What is Dandruff and how to treat it?

Dandruff is a common skin problem. You may notice flakes that fall off your scalp and cling to your hair or land on your clothing. Your scalp may itch, too. Those dry, white flakes of skin you brush off your collar or shoulders is Dandruff. But it can be embarrassing and itchy. Dandruff really isn't about your hair, or how often you wash it. Instead, it's about the skin on your scalp.

Skin cells that grow and die off too fast are the problem. Exactly why that happens isn't clear. A very common fungus called malassezia may contribute to dandruff. This fungus lives on the scalp of most healthy adults without causing any problems. One theory is that the immune system of someone with dandruff may overreact to that fungus. 

Cause: One common cause is seborrheic dermatitis or seborrhea. Some people with dandruff may also have seborrheic dermatitis in other areas of the body, such as their ears, the center of the face, and the center of the chest.  

Several things can cause dandruff: 

• Seborrheic dermatitis: This is oily, itchy, irritated skin that flakes off on your scalp. It also can happen with your eyebrows, groin, or chest hair.
• Contact dermatitis: Haircare products like shampoo, gel, or dye can irritate your scalp and cause redness, itchiness, and flakes.
• Fungus called malassezia is yeast that thrives on the oil on your scalp.
• If you don’t shampoo your hair often enough, oily skin can flake off.
• Dry skin can lead to small flakes on your scalp. You’ll probably have dry skin all over your body.
• Male hormones: Men are more likely to get dandruff than women.
• People whose immune systems can’t fight off diseases, for instance people who have HIV, may be more likely to get dandruff.

Home remedies:

• Treatment aims to stop the dandruff by slowing down the reproduction of skin cells or counteracting the yeast production that might be the cause.
• The strategy will depend the patient’s age and the severity of the condition. However, there are some lifestyle changes and home remedies that can help; these include:
• Managing stress: stress can trigger dandruff in some people, so managing it better can reduce symptoms.
• Shampoo more often: if you have oily hair and scalp, washing daily can help.
• Sunlight: a little exposure to sunlight can be helpful.
• Tea tree oil: although there is little evidence, some people believe that preparations that include tea tree oil help reduce symptoms of dandruff. It can cause allergic reactions in some people, so use caution.

Treatment

Shampoos and scalp products are available over the counter at most stores and pharmacies. These can control seborrheic dermatitis, but they cannot cure it. An Expert dermatologist may properly treat it with combination of drugs shampoo after complete scalp scan.

Most anti-dandruff or anti-fungal shampoos contain at least one of the following active ingredients:

• Ketoconazole: An effective anti-fungal. Shampoos containing this ingredient can be used at any age.
• Selenium sulfide: This reduces the production of natural oils by glands in the scalp. It is effective at treating dandruff.
• Zinc pyrithione: This slows down the growth of yeast.
• Coal tar: This has a natural anti-fungal agent. Dyed or treated hair may become stained by long-term usage. Tar soaps may also make the scalp more sensitive to sunlight, so users should wear a hat when outside. Coal tar can also be carcinogenic in high doses.
• Salicylic acids: These help the scalp get rid of skin cells. They do not slow down the reproduction of skin cells. Many “scalp scrubs” contain salicylic acids. Treatment can sometimes leave the scalp dry and make skin flaking worse.
• Tea-tree oil: Derived from the Australian Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia), many shampoos now include this ingredient. It has long been used as an anti-fungal, an antibiotic, and an antiseptic. Some people are allergic to it.

KEMPS Skin Clinic, Vaishali, Sec-4, Ghaziabad provide Treatment for Dandruff  you may book prior appointment for better care and services.

How to protect hand-skin while frequent hand washes

During this corona epidemic, doctor advice us or frequent hand wash and use of sanitizer. Frequent hand wash may damage our hand skin tissues. For this issue we ask an expert advice that how to protect our skin tissue. DR. manju keshri from KEMPS skin clinic. Vaishali, Ghaziabad. She is a famous dermatologist provide us some tips

Wash with warm water

To clean your hands from germs dr. says to wash hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water. Making sure to cover palms, backs of hands, fingers, in between fingers, wrists, and ingernails.She said lukewarm water is best rather than hot.“Very hot will eventually dry things out and doesn’t improve efficacy,” she said.

