Dandruff can be an embarrassing scalp condition for some people. It can affect anyone at any age. There are many causes for dandruff and different degrees of severity. Treatments are available to help keep dandruff under control but if left untreated, dandruff can lead to hair loss.
Dandruff
Dandruff is a chronic condition characterized by itching and flaking of the scalp. It is common and produces white, oily flakes of dead skin. Dandruff may happen more frequently in winter or dry, cold climates. Shampooing either too much or not enough can lead to dandruff by aggravating the scalp and producing excess oil. Certain scalp conditions such as seborrheic dermatitis, scalp psoriasis and malassezia, a yeast condition, can also cause dandruff.
Hair Loss
Your hair goes through a three-phase growing cycle. The first phase is called anagen and is the most active growing part of the cycle. It lasts from two to six years. The second part of the cycle is called catagen, when your hair becomes the protein keratin. The last phase of the growing cycle is telogen, when hair falls out and the hair follicle re-enters the first phase of anagen. Hair loss occurs when this cycle is interrupted and your hair fails to re-enter the first phase.
Significance
The causes of dandruff are what can lead to hair loss. Seborrheic dermatitis is an inflammation of the skin and scalp. An excess build up of oil leads to flaking and inflammation. Mostly it is easy to treat but severe cases can cause temporary hair loss and scalp infection. Scalp psoriasis is also an inflammatory skin condition that causes silvery white scales and flakes from an overproduction of skin cells that cause plaques. This can also be mild to severe and may result in temporary hair loss. Malassezia is a fungus that feeds on the oils secreted by your hair follicles. This too can cause temporary hair loss by blocking the hair follicles from the natural growth cycle.
Treatment
Shampoos that contain selenium sulfide are designed for treating dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis. Selenium sulfide is an anti-infective agent that helps relieve itching and flaking. It can also help fight malassezia by keeping the fungus that feeds on the skin and oil under control, cutting down on the number of skin cells that die and flake off. Both salicylic acid and coal tar are used to treat scalp psoriasis. Salicylic acid, a peeling agent, causes the outer layer of skin to shed. This helps slow the overproduction of skin cells found with scalp psoriasis. Coal tar slows the rapid progression of skin cells and helps reduce inflammation and itching.
Considerations
Organic and natural shampoos also help with dandruff and hair loss. Herbs such as rosemary, chamomile, thyme, lavender, aloe vera, jojoba, jasmine and pomegranate found in organic shampoos are gentle, safe and effective. A healthy diet, plenty of water and regular exercise goes a long way in keeping your scalp and hair healthy.
References
- Mayo Clinic: Dandruff
- Dermatology Online Journal: The Control of Hair Growth
- Surviving Hair Loss: Handling Seborrheic Dermatitis
- Surviving Hair Loss: Overcoming Scalp Psoriasis
- National Psoriasis Foundation: Treating Psoriasis: Over-the-Counter (OTC) Topicals
- Mayo Clinic: Selenium Sulfide (Topical Route)
