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Irritated with an itchy, flaky scalp?
Read on to ease it
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Dandruff
The term dandruff or what is medically referred to, as pityriasis simplex, is the name given to an annoying scalp condition characterised by an itchy and flaky scalp. Of course, most of us fail to notice it in the initial stages or merely ignore it, and hence we are faced with a condition that becomes increasingly difficult to deal with.
Firstly, how do you know that you suffer from dandruff?
If you notice small, loose, whitish flakes (which is in reality dead skin) on your scalp or trapped in your hair strand, you have a dandruff problem. A common symptom is also itchiness. The type of flakes, whether they are 'oily' or 'dry', hints at the cause of the dandruff problem.
How does dandruff form?
Surprisingly, despite the itchy and scaly character of dandruff, it is not the product of dry skin. Everyone generally sheds dead skin cells. A person with oily dandruff has overactive sebaceous glands. This causes the natural shedding process to speed up, resulting in crusty scalp, oily hair and excessive flaking. This shedding is most severe in winter and mildest in summer. In some people this problem even occurs on the eyelashes. It has been observed that people with oily hair and oily skin have a greater tendency towards dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis than people with normal hair and skin. In the case of dry dandruff, the oil glands become plugged, resulting in dull, dry looking hair and flakes of dead skin.
What exactly leads to the Dandruff Problem?
Overactive sebaceous glands cause an increase in the natural skin shedding process, while the clogged oil glands lead to over-drying and flaking of the scalp.
Researchers also suggest that dandruff and its cousin seborrheic dermatitis may be triggered off by too much of a yeast-like micro-organism normally found in small amount on a healthy scalp.
A number of factors may augment a dandruff condition:
- Infrequent shampooing of hair, inadequate rinsing and excessive use of a hot hair dryer (which also causes contact dermatitis), aggravates dandruff. You could prevent dandruff by shampooing regularly with a mild shampoo. Massage your scalp gently to loosen flakes and rinse the hair and scalp thoroughly.
- If you are a follower of the latest fads and fashion changes, you could be aggravating a dandruff problem. Excessive use of hair sprays and gels and improper use of hair colouring products can cause dandruff. Tight fitting hats and scarves should be avoided as well.
- A combination of cold weather, low humidity and dry indoor heat could explain
persistent dandruff.
- Poor diet, food allergies, hormonal imbalances, and infections can all lead to dandruff. There seems to be a tendency for it to run in families, which hints at a genetic disposition.
- Dandruff may become worse with stress, the root cause of most health problems.
How do I know how serious my dandruff problem is?
Your dandruff problem could be an irritant; you feel the odd itchiness and the embarrassment of the white flakes. The problem becomes acute when the scalp reacts to
the scales by secreting a fluid. This results in the scales sticking to the scalp, giving them a yellowish waxy appearance. The dandruff may then spread to the chest and the back.
Whichever phase you are in, if the flakes begin to be a worry, either physically or emotionally, it is time to consult a trichologist and get the problem treated.
When should I visit a trichologist?
- If your scalp's dryness, redness, itching and flaking is persistent, extreme and does not clear away by anti - dandruff shampoos, your dandruff may not be dandruff at all. It could be psoriasis or eczema, which require special treatment by a trichologist.
- If you feel that you have dandruff that is causing you a lot of discomfort, it is advisable to visit a trichologist as soon as possible and get the problem treated.
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Dr. Sonal and Apoorva Shah
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