How to get rid of dandruff

The problem of dandruff affects half of the residents of our country. However, it cannot be ignored because it can lead to a much more serious condition, namely seborrheic dermatitis. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to always thoroughly rinse the hair - shampoo residues break down the natural glue that binds skin cells, causing excessive peeling of the epidermis.

There are two types of dandruff: common and oily. Often, patients confuse dandruff with symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, or so-called "pseudotinea amiantacea" (the disease name has no equivalent in Polish).

Dandruff is often caused by irritation of the scalp by shampoos, gels, hair foams, hairsprays, dyes, etc. Sometimes, the cause of irritation can be the water itself, containing, for example, a high amount of chlorine. Inflamed skin becomes more sensitive than healthy skin, so it happens that despite no longer using the "suspected" care product, improvement is not observed.

Common Dandruff

Symptoms of common dandruff involve fine flaking of the epidermis without inflammatory signs. The condition usually affects people before the age of 20 and can later transform into oily dandruff. Common dandruff does not damage the hair.

The same name is given to changes occurring on smooth skin - common dandruff on smooth skin. This condition often occurs, usually affects children, and is likely infectious. It most commonly appears on the face in the form of whitish, round spots (as if dusted with flour). There are no inflammatory symptoms or other discomfort. The treatment of common dandruff on smooth skin generally involves antibiotic ointments, which are often sufficient to eliminate the symptoms of the disease.

Oily Dandruff

Oily dandruff, as mentioned, usually develops from common dandruff. Instead of small, dry, and white flakes, there are oily, yellow scales that layer and form crusts. They are more firmly attached to the surface. It may be accompanied by itching. Hair loss may be a consequence of this type of dandruff. The condition usually affects people over 20 years old and is more common in men than women.

Seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp also generally occurs in people with oily dandruff. In this condition, an intensified inflammatory state is observed. In addition to oily dandruff, crusts, and hair thinning, there may be redness, numerous bumps, pimples, and exudative symptoms. Itching accompanies the changes, and pustular lesions (usually resulting from secondary bacterial infection) can even be painful. Rarely do the changes affect only the scalp. They generally also appear as redness and peeling on the forehead, around the ears and neck. They can also occur in the interscapular region, on the chest near the sternum, as well as on the face, in the genital and anal area. These are the so-called seborrheic areas. In severe, rarely occurring forms, the disease can transform into generalized skin inflammation.

Dandruff Treatment

Most often, dandruff treatment is based on shampoos containing coal tar, zinc pyrithione, salicylic acid, selenium sulfide, and sulfur. Daily use of the shampoo with thorough rinsing afterward is a recommended treatment method so far. Since shedding of the epidermis is a natural process, it cannot be completely eliminated, only controlled and maintained within normal limits.

In exceptionally severe cases, in addition to antifungal medications, custom-made preparations containing sulfur, salicylic acid, resorcinol, tar, selenium sulfide, and cadmium sulfide are used. Their concentration depends on the individual needs of the patient and the severity of the changes. For less advanced changes, over-the-counter products containing zinc pyrithione or selenium sulfide may be effective. Due to the involvement of Pityrosporum ovale in the etiopathogenesis of dandruff, shampoos containing antifungal drugs, imidazole derivatives such as ketoconazole, fluconazole, clotrimazole, bifonazole, and miconazole, are highly effective.

As complementary treatment, a diet rich in B-group vitamins is recommended (yeast and wheat germ contain large amounts of vitamin B6, which is crucial in controlling dandruff). Eggs and cabbage also provide large amounts of vitamin B6, as well as sulfur, which is a mineral that improves the condition of the skin. In addition to supplementing B-group vitamins, adding vitamins A and E may be beneficial for skin health.