Dandruff

Dandruff

Dandruff is a very common problem. All adults can experience dandruff, but as a rule more men than women suffer from dandruff, and the problems are often greatest in the 40s. Dandruff can be experienced as embarrassing for many, but luckily you can easily treat it yourself.

What is dandruff?

Dandruff is the peeling off of dead skin cells from the outermost skin layer. Replacement of scalp cells occurs all the time. When it happens at a normal pace, so few dead skin cells come off at a time that it is not noticeable. The term dandruff is used when peeling occurs very quickly.

What causes dandruff?

Dandruff is probably caused by an overgrowth of a yeast fungus (Malassezia ovale), which most people normally have on their scalp. The skin reacts by rejecting skin cells faster than normal if there is a lot of the fungus. This causes visible dandruff in the hair and scalp.

Why some people get an overgrowth of Malassezia and dandruff problems is not fully understood. But a number of factors that can potentially worsen flaking have been found:

• Weakened immune system (illness or stress).

• Hormonal changes.

• Little air to the scalp (tight headgear, very thick hair, excessive use of styling products).

• Oily scalp.

• Too infrequent or too frequent hair washing.

Dandruff can also be caused by an underlying disease. If the flaking is due to, for example, seborrheic eczema or psoriasis, these conditions must be treated to put an end to the flaking. If seborrheic eczema is the cause of flaking, the flakes are often greasy and have a yellow or white colour.

Self-treatment of dandruff

Dandruff shampoos contain antifungal agents that kill the yeast that causes dandruff, or prevent the flaking of skin cells. Most dandruff shampoos are over-the-counter and can be bought at pharmacies. Dandruff shampoos are not used like a normal shampoo, follow the instructions for use in the package.

In addition to using a dandruff shampoo, you can prevent dandruff by

• Use a mild shampoo

• Rinse hair thoroughly after each wash.

• Use conditioner only on the ends of the hair.

• Avoid excessive use of styling products.