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Every fifth person reporting to a dermatologist complains about problems with the scalp. The most common of them are dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis, which are chronic diseases that cause many difficulties for both patients and doctors. It is estimated that 5-10% of people struggle with dandruff. population.
Usually they are 10-20 years old. On the other hand, seborrheic dermatitis affects about 1-3%, especially in young men up to 40 years of age. Here are some facts about what causes these disorders and tips for dealing with them.
Where does dandruff come from?
Exfoliation of the callous epidermis as a result of brushing, wearing coats and other standard abrasions and micro-injuries is a natural phenomenon. In this way, the epidermis renews itself naturally, which takes place in consecutive twenty-eight-day cycles. However, this is not always the case. One of the essential roles in the formation of dandruff is the abnormal renewal of epidermal cells. This process is significantly accelerated, up to 7-15 days (normally it takes about 28 days).
Most often, dandruff is not associated with lesions. Then it is limited to the scalp and is accompanied by a slight itching. It is chronic and generally increases in autumn and winter, and disappears in summer. The causes of dandruff are varied: excessive colonization of the scalp by yeast-like fungi of the genus Malassezia, hormonal disorders, specific climatic conditions (high temperature and excess water vapor in the air or too cold climate and too much dry heating of apartments without moisture), environmental pollution, weakening of the body caused by inadequate low in vitamins and trace elements, as well as alcohol abuse, excessive consumption of sugar, saturated fat and starch.
The cause may also be – genetic predisposition negatively influencing metabolism, such as overactive sebaceous glands, diseases that interfere with immune resistance and neuropsychic factors, such as stress, fatigue, genetic and immunological factors.
It is also influenced by such factors as: improper care of the scalp and hair, e.g. too frequent or too rare washing, insufficient rinsing of the shampoo, wearing inadequate, windproof headgear, as well as the use of irritating cosmetics, hairdressing treatments and prolonged exposure to UV radiation.
Also read: Seborrheic dermatitis – causes, symptoms, treatment
Types of dandruff – regular and oily
Its most common form is dandruff ordinary, appearing as dry, loose, grayish or whitish scaleswhich appear on the top of the head and then move towards the lateral areas: parietal and temporal. And although the hair is unchanged, it can show increased dryness and brittleness.
In oily (seborrheic) dandruff, oily scales form on the top of the head, a 1-2 mm layer of dirty yellow, brittle, wax- or fat-like scales. Inflammation occurs on the scalp, which is manifested by redness, oozing, combined with severe itching. As a result, greasy, shiny hair becomes thinner and seborrheic alopecia develops.
Seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff – which came first?
Opinions on this subject are divided. Many researchers believe that dandruff is the mildest stage of PsA or just a symptom of this chronic disease. Other doctors treat both conditions as separate entities, marking their different causes, symptoms and course.
Regardless of how the problem is addressed, it is known that both conditions often coexist with each other, a among the causes of the development of PsA are: excessive fungal colonization, lowered immune resistance and the action of numerous external factors. The activity of the sebaceous glands is also very important. This is indicated by the localization of psoriasis skin lesions, which corresponds to the location of the sebaceous glands, and the low activity of the disease before the period of the hormonal storm accompanying puberty in adolescents, which causes hyperactivity of these glands.
Also read: Oily hair – causes, prevention, home remedies
The effect of androgens is also important, which confirms the more frequent occurrence of PsA in men. Other factors are also responsible for the development of the disease, such as: innate individual susceptibility (especially hyperandrogenism and excessive progesterone production in women), improper diet and endocrine dysfunction, environmental pollution and lack of exposure to sunlight, as well as some neurological and mental diseases.
Treatment of dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis
Treatment of dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis is difficult for doctors, mainly due to its chronic and recurrent nature. Treatment lasts for many years and often does not bring satisfactory results. There are many preparations that are highly effective in treating PsA and dandruff.
In the case of ordinary dandruff, it is usually enough to use anti-dandruff shampoos containing zinc sulfide, selenium compounds or tar, as well as anti-fungal shampoos. With oily dandruff, the use of herbs will be beneficial: nettle, burdock root, mint, rosemary, tea tree. It is important not to dry your hair.
Home remedies for oily dandruff are rarely enough. Most people need to consult a dermatologist in order to stop seborrhea. Shampoos used in the treatment of dandruff should be systematically replaced with preparations from different groups, which prevents the development of tachyphylaxis, i.e. loss of sensitivity to a frequently used drug or active substance. The condition for the effectiveness of the therapy is to leave the foamed preparation on the scalp for a few minutes.
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PsA in the scalp can be diagnosed and treated by a doctor. Like in the treatment of dandruff, shampoos, lotions and oils with antifungal, keratolytic and cytostatic properties are used to relieve clinical symptoms, i.e. remove scales and scabs, reduce seborrhea and reduce inflammation. Additionally, it is advantageous to use preparations containing selenium sulphide, zinc pyrithione, sulfur, salicylic acid and tar. Sometimes, in the case of severe inflammation, it is necessary to use steroid preparations. Both in the treatment of dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis, it is extremely important to eliminate factors exacerbating the disease.