Dandruff
What is dandruff?
Symptoms of dandruff
Causes of dandruff
Triggers for dandruff
Prevention / remedies / treatment for dandruff
References
What is dandruff?
Dandruff is the shedding of small white flakes of skin from the scalp. Dandruff presents as a snow of small white skin flakes on the head, neck, and shoulders.
Normally, the skin on the scalp sheds continually about once per month, in flakes that are too small to notice. However, with dandruff the skin on the scalp can shed in as little as 2-7 days, in larger visible flakes of skin which you can easily see on the neck and clothes.
Dandruff affects up to half of all adults, and a lesser proportion of children.
It is caused by a fungal infection on the scalp, so it is like a mild form of seborrheic dermatitis. Do not confuse dandruff with a dry scalp (dry skin), which can also cause increased skin flaking.
Dandruff can be long lasting (chronic) or it can be caused by a number of triggers.
Symptoms of dandruff
- Shedding small white visible flakes of skin, mostly from the scalp.
- Itchy red scalp.
- Skin flaking, itchy or red skin on the eyelids, nose or forehead.
Causes of dandruff
- High production of sebum (an oily wax with dead skin cells).
- Skin yeast infection usually Malassezia globosa, but sometimes Malassezia pachydermatis.
- Weakened immune system (from stress, sleep deprivation, fatigue or illness) or individual susceptibility.
- For some people, an allergic reaction to shampoos, hair gels, sprays, even manufactured anti-dandruff shampoos and treatments.
Triggers for dandruff
- Dirty hair and scalp.
- Picking and scratching that spreads the infection.
- Lack of sulphur.
- Lack of protein in the diet.
- Poor diet high in sugar, carbohydrates and processed food.
- Shampoo. Avoid shampoos as they contain salts and other chemicals that promote dandruff. Just use a mild soap. Some specialist anti-dandruff shampoos are successful, but they are a harsh treatment on your skin, and may make you more prone to infection again after the treatment is complete.
- Hair sprays, gels, dyes. Alcohol-based hair products which tend to dry out the scalp, as do hair dryers.
- Dehydration.
- Excessive perspiration (not a confirmed cause, may possibly affect some people).
Prevention / remedies / treatment for dandruff
- Wash your hair regularly, at least three times per week. The aim is to reduce the oil (sebum) which provides food for the fungus.
- Zinc. Ensure you get sufficient zinc in your diet. Check for pyroluria which may cause zinc deficiency. Selenium sufficiency will also help (one Brazil nut per day).
- Apple cider vinegar is the most popular home treatment.
- Tea tree oil is a powerful fungicide. Add a few drops to your shampoo.
- Berberine is a powerful fungicide.
- Borax is another fungicide.
- Conventional medicine uses coal tar and sulphur based shampoos, and shampoos containing pharmaceutical fungicides like Ketoconazole or miconazole nitrate.
- See details of remedies recommended by Grow Youthful visitors, and their experience with them.
References
1. Ranganathan S, Mukhopadhyay T.
Dandruff: The Most Commercially Exploited Skin Disease.
2010. Indian J Dermatol 55 (2): 130-134.