Dandruff – a scalp disease, but not only. What are the types, causes, and treatments for dandruff? WE EXPLAIN

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Dandruff is a popular term for a condition involving excessive exfoliation of the scalp epidermis. However, this is just one of the diseases that fall under the dandruff category – some forms of dermatosis, including white dandruff and tinea versicolor, affect the skin of other parts of the body. What types of dandruff are there? Why does dandruff arise and how is it treated?

What types of dandruff are there?

In common understanding, dandruff is most often associated with exfoliation of the epidermis within the scalp, a characteristic symptom of which is white flakes on the hair, flaking onto clothes. However, dandruff is a general term, and in fact the condition it describes is not uniform. The above-mentioned variation of this dermatosis is actually scalp dandruff. This is just one of the diseases that are associated with the term dandruff. In order to fight it effectively, you can reach for the Blue Cap shampoo for dandruff and scalp inflammation.

The following diseases can be termed dandruff:

1. dry dandruff of the scalp – mild form of dandruff with less sebum than in oily dandruff; whitish, loose scales form on the scalp; for the care of dandruff-prone hair, use Anthyllis Cleansing Shampoo for Oily and Dandruff;
2. oily dandruff of the scalp – the disease is accompanied by severe seborrhea, yellow scales firmly attached to the skin are observed around the top of the head; the disease can lead to alopecia; in this case, we recommend DermoACM shampoo for oily and itchy scalp, which has anti-dandruff properties;
3. pityriasis versicolor – yeast disease that affects the skin of the torso; in its course, slightly exfoliating spots appear on the body;
4. Gibert pink dandruff – disease caused by human herpes viruses (HHV-6 and HHV-7); the lesions appear all over the body in the form of oval, pale pink or red foci with peeling in the central part;
5. white dandruff – may accompany atopic dermatitis, it appears on the face (cheeks) and limbs (arms, knee and elbow joints); discolored skin lesions appear in places where eczema previously occurred;
6. erythematous dandruff – is an infectious disease caused by bacteria; erythematous-exfoliating changes appear in skin folds, mainly in the groin, but also between the toes;
7. red follicle dandruff – the etiology of this disease has not been fully understood, but it is known that it may occur in families; the symptoms of the disease are dandruff lumps, erythema and keratinized papules near the hair follicles, these changes can appear in various parts of the body (including the scalp, face, elbows, knees, ankles or hands).

If you have dandruff, try Klimuszko Herbal Liquid Hair Treatment. The lotion can be used on both wet and dry hair. For dry dandruff and tinea versicolor, use the ELESTABion® S FLOSLEK specialist anti-dandruff shampoo, which you can buy at Medonet Market. We also recommend BIO anti-dandruff shampoo with propolis and honey Propolia BeeYes, which regulates the secretion of sebum and at the same time has antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties.

Dry scalp dandruff – a common problem

Dry dandruff (pityriasis simplex), also known as ordinary dandruff, is a condition consisting of fine flake exfoliation of the scalp. As a result of this process, gray-white and loose scales are formed, which are observed at the top of the head and around the temples. The occurrence of dry dandruff is sometimes accompanied by drying and brittleness of the hair. It happens that this form of dandruff occurs not only on the scalp, but also around the eyebrows, eyelids and cheeks.

The formation of dandruff within the scalp is the result of damage to the natural barriers that protect the epidermis. It comes to this through excessive drying of the skin resulting from external factors (intensively washing shampoos, hard water, low air humidity) and insufficient production by the body of moisturizing and moisturizing factors for the skin. Dandruff is also caused by yeast fungi.

If you have dandruff, reach for Bioherba refreshing and moisturizing hair spray with aloe vera, which soothes the scalp and supports the fight against dandruff, as well as hair shampoo – oily scalp Bioherba with a natural composition enriched with, among others o rosemary hydrolate.

See: Skin structure – layers, structure, functions

When the skin becomes dry, damage occurs within the epidermis, and if the regenerative processes are unable to deal with them, exfoliating processes take place. If in the course of dry dandruff there will be significant damage and inflammation can develop. This promotes bacterial and yeast infections, as well as the appearance of pimples at the hair follicles. Occasionally, dry dandruff can turn into oily dandruff.

