Important Facts That You Should Know About Dandruff

Essentially, dandruff develops when microscopic fragments of dry skin shed from the scalp. These flakes could be visible in your hair or on your shoulders. Additionally, dandruff may irritate your scalp. It’s a typical issue, but it’s not as straightforward as it sounds. Due to its overlap with seborrheic dermatitis, a chronic type of eczema, and other skin disorders that result in a scaly scalp, dandruff may be difficult to distinguish from. What you should know is as follows.

Dandruff Symptoms and Signs

The most obvious sign that someone may have dandruff are the characteristic white areas on the scalp made up of dead skin flakes that fall out in your hair. The book lists other symptoms as:

• The scalp may sometimes itch
• Scales on the scalp that are oily or dry
• (In extreme situations) Yellowish to reddish scaly raised pimples along the hairline

Causes and Dandruff Risk Factors

Many things may cause dandruff to appear.

Seborrheic dermatitis (SD)

According to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology, you may have a mild form of seborrheic dermatitis (SD) if you have extremely terrible dandruff. According to the National Eczema Association, SD is a chronic type of eczema that mostly affects body parts that produce the most sebum, or oil.

Dandruff is often more common among those with oily skin. The cause is a yeast called Malassezia globosa, which feeds on scalp oils. Some people’s bodies view this oil breakdown as an irritant, which causes the scalp to react by speeding up the rate at which skin cells renew, resulting in dandruff. It takes a whole month for new skin cells on the scalp to develop, die, and shed in those without dandruff. On the other hand, dandruff sufferers experience this process in only two to seven days, according to a study published in the Journal of Medical Chemistry.

Although M. globosa has long been considered to be the primary risk factor for dandruff, a causal association has not yet been conclusively shown, according to a paper published in the journal Experimental Dermatology in July 2019.

Contact Dermatitis

A rash that is itchy and potentially painful is the consequence of contact dermatitis, which is an irritation of the skin brought on by an allergen or an irritant. And in the case of dandruff, the scalp exhibits that response. The American Academy of Dermatology Association claims that hair care products or dyes are often to blame for this.

Arid skin 

Dandruff may be brought on by dry skin if the chilly winter air dries out your whole body, including your scalp. The flakes produced by dry skin are often smaller and less oily than those produced by SD. (In addition, according to the Cleveland Clinic, cold and dry regions may make SD worse.)

Anyone may get dandruff, however the following variables may increase your risk.

• Habits with shampoo. Infrequent bathing might make dandruff worse in those who are already at risk. Long pauses may cause an accumulation of oil that may result in dandruff.
• According to a paper published in the Journal of Clinical and Investigative Dermatology, age-related dandruff often starts during puberty and peaks around age 20, decreasing much less common in those over 50.
• Sex. Testosterone is an example of an androgen hormone that stimulates sebaceous gland activity. A higher probability of an inflammatory response and dandruff results from more oil. Dandruff affects males more commonly than it does women.
• Compromised immune system. SD is more common among those who have had organ transplants, as well as in those who have AIDS, hepatitis C, or alcoholic pancreatitis. For instance, between 30 and 83 percent of HIV-positive people experience SD.
• Psychiatric and neurological disorders. A person’s risk of SD is increased by a number of illnesses, including dandruff, including Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, traumatic brain injury, and spinal cord injury. According to the American Parkinson’s Disease Association, people with Parkinson’s disease, for instance, have a compromised autonomic nerve system that aids in controlling processes like oil gland secretions, which may result in an overproduction that causes dandruff.
• History of prior skin conditions. Acne, psoriasis, eczema, and rosacea may cause or aggravate seborrheic dermatitis.
• Greasy skin. You are more likely to develop seborrheic dermatitis if you have naturally oily skin.
• Applying scalp oil. Some oils applied to the scalp may mask scales but exacerbate the itching and flaking reaction.

How is dandruff identified?

Typically, a dermatologist just needs to examine your scalp to determine whether you have dandruff. According to the Cleveland Clinic, if your dandruff does not improve after therapy, your doctor may need to do a skin biopsy to rule out any other underlying conditions.

Timeframe of Dandruff

Seborrheic dermatitis-related dandruff is a chronic ailment that requires ongoing care. If your dandruff is caused by contact dermatitis, dry skin, or your washing routine, changing your routine should help you get rid of the flakes pretty fast.

Dandruff Treatment and Medicine Options

Although it may be treated, dandruff is a common chronic illness.

Gentle non-prescription shampoo. Washing hair every day with a mild shampoo and softly massaging the scalp to remove flakes in order to decrease oil and skin cell accumulation.

Dandruff shampoo. Try using an over-the-counter (OTC) dandruff shampoo if a mild shampoo isn’t working. The American Osteopathic College of Dermatology advises alternating between two or three of these shampoos. Look for dandruff shampoos with the following active components for mild to moderate instances.

Selenium sulfide. The destruction of skin cells is slowed by this antifungal. Among other shampoos, this active component is included in Head & Shoulders Clinical Strength and Selsun Blue.

Zinc pyritione. Head & Shoulders, DermaZinc, and Jason Dandruff Relief 2 in 1 all include this combination of antifungal and antibacterial agents.

Acid salicylate. Salicylic acid is used in Neutrogena T/Sal and Baker’s P&S to remove flakes and encourage better skin.

Ketoconazole. The medication Nizoral A-D, which comes in the forms of a shampoo, gel, or mousse, is available both over-the-counter and on a prescription. It includes the antifungal ketoconazole.

Shampoos with tar. Shampoos with tar in them, like Neutrogena T/Gel, have antibacterial and antifungal properties. A tar shampoo, however, may darken hair that is blonde, white, or gray. Additionally, this procedure may increase the scalp’s sensitivity to sunlight.

Treatment for Dandruff on Prescription

Ask your dermatologist if you would benefit from a prescription-strength antifungal shampoo like Loprox or Nizoral, or a topical corticosteroid lotion, like Capex or Synalar (fluocinolone topical), Luxiq (betamethasone topical), or Clobex (clobetasol topical), if regular and proper use of OTC shampoo does not eliminate dandruff after several weeks. A family of medications known as calcineurin inhibitors offers an alternative to corticosteroids for the treatment of dandruff. According to Harvard Health, these, together with Protopic (tacrolimus topical) and Elidel (pimecrolimus topical), function by aiding in the suppression of the immunological response.

Alternative and Complementary Therapies

Tea tree oil. A tiny randomized trial published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology suggests that topicals or shampoos containing 5 percent tea tree oil, an antiseptic, antibiotic, and antifungal, are a safe and effective way to treat dandruff.

Healthy fats. According to Cedars-Sinai, increasing your consumption of omega-3 fatty acids, which are present in foods like salmon, tuna, and mackerel, will aid in controlling the amount of oil your skin produces.

Additional Methods

Get sunlight. Short bursts of sunlight may aid in reducing the growth of yeast on the scalp. The scalp is particularly susceptible to sunlight, therefore avoid direct sunlight if you are also taking a tar-based dandruff treatment.

Reduce the use of hair products. The buildup of styling products like gels, sprays, pomades, and others on the hair and scalp may exacerbate greasiness and dandruff.

Getting rid of dandruff

Dandruff cannot be cured, but the symptoms and signs can be avoided. In certain circumstances, frequent washing with a mild cleanser and a brief scalp massage may help prevent dandruff if you have a very oily scalp. Consult your dermatologist for advice on how often to use OTC dandruff shampoo for maintenance and prevention. Finally, consuming more omega-3, getting some sun, and using less hair products may all help avoid dandruff.