The Dope on Dandruff!

The Dope on Dandruff!

Dandruff symptoms are easy to spot: white, oily-looking flakes of dead skin that dot your hair and shoulders, and a possibly itchy, scaly scalp. The condition can worsen during the fall and winter, when indoor heating can contribute to dry skin, and you will notice an  improvement during the summer.

A type of dandruff called cradle cap can affect babies. This disorder, which causes a scaly, crusty scalp, is most common in newborns, but it can occur anytime during infancy. Although it can be alarming for parents, cradle cap isn’t dangerous and usually clears up on its own.

When should you see a Doctor?

Most cases of dandruff don’t require a doctor’s care. But if over-the-counter  dandruff shampoos aren’t helping, or if your scalp becomes red or swollen, see your doctor or a doctor who specializes in skin conditions (dermatologist). You may have seborrheic dermatitis or another condition that resembles dandruff.

Causes

Dandruff can have several causes, including:

Irritated, oily skin (seborrheic dermatitis). This condition, one of the most frequent causes of dandruff, is marked by red, greasy skin covered with flaky white or yellow scales. Seborrheic dermatitis may affect your scalp and other areas rich in oil glands, such as your eyebrows, the sides of your nose and the backs of your ears, your breastbone (sternum), your groin area, and sometimes your armpits.  A medicated shampoo is probably your best bet;  And lukewarm showers.  Hot water can aggravate normal skin so a skin condition is even worse!
Not shampooing often enough. Now, you know I preach not shampooing every day but certainly, if you are one of the unlucky dandruff sufferers you need to shampoo more often…  If you don’t regularly wash your hair, oils and skin cells from your scalp can build up, causing dandruff.
A yeastlike fungus (malassezia). Malassezia lives on the scalps of most adults. But, for some, it irritates the scalp and can cause more skin cells to grow.  The extra skin cells die and fall off, making them appear white and flaky in your hair or on your clothes. Why malassezia irritates some scalps isn’t known.

Dry skin. Flakes from dry skin are generally smaller and less oily than those from other causes of dandruff. And, redness or inflammation is unlikely. You’ll probably have dry skin on other parts of the body, such as your legs and arms, too.  Again, luke warm showers!  And look for a shampoo especially for dry scalp as opposed to dandruff.  Sometime, if it’s just dry skin that is causing the problem, dandruff shampoos, which are very drying, could make the situation worse!
Sensitivity to hair care products (contact dermatitis). Sometimes sensitivities to certain ingredients in hair care products or hair dyes can cause a red, itchy, scaly scalp.  Are you using anything new?  If so, try changing it up…

Product build up can also cause dandruff looking flakes but are not really dandruff.  If you use lots of styling products, use a good clarifying shampoo once a week to strip all the residue out!

Risk factors:

Almost anyone can have dandruff, but certain factors can make you more susceptible:

Age. Dandruff usually begins in young adulthood and continues through middle age. (Dang those hormones! )That doesn’t mean older adults don’t get dandruff. For some people, the problem can be lifelong.
Being male. Because more men have dandruff, some researchers think male hormones may play a role.
Oily hair and scalp. Malassezia feeds on oils in your scalp. For that reason, having excessively oily skin and hair makes you more prone to dandruff.
Certain illnesses. For reasons that aren’t clear, adults with neurological diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease, are more likely to develop seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff. So are people with HIV infection, or those who have compromised immune systems from other conditions.
Dandruff can almost always be controlled, but dandruff treatment may take some trial and error. In general, daily cleansing with a gentle shampoo to reduce oiliness and skin cell buildup can often help mild dandruff.

When regular shampoos fail, dandruff shampoos you can buy at a drugstore may succeed. But dandruff shampoos aren’t all alike, and you may need to experiment until you find one that works for you.

Some dandruff shampoos are highly medicated so if you develop itching, stinging, redness or burning from any product, stop using it. If you develop an allergic reaction — such as a rash, hives or difficulty breathing — seek immediate medical attention.

There are many different types of dandruff shampoos and they are classified according to the medication they contain.  That’s why it is important to know exactly what the problem is.  Your doctor should be able to tell you.

Head and Shoulders is a Pyrithione zinc shampoo. It contains the antibacterial and antifungal agent zinc pyrithione. This type of shampoo can reduce the fungus on your scalp that can cause dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis.
Neutrogena and T/Gel are Tar-based shampoos. Coal tar, a byproduct of the coal manufacturing process, helps conditions such as dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis and psoriasis. It slows how quickly skin cells on your scalp die and flake off. If you have light-colored hair, this type of shampoo may cause discoloration.
Shampoos containing salicylic acid (such as Neutrogena T/Sal). These “scalp scrubs” help eliminate scale, but they may leave your scalp dry, leading to more flaking. Using a conditioner after shampooing can help relieve dryness.
Selsun Blue is a Selenium sulfide shampoo. These shampoos slow your skin cells from dying and may also reduce malassezia. Because they can discolor blond, gray or chemically colored hair, be sure to use them only as directed, and rinse well after shampooing.
Ketoconazole shampoos (such as Nizoral). Ketoconazole is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent that may work when other shampoos fail. It’s available over-the-counter as well as by prescription.
Try using one of these shampoos daily or every other day until your dandruff is controlled; then cut back to two or three times a week, as needed. If one type of shampoo works for a time and then seems to lose its effectiveness, try alternating between two types of dandruff shampoos.  Most of these shampoos are not recommended for chemically treated hair so have care…  Your stylist can help you decide how to proceed.

Read and follow the directions on each bottle of shampoo you try. Some need to be left on for a few minutes, while others should be immediately rinsed off.

If you’ve shampooed faithfully for several weeks and there’s still a dusting of dandruff on your shoulders, talk to your doctor or dermatologist. You may need a prescription-strength shampoo or treatment with a steroid lotion.

Alternative medicine

Small studies have found that tea tree oil can reduce dandruff, but more study is needed.

Tea tree oil, which comes from the leaves of the Australian tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia), has been used for centuries as an antiseptic, antibiotic and antifungal agent. It’s now included in a number of shampoos found in natural foods stores. The oil may cause allergic reactions in some people.

Thank you May Clinic for this info!