often you use the shampoo depends upon the severity of your condition and your doctor’s recommendations. Your doctor may order a mild steroid cream or a prescription shampoo for more severe scalp symptoms.

Self-care tips ,Lifestyle and home remedies

You can’t prevent dandruff, but you can take steps to reduce your risk:

§ Learn to manage stress. Stress affects your overall health, making you susceptible to a number of conditions and diseases. It can even help trigger dandruff or exacerbate existing symptoms.

§ Shampoo often. If you tend to have an oily scalp, daily shampooing to remove the excess oil may help prevent dandruff.

§ Cut back on styling products. Hair sprays, styling gels, mousses and hair waxes can all build up on your hair and scalp, making them oilier.

§ Eat a healthy diet. A diet that provides enough zinc, B vitamins and essential fatty acid may help prevent dandruff.

§ Get a little sun. Sunlight may be good for dandruff. But because exposure to ultraviolet light damages your skin and increases your risk of skin cancer, don’t sunbathe. Instead, just spend a little time outdoors. And be sure to wear sunscreen on your face and body.