Effective Ways to Prevent and Treat Dandruff

Dandruff is a common problem that affects approximately 20% of the population. The name does not designate a specific disease, but rather a sign characterized by the presence of keratin scales or plaques on the scalp. These scales are caused by an increased rate of skin turnover. Under normal conditions, the skin is slowly renewed and the loss of scales from the stratum corneum, the most superficial of the epidermis, goes unnoticed. In situations where there are inflammation and increased kinetics or speed of change of the epidermis, that excess of scales accumulates and is noticed as dandruff.

Who is affected?

It usually begins at puberty, and is most common in the third and fourth decades of life. The most common cause of dandruff is the so-called seborrheic dermatitis, which affects people with oilier and lighter skin. People who have seborrheic dermatitis in adulthood may have had infantile forms. The so-called cradle cap is one of them, and it is manifested by yellowish and fatty crusts on the scalp in the newborn and during the first year of life.

Another form is the false amaranth ringworm, a later form of the cradle cap that forms flaking plaques that weigh down the hair in children. Other diseases that can cause dandruff are inflammatory conditions of the scalp as the psoriasis, or yeast infections. Other rarer conditions can also cause flaking or scabbing of the scalp, such as eczema contact allergies, or forms of lupus that affect the scalp.

What symptoms does it cause?

In general, the symptoms consist of a combination of, flaking and increased oiliness in the hair. The lesions of seborrheic dermatitis are red plaques with fatty scaling that affect very typical areas: nasolabial fold, eyebrows, eyelashes, behind the ears, chest or back, and the scalp in general. In some cases it only causes flaking along with increased fat (oily dandruff) and in others there is very annoying inflammation, redness and itchiness. In psoriasis and other diseases, dandruff is not accompanied by fat gain (oily dandruff).

Why does dandruff occur?

Dandruff patients explain that breakouts are related to physical and emotional stress, the season changes, or the application of cosmetics fatty. Other patients suffer from this annoying problem continuously, without any trigger. Although it never hurts to consult with your doctor or about dandruff outbreaks.

Is there any treatment?

Seborrheic dermatitis, which is the most common cause of dandruff, responds well to topical corticosteroids, because they reduce inflammation and itchiness, as well as to antifungal both topical and oral. This is because, although the disease is not a fungal infection, the lesions are colonized by a microorganism called Pityrosporum which increases inflammation and flaking. If we treat the Pityrosporum, we will improve the dermatitis. antifungals are often used in the form of a shampoo, cream, or lotion. Psoriasis can be treated with different topical and oral preparations. In general, it responds well to the use of the same shampoos as seborrheic dermatitis, combined with substances such as pyroctonolamine, or those derived from tar.

Dandruff it is not curable, but if the patient follows the instructions of his dermatologist and learns to treat the flare-ups with the available therapeutic options, the disease is easily controllable.

Dermatology Specialist.