Managing Dandruff – How to Treat Those Flakes

Managing Dandruff

Managing Dandruff

Dandruff filled hair is neither a pleasant view nor a healthy sign from medical health point of view. This recurring feature should not be ignored or also it may become complicated. The more extreme cases could need intensive medication. So take care of your hair to avoid bad conditions by “Managing Dandruff”.

Medically dandruff is termed as “Pityriasis Capitis”. The skin decay on the scalp dries and gets entrapped in the hair roots. This is a normal phenomenon. When the head is washed and the hair thoroughly rinsed, the Dandruff is washed out. The less thorough hair wash or long intervals in between head washes, is the basic cause of this disease besides infection.
The small white specs of the dead skin stick to the scalp and grow thick with further skin decay. These white flakes stay entangled in the hair roots. Yeast present on the skin absorbs oil gland’s secretions to produce fatty acids.

These fatty acids react with the surface to cause irritation. The normal human reaction is to scratch the head to dislocate the more congested areas for temporary immediate relief. The scratching also loosens the white dandruff layer and some is showered on the clothes above the shoulders, causing embarrassment when among friends.

Dandruff Treatment

The common dandruff is mostly washed away by proper rinsing. For safer precautions anti yeast shampoos are very helpful. These shampoos area available and can be bought off the shelf from stores easily. These help clean the skin hair better. For Managing Dandruff that persists, better shampoos are advised with higher medicinal properties and contain ingredients like salicylic acid, coal tar or antifungal properties that dislocate the dandruff from hair roots. The new developments have made them give pleasant cleansing. In difficult cases, newly developed Zinc Pyrithione shampoos are found effective. This is applied daily, rinsed properly till the dandruff is cleared. The treatment duration is for 2 to 3 weeks.

Dandruff shampoos advised usually

  • Head and Shoulders (antifungal)
  • Selsun (antifungal)
  • Nizoral (antifungal)
  • Sebcur (Salicylic acid)
  • T-Gel (coal tar)

 

Dandruff severe conditions indicate rash:

  • In between the two eyebrows
  • On both sides of the nose
  • Both the ears, inside and around
  • Chest centre
  • On the upper back
  • On overlapping of skin surfaces such as under armpits and breasts

 

Seborrheic dermatitis – risk factors:

  • Neurological conditions such as Parkinsonism or after strokes
  • HIV-AIDS (AIDS can increase sensitivity and inflammation)
  • Antipsychotic drugs

 

Seborrheic dermatitis can confuse for different skin disorders:

  • Scalp psoriasis
  • Tinea Capitis
  • Facial Rosacea
  • Atopic Dermatitis
  • Intertrigo
  • Erythrasma

 

Seborrheic dermatitis – Treatment

Shake the dry hair at the roots intensely, before the bath, to loosen the dandruff as much as possible. This will now expose the inner skin surface to the shampoo treatment. Use anti yeast shampoos to cure Seborrheic dermatitis. Apply the shampoo in reasonable quantity so as to form a good lather. Rinse the hair roots very thoroughly allowing the dandruff to absorb the medicated lather and to wet the scalp skin underneath for better exposure. Continue for 30 seconds, then rub this lather downward on the face and chest and if needed into the armpits for another 30 seconds. Then wash off thoroughly so that nothing from the skin waste is left as residue on the body. Continue the treatment daily and if condition does not impose by self diagnosis, then consult a doctor, who will prescribe creams or pills.

Managing Dandruff – treatment recommendations:

  • Ketoconazole cream or pills
  • Hydrocontisone cream
  • Lithium Succinate ointment with 15% propylene glycol in water
  • Zinc Pyrithione shampoo

 

For persistent – Seborrheic dermatitis:

  • Betamethasone Valerate solutions (Betnovate)
  • Fluocinonide gels
  • Clobetasone shampoo (Clobex)
  • Pimecrolimus Cream (Elidel)
  • Tacrolimus Ointment (Protopic)

 

When the dandruff has become uncontrollable by use of shampoos, it is best to consult a doctor for proper diagnosis.

© Anupam Karan
Disclaimer: The details mentioned in the post are true to the author’s knowledge and for information purpose only. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Anupam Karan (LifestyleSimplify.com) with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

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