Dandruff is a very common skin condition that nearly all people experience at some point in their lives regardless of age or ethnicity. Although having dandruff can be embarrassing, it is usually harmless and many treatment options are available. Other names for dandruff are seborrhoeic dermatitis or seborrhoea.
What is Dandruff?
Dandruff flakes are actually dead skin cells that fall off your scalp. When you have dandruff, your scalp may look scaly or red and feel itchy or raw. Scratching or rubbing your head loosens the flakes. You may notice them more when you wear dark tops. Dandruff is harmless and is not contagious, that is, you cannot pass it on to someone else.It affects not just the scalp, but also the ears, eyebrows, sides of the nose, beard and, less commonly, the central (often hair-bearing) part of the chest. Dandruff can affect any hair-bearing area or an area with even very small hair follicles.
What Causes Dandruff?
No one is really sure what causes dandruff. It is probably caused by a fungus. Hair follicles and oil glands make an oil called sebum which may be a breeding ground for yeast or fungus. This fungus usually lives on your skin, but too much fungus may lead to dandruff. Too much sebum also may cause dandruff. Not drinking enough water, or being exposed to a lot of dry air, can cause skin to dry out and flake which can look like dandruff.
Dandruff Triggers
Dandruff tends to be worse during dry months. Cold, dry winter weather in particular can make dandruff worse. Stress or fatigue can trigger or aggravate it, too.
Medical conditions and dandruff
Skin problems like acne, eczema and psoriasis can cause a buildup of dead skin cells on the scalp. People with serious medical problems such as epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease and HIV are prone to developing dandruff. And, for unclear reasons, people recovering from a stroke, heart attack or head injury are also more likely to have dandruff.
Is Your Hair Care to Blame?
Dandruff does not mean you have dirty hair, but the way you style your hair or the products you use might cause a flaky scalp. Some hair colouring and styling products can leave a flaky, dry residue or trigger a skin reaction that looks like dandruff. If you already have dandruff, not washing your hair enough can make your dandruff look worse because dead skin cells build up. You may want to try different hair products to see if they help your dandruff clear up.
Home treatments for Dandruff
Special shampoos from the drugstore can treat dandruff. Common ingredients:
• Ketoconazole fights dandruff-causing fungus.
• Salicylic acid gets rid of flaky skin but can be drying.
• Selenium sulfide slows the buildup of dead skin cells and fights fungi.
• Tar slows dead skin cell buildup, but may discolour blonde, gray, or colour-treated hair.
• Zinc pyrithione attacks the fungi that may cause dandruff.
Natural Dandruff Remedies
Some research supports these natural dandruff treatments, but there is no proof they work consistently:
• Aloe. Using aloe on the scalp may help reduce itchiness and scaliness.
• Tea tree oil shampoo. Using a 5% tea tree oil shampoo may reduce dandruff and that itchy feeling.
• Lemongrass shampoo. Washing with a 2% lemongrass shampoo may help fight fungus that causes dandruff.
Sunlight
Spend a little time in the sun to fight dandruff. Sunlight helps suppress the fungus that causes dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis. Just make sure to protect your skin — including any exposed scalp — by wearing sunscreen that has an SPF of 30 or higher.
When to See Your Doctor
If you have been using a dandruff shampoo for several weeks, but still have dandruff, it may be time to see a doctor. You should also see a doctor if your scalp is swollen or red, or if you have a red, scaly rash on other parts of your body. You may need prescription-strength dandruff shampoo, an antifungal product, or a steroid cream for your scalp or other parts of your body.
Several other disorders might resemble dandruff and your doctor is the best person to make the correct diagnosis.
Dandruff is not a medical emergency and should not be handled in a hospital emergency department.
Conclusion
Dandruff is a common skin disorder that is more of an embarrassment, than a serious medical disorder. Dandruff can occur at any age and can be very bothersome if not treated correctly. If over-the –counter treatments do not work you should see your doctor.
Ask Your Doctor is a health education column and is not a substitute for medical advice from your physician. Dr Brett Hodge is an Obstetrician/Gynaecologist and Family Doctor who has over twenty nine years in clinical practice. Dr Hodge has a medical practice in the Johnson Building in The Valley.