To take care of your hair and scalp, we recommend:

1. Capillus anti-dandruff shampoo – the preparation contains plant extracts, including marjoram, grapefruit and hemp extracts, which prevent exfoliation of the epidermis and accelerate its regeneration,
2. Orientana shampoo for oily hair with neem and green tea – thanks to the unique composition of plant ingredients, it helps fight dandruff and reduces oily scalp,
3. Normalizing and moisturizing Biolaven shampoo, which not only perfectly moisturizes the hair, but also has an anti-dandruff effect,
4. anti-dandruff shampoo by Vianek, thanks to the content of Echinacea and Valerian extracts, perfectly soothes the scalp, soothing irritations,
5. Green Laboratory aromatherapy hair shampoo with essential oils, which cleans the scalp of impurities, prevents excessive sebum production and the development of dandruff,
6. Green Laboratory detoxifying shampoo, which thanks to natural plant extracts effectively helps to reduce dandruff and oily hair,
7. DermoACM oil Cute Secca cleansing and anti-dandruff shampoo for dry scalp, which helps to restore balance to the scalp,
8. Orientana tonic for hair loss, which, thanks to the Indian gooseberry content, soothes scalp problems, such as dandruff or excessive sebum production,
9. A washing balm for all hair types with Sylveco betulin – thoroughly cleanses the scalp. It is recommended for dull, damaged and thin hair.

You can also reach for cosmetics from the Vianek company – a normalizing shampoo, conditioner and a tonic-scalp lotion, which are suitable for the care of oily hair.

Peelings also help in the fight against dandruff. At Medonet Market you can buy a soothing scrub for the scalp Vianek, which nourishes, cleanses and moisturizes the scalp, eliminating dandruff. We also recommend Urea for skin cleansing, which can be used as a scalp scrub.

To reduce scalp irritation and the signs of dandruff, choose the versatile Oleiq cosmetics:

1. nourishing cucumber hydrolate that adds shine to the hair,
2. raspberry hydrosol, which additionally helps in the care of oily hair,
3. peppermint hydrolate, which smoothes the hair,
4. calendula hydrolate, which reduces itching.

Dry dandruff-like skin peeling in other parts of the body, including the trunk, may be caused by excessive dryness of the skin. This condition is caused not only by external factors, but also by various diseases, including atopic dermatitis, hypothyroidism, immunological and neurological disorders, ichthyosis, and taking certain medications.

W treat dandruff usually anti-dandruff shampoos are the mainstay of treatment. Self-treatment of the disease may turn out to be ineffective, and it is likely that in such a situation the symptoms will recur. Using anti-dandruff shampoos too often can aggravate the problem because the substances they contain can dry out the skin excessively at certain stages of the disease. In addition, there is a risk that, with long-term use, a given agent will no longer be effective, as there will be a loss of sensitivity to a given active substance.

Therefore, it is best to consult a dermatologist who will recognize whether you are dealing with dry dandruff or some other skin disease. The specialist may choose the treatment in such a way as to appropriately differentiate the active substances and, if necessary, prescribe an antifungal agent.

1. For dandruff-prone scalp care, choose Gentle Daily Anti-Dandruff Shampoo with Anthyllis Sage and Nettle Extract, which is vegan and not tested on animals.

Oily dandruff on the scalp and the risk of baldness

Oily dandruff (pityriasis seborrhoica) is a type of scalp dandruff combined with seborrhea. The disease affects the seborrheic zones of the skin – not only within the hairy scalp, but also the back, neckline, the area between the breasts and the T-zone of the face. In the course of oily dandruff, oily, yellow scales are formed on the top of the head, which stick firmly to the skin. In the largest outbreaks of oily dandruff yellow stupas are formed, the disease is accompanied by inflammation, itching and secondary infections.

For the treatment of scalp dandruff anti-inflammatory agents (ciclopirox), antifungal agents (e.g. climbazole, ketoconazole), keratolytic agents (e.g. tar, resoricin, lactic acid, salicylic acid) and cytostatic agents (octopyrox or ichthyol) are used. The doctor will prescribe a treatment that is appropriate to the type of dandruff. It is especially important to adjust the therapy if dry dandruff and oily dandruff may occur alternately.

