A conscientious anti-dandruff treatment is the only way to eliminate the problem of unsightly white traces of the epidermis, so clearly visible on dark clothes. Dandruff is a troublesome problem – it is very visible and quite difficult to eliminate. It appears as a result of the overactivity of fungi on the scalp. The first step in treating dandruff should be identifying the enemy, i.e. checking what kind of dandruff we are dealing with.
This problem affects both men and women, although it can be more troublesome in men. It is very rare in children, but common in adolescents during puberty and women approaching menopause.
The cause of dandruff is most often a yeast-like fungus that lives on the surface of the human skin. Normally, it does not cause any unpleasantness, unless we create the conditions for its development. How? To answer this question, there are two types of dandruff:
- Oily dandruff – occurs in people with a tendency to oily scalp. The aforementioned fungus has ideal conditions for development in this case, because it feeds on sebum and then has an anaerobic environment favorable for yeast. Under such conditions, the amount of these fungi increases from 45 to 75%. Large amounts of these microorganisms contribute to the formation of more feces, and thus – inflammation. Its main symptom is itching and redness of the epidermis. As a result of exfoliation of the skin, yellowish flakes appear on the head, which over time break off and fall on the clothes.
- Dry dandruff – this type of dandruff affects people who do not have seborrhea. However, they are extremely hypersensitive to the yeast mentioned above, which contributes to inflammation. Then, every time she moves her head, silver flakes fall off it. Another cause of dry dandruff is poorly selected cosmetics that cause irritation – the wrong shampoo, gel, paint, mousse, varnish, perm liquid.
Ways to fight dandruff. When to see a doctor?
In the case of oily dandruff, you should buy a special anti-dandruff shampoo from the pharmacy. These types of cosmetics usually contain substances that reduce the number of microorganisms on the scalp. This type of preparation should be used usually every third day for a period of three weeks, on the other days using mild shampoos (if we wash our hair more often).
For dry dandruff, it is recommended to first use a mild, fragrance-free shampoo with a pH of 5,5. If the reason is the use of the wrong cosmetics, such a treatment will work. However, when hypersensitivity turns out to be the cause, you need to start using a special shampoo to fight dry dandruff.
If fighting with shampoos does not work, you need to go to a dermatologist. He will most likely prescribe oral antifungal agents, and also recommend washing the head with a preparation containing a weak steroid and salicylic acid, which will help remove the remaining scales.