| Dandruff FAQ's |
| Karen Marie Shelton |
| Date: 4/1/2002 |
Introduction
Dandruff is a mysterious topic. Mysterious from the viewpoint that
there is no commonly agreed upon theories about what actually causes the condition.
There is also no known published cure.
Even though there are estimates that as much as 97% of the population of
the United States will at some point in their lives have a form of dandruff, there is
still a lack of total agreement about many elements of the condition.
Dandruff can happen at any age but is most commonly found in people
between the ages of 12 and above.
A form of dandruff known as cradle cap occurs in newborns and infants.
General Description of Dandruff
Dandruff (or dry flaky scalp) is an itchy, annoying and persistent skin
disorder of the scalp. A dark suit and dandruff simply don't go together!
There is nothing more embarrassing than to have someone brush white
scaly flakes off your beautiful black dress or navy blue jacket.
Based on ongoing research, it has been noted that in the past ten years
dandruff problems in the United States have become more serious and more frequent.
Dry or Greasy Dandruff
Dandruff can cause either an overly dry scalp with itchy white flakes
that may be waxy or greasy or dandruff can manifest as an oily greasy scalp with scales.
What Is Dandruff?
A person's entire body surface continuously sheds dead skin cells. The skin itself
sheds every twenty-four days.
Dandruff, the shedding of dead skin cells from the scalp at an excessive rate, is the
result of the normal growing process of the skin cells of the scalp.
Excessive Sloughing Of Old Cells
In a normal scalp, the process of sloughing off old cells and
manufacturing of their replacements is very orderly and complete. In the dandruff
scalp, there is mass disorder and often the departing cells are not dead before leaving
the scalp.
Why there should be a speedup in the scalp's cell production is still a
debated mystery.
There appear to be two different causes of dandruff. Internal and
external.
Internal Causes
Among the myriad of internal causes suspected are:
- hormonal imbalance
- poor health
- excessive perspiration
- poor hygiene
- allergic hypersensitive
- lack of rest
- emotional stress
- excessive consumption of sugar, fat, starch
- improper nutrition
- heredity pre-disposition
There is still no other published cure for the skin disorders that can
cause dandruff so most of the 50 million people in the United States who have it find they
get it again and again.
External Causes
The following factors may make the flaking of dandruff worse and considered to be
external causes for the problem:
- 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.
Dandruff & The Fungus Theory
Contrary to popular theory, although bacteria may aggravate a dandruff
condition, germs do not cause the initial problem. The precise cause of dandruff is
unknown.
Most medical authorities consider dandruff, even the mildest forms, to
be a type of scalp or skin related disease.
Clinically, one description of dandruff is seborrhea capitos
or excessive sebum production of the scalp.
Today most skin specialists agree that dandruff is associated with a
tiny fungus called Pityrosporum ovale, P. ovale for short.
This fungus lives on our bodies and scalp all the time, usually without
causing a problem. Unfortunately, for some people, it can increase in numbers,
leading to dandruff.
Additional Causes of Dandruff
Dandruff is seasonal. It is most severe during the winter and mildest during the
summer. The most common symptom of dandruff is scaling with occasional itching.
Dandruff scales usually occur as small, round, white-to-gray patches on top of the
head. Scaling can occur anywhere on the scalp, in the hair, on the eyebrows, the
beard and can spread to the neck and shoulders.
Dandruff is often known as "dry scalp", but people with oily
scalps tend to suffer most. An oily scalp also supports the growth of P. ovale.
Dandruff & Baldness
As always, myths and rumors pervade any type of hair or scalp condition.
For many years the common belief was held that untreated dandruff would eventually
lead or contribute to baldness.
Current thinking does not support these original beliefs. Many
people, both men and women, live under the fear that dandruff may lead to baldness.
Although these conditions may occur at the same time, there is absolutely no known or
documented evidence that baldness is related to dandruff.
Traditional Treatments For Dandruff
The most common dandruff treatments are shampoos containing:
- coal-tar
- pyrithione zinc
- salicylic acid
- selenium sulfide
- sulfur
Daily shampooing with thorough rinsing has been the treatment
recommended until the present.
Since dandruff is a natural process, it can not be eliminated. It can only be
managed and controlled.
Traditional Dandruff Shampoos
In the very beginning of the development of products for dandruff there
were very few retail products available.
