The Latest on Dandruff
Dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis - How do you tell?
(NC)-Dandruff results from the scalp's skin cell life cycle being too rapid; leading to the shedding of cells in large clusters producing those noticeable scales and flakes. It is so common that it is considered normal, but not appealing. The scalp is normally inhabited by a fungus called Malassezia furfur, however in some susceptible individuals, the presence of this fungus causes skin irritation which explains the itching sometimes felt by people afflicted by dandruff. The response of skin to this irritation is to accelerate the noninflammatory turnover of cells producing dandruff.
Treatment and prevention for dandruff ranges from daily use of regular shampoos to over-the-counter dandruff and/or prescription medicated shampoo alternatives.
Seborrheic Dermatitis (SD) is a noncontagious, chronic, inherited condition characterized by periods of increasing and decreasing severity that causes flaking and redness of the skin. It can appear as greasy, thick, white to yellowish crusting (scales) and is associated with inflammation in areas of the skin where sebaceous (skin oil) glands are concentrated. It usually appears on the scalp, but sometimes patches can appear on other parts of the body, such as the face and chest, eyebrows, eyelids, the ears, the forehead, navel, groin, breasts and the chin. In babies it's known as "cradle cap".
The incidence of SD tends to increase with stress and with cold, dry winter months for the 3% of the population who may be affected. While it can be treated and controlled, it cannot be permanently cured. Treatment requires patience and can last many months until the scaling subsides.
When treating SD of the scalp, effective treatment should have antifungal activity against Malassezia furfur. In addition, since SD is a chronic condition requiring constant and frequent treatment, any medicated shampoo choice should also provide cosmetic appeal such as a pleasant scent, good lathering properties and a conditioner to leave hair soft, manageable and healthy-looking.
When dandruff is persistent or seborrheic dermatitis is a problem, ask your doctor or dermatologist about Stieprox, a prescription shampoo available from Stiefel Canada. This new shampoo contains a proven antifungal with demonstrated clinical effectiveness and safety for dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis conditions. - News Canada
This article also includes: