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.