The Latest on Dandruff
Why put up with dandruff - when you don't have to?
(NC)-Is dandruff getting you down or are you tired of flicking flecks off your shoulders or that dry, itchy feeling of your scalp? If so, you are like 70% of the population who have to deal with various degrees of dandruff on a routine basis. 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. 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 turnover of cells. Some external contributors to dandruff may include infrequent shampooing of the hair or inadequate hair rinsing, improper use of hair-coloring products, cold weather, dry environment and tight fitting hats.
Dandruff can disappear suddenly without treatment or may take multiple weeks of treatment to improve. Treatment and prevention for mild dandruff ranges from daily use of regular shampoos to over-the-counter dandruff shampoos containing coal tar, pyrithione zinc, salicylic acid or selenium sulfide. But what happens when these do not work and dandruff persists?
This means you may have stubborn, more severe dandruff. And if you have yellowred crusting (scales) appearing along the hairline, behind the ears, in the external auditory canals, on the eye brows, and on the bridge of the nose, you may have seborrheic dermatitis. In this case, the crusty scales are often oily, accompanied by a red, itchy scalp. Seborrheic dermatitis tends to flare up with stress and with the cold, dry winter months.
An effective option for these stubborn cases is stronger anti-dandruff shampoos available by prescription from your doctor. An ideal product should be effective against the fungus Malassezia furfur; rapidly relieve dandruff; have cosmetic appeal such as a pleasant scent and good lathering characteristics; and contain conditioners to leave hair soft, manageable and healthy-looking. There's one such prescription shampoo available from Stiefel Canada called Stieprox. This new shampoo contains a proven anti-fungal and was demonstrated to be clinically effective and safe for dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis conditions. Some general tips for dealing with dandruff:
- Shampoo regularly with a mild nonmedicated shampoo such as a baby shampoo will help limit dandruff. A strong shampoo can cause scalp irritation and will only exacerbate your dandruff condition.
- If your condition warrants it, an antidandruff shampoo should be used. Make sure to follow the instructions and dosage written on the package.
- If your scalp condition does not improve within 2 weeks of this regimen, talk to your doctor because if over-thecounter shampoos don't seem to work, your doctor may prescribe a medicated shampoo that could be right for you.
- News Canada
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