Conditions that Cause Dandruff
Dandruff can be embarrassing and persistent. However, dandruff is not a contagious or serious condition. It can be controlled. It is helpful to know and understand the different conditions that can cause dandruff and excess skin scaling.
First, there is dry skin and seborrheic dermatitis. The dry skin that one can get in the winter time or when a room is overheated are the most common causes of itchy and flaking skin. However, flakes from dry skin are smaller than and not as oily as the flakes caused by dandruff
Seborrheic dermatitis is seen as red, greasy skin covered with flaky yellow or white scales. This condition affects the scalp, eyebrows, the sides of the nose, and the back of the ears, the breast bone, the groin area and possibly, the armpits.
Contact dermatitis and cradle cap can also bring about excessive skin scaling. Contact dermatitis can cause a red and itchy scaling scalp. Sensitivity to some hair care products or hair dyes can cause this condition. Cradle cap or seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp causes a crusty and scaling scalp. This is common in newborns but can happen at any time during infancy. Many parents can be alarmed by this but cradle cap is not dangerous. It will clear up by the time the infant is a year old.
Psoriasis and scalp ringworm should also be looked at. Psoriasis is a skin disorder and causes an increase in dead skin cells and that can create thick scales with a silvery coloring. In serious cases, the skin cracks and bleeds, which can be very painful You will usually find psoriasis occurring on the knees, elbows, scalp, forehead and neck.
Scalp ringworm is an extremely contagious fungal infection that happens to children under the age of ten. Ringworm will begin as a red sore around the hairline. In a few days, the sore becomes scaly and grows outward in a ring pattern. The hair affected will usually beak off. Ringworm causes a red an inflamed scalp and hair loss.
Dandruff has been blamed on several other different things. These things include dry or oily skin, poor diet, and stress. Increased oil production, illness, infrequent shampooing and heredity are some things that can also contribute to dandruff.
Even though these things contribute to a flaky scalp, the real cause is a fungus called Malassezia. There are times when Malassezia, which is normal occurring yeast in the body, grows uncontrollably. It feeds on the natural oils secreted by the hair follicle, causes irritation of the scalp and then leads to faster cell turnover.
You see, skin cells continually die and are replaced by new skin cells. This usually happens slowly, over thirty day. However, in scalps where Malassezia is not behaving correctly, this skin renewal process happens much faster, within eleven days. This causes an increase in dead skin cells and these cells clump together with oil from the hair and scalp. This is what makes the flakes appear white
It is important to know that although dandruff is common, certain things can make a person more likely to get dandruff. Age and sex can play a factor. Dandruff and acne begin in puberty. Dandruff is common through the teen years and young adulthood. It peaks around the age of forty, even though older adults are not immune to dandruff. Dandruff can be a lifelong problem for some people.
More men than women have dandruff. This is because of male hormones. The sebaceous gland on men is larger than on women. The sebaceous gland produces sebum, an oil.
Individuals with oily hair and scalp and with certain illnesses are more prone to dandruff. Also, adults with Parkinson’s disease and people recovering from a heart attack or stroke are more likely to develop dandruff.
Dandruff can be chronic but it can be controlled. It just takes patience and persistence. Consider the use of dandruff shampoos. They may contain ingredients that can help. Zinc pyrithione shampoos and shampoos containing salicylic acid can help control dandruff. Shampoos such as Suave Dandruff Control Shampoo and Head and Shoulders contain zinc pyrithione. This chemical can reduce the fungus responsible for dandruff. Shampoos containing salicylic acid can eliminate scaly dry skin but they can also leave you with a dry scalp. This can lead to more flaking. This dryness can be countered by using a conditioner after shampooing.
Shampoo daily, especially if you have an oily scalp. Cut back on hair products such as sprays, gels and mousses. These products can build up on your hair and scalp.
Dandruff does not have to be a problem if you are willing to take proactive steps to keep it under control. |