One of the best known was Head & Shoulders. Early products
also included Enden, Banish, Fostex, Rinse Away and Double Danderine.
The current offerings have changed quite a bit and have become a lot
more sophisticated. I can not personally offer a recommendation on the best product
since I have luckily been spared the dandruff curse.
The best approach is to pick a product and try it. If the product
works and is successful at controlling your dandruff, continue to use it. It is
important to remember that there is no known "official" cure for dandruff.
Once you have the problem the best that you can hope for is management and control.
If utilization of a retail dandruff product is used it should be
remembered that this product will need to be continued indefinitely. Once the
dandruff shampoo or dandruff products are discontinued, the dandruff will return.
Thorough cleansing of the scalp and the hair will keep dandruff flakes
out of sight for up to three days. it takes the scalp up to three days before it can
generate a new batch of snowy flakes.
A key point to remember is to select the mildest shampoo possible.
Although detergent based shampoos will clean the hair and scalp well, they often
cause drying will will make the flaking worse.
Some Retail Dandruff Shampoo Choices
Listed below are some of the current retail dandruff brands:
- Brylcreem
- Genderm
- Glover's
- Good Sense
- Head & Shoulders
- Pantene Pro-V Dandruff Formula
- Pentrax
- Pert Plus
- Polytar
- Scalpicin
- Sebulux
- Selsun Blue
- Suave
- Tegrin
- Zicon
- ZNP
- Neutrogena
To get a detailed list with more information check out the dandruff
products at: Drugstore.com.
Nizoral Shampoo
Nizoralis the only
shampoo containing a patented active ingredient known as ketoconazole (discovered
by Dr. Paul Janssen in Beerse, Belgium).
This ingredient is medically proven to be effective against P. ovale and acts directly
to inhibit growth of the fungus.
Most other anti-dandruff shampoos work by normalising the pH of the scalp. Nizoral is the most
well-studied anti-dandruff shampoo available today. There is over a decade of clinical
experience with Nizoral.
This product is the number one choice of doctors and pharmacists, who have recommended
an anti-dandruff shampoo to millions of dandruff sufferers all over the world.
Nizoral shampoo
is also unique in that it's effect is long-lasting. Even after rinsing, Nizoral carries on
working for several days. This means that you don't need to use Nizoral every day making
it extremely cost-effective.
As dandruff is not always limited strictly to the scalp, Nizoral is also available as a
cream which is especially useful for treating dry, flaky skin and seborrhoeic dermatitis
around the eyebrows, in the beard, and in the folds around the nose.
Treatment In Severe Cases
In severe cases dermatologists will
prescribe a special ointment or lotion that will contain sulfur, salicylic acid,
resorcinol, tar, selenium sulfide and cadmium sulfide. The concentration and
frequency of use is dependent upon the severity of the case for which it is prescribed.
It is generally agreed that
drugstore products which contain zinc pyritheone or selenium sulfide are the most
effective in ridding the scalp of dandruff flakes.
If a scalp shows signs of redness,
swelling, scabbing, or goeeyness - accompanied by flakes, in all likelihood there could be
another scalp disease involved like psoriasis or ringworm.
With any of these symptoms it is
important to see a physician immediately.
Diet
According to the Encyclopedia of Natural Healing by
Siegfried Gursche, nutrition can play a big part in controlling dandruff.
To counteract the inefficient
carbohydrates and fatty-acid metabloization which can cause dandruff, include plenty of B
vitamins in your diet.
Nutritional yeast and raw wheat germ
are two excellent sources of B vitamins, particularly vitamin B6 which plays an important
role in controlling dandruff.
Eggs and cabbage also provide
vitamin B6 in addition to supplying sulfur which is nature's beauty mineral for the scalp.
Sometimes an allergy to daily
products may cause dandruff in which case alternative food sources of vitamin B6 are
preferred. Other common allergens which provoke dandruff are chocolate, nuts and
shellfish.
Refined carbohydrates in white flour
or sugar can cause dandruff and should be avoided as much as possible because they deplete
the body of B vitamins. Saturated animal fats and trans-fatty acids found in
margarine or shortening clog the arteries and interfere with the metabolization of the
essential fatty acids. The good fats, found in nuts and flax seed benefit the body
and promote healthy scalps.
