Washing away those dandruff concerns
Monday October 13 2008
Men are the main sufferers of dandruff and it is most likely to strike them when they are in their 20s and self-conscious about their appearance.
Dandruff is a common condition that affects the scalp, causing visible flakes of skin to appear. Excessive flaking can be a symptom of seborrhoeic dermatitis, one of the more common forms of dandruff which can affect areas such as the scalp, face and trunk, where the sebum glands are most active.
Skin cells are constantly renewing themselves. When skin cells on the scalp are renewed, the old ones are pushed to the surface and come away from the scalp.
If you have dandruff, skin renewal occurs twice as fast so more dead skin is shed.
Mild dandruff can affect anyone, but it tends to affect men more than women. The condition usually responds well to treatment, although it can emerge again at any time.
Treatments include:
n Shampoos and scalp preparations for dandruff are available over-the- counter from your local pharmacy and most supermarkets. Seborrhoeic dermatitis can be controlled by using these but not cured.
Antifungal shampoos work by inhibiting the growth of the fungi that cause infections. Before using an antifungal shampoo, you should try to remove any scaly or crusty patches from your scalp. This will help to improve the effectiveness of the shampoo.
If you have coloured or treated hair, you should take care when using a product containing coal tar because long-term use has been known to stain hair.
n The antifungal drug Ketoconazole is often the most effective treatment for reducing the shedding of scalp cells. In the most severe cases of dandruff, it may work where other anti-dandruff shampoos have had little or no effect.