Scales on the scalp, but also elsewhere on the body, can result from seborrheic dermatitis. It is a condition that requires proper skin care. It is worth reaching, for example, for cosmetics for seborrheic dermatitis Seborh. We also recommend an intensively cleansing nettle shampoo that regulates the secretion of sebum and prevents dandruff.

Read also:

1. How to get rid of dandruff?
2. Scalp problems – what could be wrong with you?
3. 10 diseases that can be seen on the hair

Pityriasis versicolor – yeast disease of the body

Tinea versicolor does not affect the scalp, as is the case with dry or oily dandruff. It is a dermatosis caused by yeast-like fungi belonging to the species Malassezia. It is manifested by the occurrence on the body brown and yellowish spotswhich appear mainly on the back, chest and neck. The lesions have a scaly surface. As a result of the action of the fungus, the skin remains discolored, which may look similar to patients suffering from vitiligo.

Fungi that cause tinea versicolor they occur on the skin of people over 1 year of age. Only some people, especially those suffering from HIV and transplant recipients, become infected. Factors contributing to the development of dermatosis are also obesity, excessive sweating, insufficient hygiene and the wearing of windproof clothing.

W medical therapy of tinea versicolor Various topical preparations are used to fight fungi (e.g. imidazole, ketoconazole) and have an anti-inflammatory effect. If external treatment is unsuccessful, systemic agents are used. Tinea versicolor is a chronic disease and may recur, especially in summer.

Pityver natural dermocosmetics for tinea versicolor can be used for skin care in this condition.

Giberta pink dandruff – herpetic infection

Gibert’s pink dandruff affects about 1-2 percent. dermatological patients. The disease most often manifests itself in autumn and winter, which is why it is probably caused by herpes viruses HHV-6 and HHV-7. The first symptom is the mother plate, a red or pale pink scaly lesion in the middle of the body that appears on the body. Subsequently, the dissemination of smaller pink spots is observed.

Also check: Three-day fever, i.e. sudden erythema

White dandruff – a symptom of atopic dermatitis

One of the symptoms that can accompany atopic dermatitis is white dandruff. It appears in glabrous skin, including the face, arms and legs. White dandruff can occur in places where a person suffering from AD had blemishes before. It has a form discolored fociwhich become more visible if the person with the skin tans while the eczema is still visible. Most often, white dandruff occurs in children.

Erythematous dandruff – a condition more common in men

Another dermatosis that has nothing to do with the scalp is Erythematous Dandruff. It is an infectious disease caused by coryneform bacteria Propionibacterium minimusthat brings about change in skin folds, especially in the groin, and sometimes in the interdigital spaces of the feet. These changes are brown-red spots of an erythematous and exfoliating nature, which, however, usually do not cause any discomfort.

Erythematous dandruff is treated with topical preparations such as erythromycin or imidazole. Oral erythromycin is also given when treatment has failed.

Read: Erythema – what is this symptom?

Red follicular dandruff – a rare disease of unclear origin

Chronic red follicle dandruff is a dermatosis that is divided into five types, taking into account its heterogeneous symptoms. It can occur in children, adolescents and adults. While there are several theories about the causes of red follicle dandruff, none has been widely accepted. Potential sources of the disease are disorders of vitamin A metabolism and immune system dysfunction, and it is also observed in HIV-infected people; it can also run in families.

The disease presents differently depending on its type. To common symptoms of red follicle dandruff should include dandruff peeling, keratinized follicular papules and orange-red erythema. The treatment of the disease depends on the case. It is given, inter alia, topical retinoids (e.g. tazarotene), calcipotriol, cyclosporin, methotrexate, and, if necessary, general treatment.

For dandruff, we recommend the BIO Olive-Laurel Shampoo Tadé Pays du Levant or the Olive-Laurel Shampoo Aleppo Soap Co. by Tadé, which inhibit dandruff-related ailments, reduce hair loss and brittleness.