Dandruff

Overview
Dandruff is an itchy skin disorder of the scalp that develops during the normal growing process of the scalp's skin cells. In a normal scalp, old cells die and are sloughed off approximately every month, and replacement cells are manufactured quickly. In a dandruff scalp, the departing cells are sloughed off before they are dead.

There are two forms of dandruff, internal and external. Internal dandruff can be caused by hormonal imbalance, poor health, poor hygiene, allergy to dairy, chocolate, nuts or shellfish, lack of rest, emotional stress, excessive consumption of sugar, fat and starch and hereditary predisposition. External dandruff is caused by excessive use of hair sprays and gels, improper use of hair-coloring products, excessive use of hair curlers or curling irons, cold weather, dry indoor heating, stress, infrequent shampooing of the hair or inadequate rinsing of the scalp.

Most skin specialists state that dandruff is associated with a tiny fungus called Pityrosporum ovale, or P. ovale. This fungus lives on our bodies and scalp all the time, usually without causing a problem. For some people, it gets out of control and leads to dandruff.

Symptoms
Dandruff can cause an overly dry scalp with itchy white flakes that may be waxy or greasy, or a greasy scalp with scales.

These dandruff scales are usually small, round, white or gray patches on top of the head. Scaling can occur anywhere on the scalp, in the hair, on the eyebrows, the beard and can spread to the neck and shoulders.

Prevention
Unfortunately, there is no known way to prevent dandruff before it occurs.

Treatment
Since dandruff is a natural process, it cannot be eliminated. It can only be managed and controlled. One of the most common treatments for dandruff is dandruff shampoo. Once dandruff shampoos or products are discontinued, the dandruff will return in about three days.

When choosing a dandruff shampoo it is best to select the mildest option possible. Although detergent-based shampoos will clean the hair and scalp well, they often cause drying that will make the flaking worse. Also, brush your scalp carefully to loosen scales before shampooing. If you wash your hair daily use small amounts of baby shampoo.

Nizoral is the only shampoo containing a patented active ingredient medically proven to be effective against P. ovale. Most other anti-dandruff shampoos work by normalizing the pH of the scalp temporarily, while Nizoral shampoo's effects are long-lasting. Since you don't need to use the shampoo every day, Nizoral is also cost-effective.

In severe cases dermatologists will prescribe a special ointment or lotion to treat the problem. It is generally agreed that drugstore products which contain zinc pyritheone or selenium sulfide are the most effective in ridding the scalp of dandruff flakes.

According to the "Encyclopedia of Natural Healing" by Siegfried Gursche, nutrition can also play a big part in dandruff control. To counteract inefficient carbohydrates and fatty-acid metabolization, which can cause dandruff, include plenty of vitamin B in your diet. Garlic and oil of oregano are also excellent for fighting dandruff. You can take the supplements in capsule form or throw them into a recipe. You can also cut a fresh onion in half and rub it on the scalp.

Avoid hair products that contain alcohol which dry out the scalp. Also avoid hair dryers which will dry the scalp and add to the problem.

It is important to remember that there is no known "official" cure for dandruff. Once you have the problem, the best that you can hope for is management and control.

For more tips on controlling dandruff, see other suggestions on how to control dandruff.

Ask Your Physician
If a scalp shows signs of redness, swelling, scabbing, or oozing accompanied by flakes, there could be another scalp disease involved like psoriasis or ringworm.

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