Use moisturizing soap

Always try to use soap that have moisturizer because some soap can strip the skin and cause them to be dry and cracked, she says to wash your hands with soap that’s moisturizing. “For example, soap with a creamy consistency. You should also look out for soaps with ingredients such as glycerin and lanolin. Also, try to avoid soap bars,”.skin care expert and aesthetician, also suggested staying away from bar soaps.

“The binders that hold a bar of soap together naturally have a high pH, which will cause unnecessary dryness. Instead, choose liquid soaps since they are generally less drying to the skin,”.

Apply moisturizer:  

After frequent hand wash, water isn’t sealed into the skin after washing, it can dry out your hand.

“The reason is that water acts like a magnet and it will attract water out from the deepest layers of the skin and evaporate into the dry air. The result is even tighter, drier skin. To prevent this from happening, be sure to immediately apply hand cream afterward. Even a light layer will do,”

Dermatologist  suggests using creams or ointments rather than lotions, which she said have too much water content, and therefore don’t block water from escaping the skin.

She said moisturizers help with skin care because they:

• Restore the barrier function of the epidermis
• Provide a protective film
• Fill in the small crevices between scales
• Increase the water content of the epidermis
• Soothe the skin
• Improve the skin’s appearance and texture

Wear gloves

In addition to applying a moisturizer to damp skin after washing, she said to soak your hands in plain water for 5 minutes, then apply a moisturizer, and wear gloves for 1 to 2 hours.

“This will ensure that the surface moisture gets where it needs to go,” For really chapped hands, she  said to heavily moisturize hands with thick cream and wear cotton gloves overnight.

“Much like a facial sheet mask, the gloves will keep your hands moisturized for 6 to 8 hours allowing the skin on the hands to get some needed TLC,” she said. Wearing gloves on cold, windy days can also keep the wind from further damaging dry skin, added Friedman.

For more skin related query you may visit www.kempsskinclinic.com and book and appointment at KEMPS Skin Clinic for better consultation for Skin & hair care.

Is Laser Hair removal is safe during CORONA epidemic?

We are aware of the increase in a number of corona virus cases in the Globe and are continuously monitoring and reviewing this matter, especially as it pertains to our patients and staff. Our greatest concern is for our patients who are on prescriptions for skin, hair, or mucosal diseases that may alter and weaken the function of their immune system. For patients on these medications, if they feel like they have an infection of any sort, we recommend they consider holding their medication until they feel well again—having recovered from the infection.

As for as laser hair removal is concern it’s the safest way if you are healthy and Non-infected. The equipment is well sanitized and the center also sanitize after every laser hair removal. The dermatologist also uses disposable gloves, N95 mask and disposable bed sheets. 

For laser hair removal a variety of laser systems are now available. Ruby lasers, Alexandrite lasers, Nd-YAG lasers and white light machines can all be used to remove hair with varying degrees of success. The size of the area covered by each pulse of laser energy varies with the machine used.

Results: Initial reports of laser hair removal were extremely promising, and some research went so far as to claim that it may be permanent, but this is generally not the case. A few patients do not respond to the laser treatment at all but many will have good results. Regrowth is not only less dense but also less coarse. In the ideal patient, with dark hair and pale skin, the hair usually disappears for two to three months and then slowly regrows. Repeat treatment is usually required several times a year.

Safety:  When laser treatment is carried out it is essential that all those within the treatment room, you and the staff, should wear protective goggles or glasses. Entry to the room is strictly controlled whilst treatment is being given.

Complications and problems: Laser light can damage the skin's pigment and sometimes the treatment area may become unusually pale or dark several months after treatment. For this reason, it is always wise to carry out a small trial of treatment in an unobtrusive area before proceeding to extensive treatment. The test patch is examined six to eight weeks later for unwanted side effects and to carefully assess success before proceeding to further treatment. Special care is needed when treating patients with black or brown skin. The Nd-YAG laser may be most suitable for dark skins as it causes less skin damage. After treatment you should stay out of the sun as exposure of recently laser treated skin to strong sunshine may increase the risk of pigmentation problems.

It is advisable to take prior appointment via call and book a slot for laser hair removal. KEMPS Skin Clinic, Vaishali Sec. 4, Ghaziabad provide best Hair and skin treatment during corona epidemic.