Nutritional Supplements
Supplementing the essential fatty
acids is more important since these are usually lacking. Evening primrose oil is a
good source of gamma linolenic acid (GLA), easily absorbed by the body.
B6 deficiencies also cause dandruff.
To prevent imbalances, the entire B complex should be included. In addition,
vitamins A and E are important for skin health.
Silica is also recommended for
improving scalp health. It is available in capsules from a vegetable source and in a
liquid gel form.
Daily Dosages
Most Important:
- Evening primrose oil, two 500 mg
capsules three times daily
- Vitamin B complex, 50 mg twice daily
with meals
- Vitamin B6 or Pyridoxal-5-Phosphate,
50 mg twice daily
Helpful
- Vitamin A, 10,000 IU (not during
pregnancy)
- Vitamin E, with mixed tocopherols,
400 IU
- Silica, 1,000 mg, two 500 mg capsules
daily
Some Natural or Alternative Dandruff Shampoo Choices
Listed below are some of the current health food store brands of
dandruff shampoo products:
- Nature's Gate Tea Tree
- Nature's Gate Aloe
- Calaguala Fern & Cade Tar Scalp Treatment Shampoo (Aubrey Organics)
- Selenium Blue Shampoo (Aubrey Organics)
- Cedarwood Oil (Karooch Essential Oils)
- Eucalyptus Oil (Karooch Essential Oils)
- Rosemary Oil (Karooch Essential Oils)
- Big Sky Tea Tree Shampoo/conditioner (Prairie Naturals)
- Moonshine Recovery Emollient (Prairie Naturals)
- White Lightening Scalp Tonic (Prarie Naturals)
Alternative Treatments
Apple cider vinegar used as the
final hair rinse after a shampoo has proven very effective in balancing the pH levels of
the scalp and controlling dandruff.
Do a rinse that is 1 part of apple
cider vinegar to 3 parts of warm water. Apply cider vinegar can also be applied
directly (undiluted) to the scalp. After the vinegar has had a chance to soak into
the scalp, shampoo with a very mild shampoo.
Garlic and oil of oregano are also
excellent for fighting dandruff. You can take it internally or externally depending
on what seems to work best for your situation.
Improving Circulation
Alternating hot and cold water on
the head increases circulation to the scalp. Yoga headstands will also help with
circulation. Exercising out in the fresh air will also help with circulation to the
scalp.
Brush your scalp carefully to loosen
scales before shampooing. If you wash your hair daily use small amounts of baby
shampoo. Harsh shampoos will just cause the sebaceous gland to overcompensate by
producing more oil than necessary.
Deep breathing adds oxygen to the
body which will help kill the fungus and overall help circulation.
Sulfur Products Are
Beneficial
Onions are high in sulfur. Cut
a fresh onion in half and rub it on the scalp.Wash your hair once a week with a sulfur
based soap.
Avoid hair products that contain
alcohol which dries out the scalp. Also avoid hair dryers which will also dry the
scalp and add to the problem.
Tea Tree Oil & Aloe
Both tea tree oil and aloe is
beneficial in combating dandruff. You can apply the aloe directly from a leaf of the
plant and massage it into the scalp. Be sure to apply a good conditioner after
shampooing since aloe may be drying.
Tea tree oil can be applied directly
to the scalp or added to shampoo.
Alternative Physicians
Dandruff has been proved to respond
to homeopathic treatments, acupuncture and acupressure and special massage. Cell
salts and flower essences also have added benefit.
Before undertaking treatments that
involve serious herbs, cell salts or homeopathy, consult the appropriate alternative
health care provider.
Summary
Dandruff can affect many different
people in every age group. There is still controversy over whether dandruff is
caused by fungus or by excessive sebum production of the scalp.
Dandruff can manifest as either very dry and flaky scalp or very oily
scalp with flakes.
There are many different retail shampoos that are designed to combat
dandruff including the old standby, Head & Shoulders. This article also lists
several "natural" brands that can only be purchased at the health food stores.
There are many types of treatments that can be used to manage and
control dandruff. Nutritional supplements, vitamins and herbs offers some new
options along with traditional chemically based anti-dandruff shampoos and ointments.
Whatever type of solution you select, take your time and understand that
every treatment works differently for every situation.
The Hair Boutique makes no recommendations on the best products or
treatments and recommends that a doctor or health care practitioner be consulted before
undertaking any treatments that could have a medical impact.
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