Dandruff

Dandruff (also called scurf and historically termed Pityriasis capitis) is due to the excessive shedding of dead skin cells from the scalp. As it is normal for skin cells to die and flake off, a small amount of flaking is normal and in fact quite common.

Some people, however, either chronically or as a result of certain triggers, experience an unusually large amount of flaking, which can also be accompanied by redness and irritation. Most cases of dandruff can be easily treated with specialized shampoos. Dandruff is not an organism like lice; it is just dead skin that accumulates in the scalp.

Dandruff is unlikely to be the cause of hair loss. Excessive flaking can also be a symptom of seborrhoea dermatitis, psoriasis, fungal infection or excoriation associated with infestation of head lice. Dandruff is a global phenomenon and many people find that dandruff  can cause social or self-esteem problems.

Causes: As the epidermal layer continually replaces itself, cells are pushed outward where they eventually die and flake off. In most people, these flakes of skin are too small to be visible. However, certain conditions cause cell turnover to be unusually rapid, especially in the scalp. For people with dandruff , skin cells may mature and be shed in 2 - 7 days, as opposed to around a month in people without dandruff . The result is that dead skin cells are shed in large, oily clumps, which appear as white or greyish patches on the scalp skin and clothes.

Dandruff has been shown to be the result of three required factors: Skin oil commonly referred to as sebum or sebaceous secretions The metabolic by-products of skin micro-organisms (most specifically Malassezia yeasts) Individual susceptibility There is no convincing evidence that food (such as sugar or yeast), excessive perspiration, or climate have any role in the pathogenesis of dandruff . Seborrhoea dermatitis: Flaking is a symptom of seborrhoea dermatitis . Joseph Bark notes that "Redness and itching is actually seborrhoea dermatitis, and it frequently occurs around the folds of the nose and the eyebrow areas, not just the scalp." Dry, thick, well-defined lesions consisting of large, silvery scales may be traced to the less common psoriasis of the scalp. Seasonal changes, stress, and immuno-suppression seem to affect seborrhoea dermatitis.

Treatment: There have been many strategies for the control of dandruff . Simply increasing shampooing will remove flakes. However, elimination of the fungus results in dramatic improvement. Regular shampooing with an anti-fungal product can reduce recurrence. Treatments include shampoos such as Head & Shoulders, Selsun Blue, Vichy Dercos Anti-Dandruff shampoo and Neutrogena T/Gel.

Essential Oils of Lavender and Tea Tree can work for dry dandruff. Dilute a few drops of Lavender and Tea Tree oil in a carrier oil and massage well into the scalp. The essential oils of Bergamot and Sandalwood can work for oily dandruff . Purchase a mild shampoo (not an anti dandruff one) and add 1-3 drops of essential oil. Massage the shampoo into the scalp well and leave on for 5 minutes.