Do you find yourself scratching your head? The chances are high that you are suffering from dandruff – a scalp condition that is extremely common among individuals. But worry not, for dandruff is a condition that can be treated. This blog will help you understand the condition that causes your scalp to flake a little better. We will also discuss its causes, symptoms, and cure! Read on!
DID YOU KNOW?
According to Hello Jupiter, nearly 75% of people experience symptoms of dandruff at some point in their lives, and roughly 20% get it chronically (all day, every day).
Dandruff is a condition in which the scalp flakes. It is often assumed that a dry scalp causes dandruff, but there are a lot of other reasons for dandruff in individuals. Being one of the most common conditions that affect all individuals alike, it requires different treatments based on which stage of dandruff a person is experiencing. If you only have mild dandruff, then you can tackle it with an anti-dandruff shampoo. Whereas in severe cases, a medicinal shampoo would do the work, but in cases in which dandruff gets out of control, trichological/dermatological treatment might be needed
This blog will discuss dandruff, its types, symptoms, and causes in detail. We will also look at the possible solutions for dandruff issues. Read on!
Dandruff and its types
Dandruff is a chronic scalp condition that affects millions of people around the world. As discussed earlier, there are many factors that cause dandruff, and there are many types of dandruff too. Dandruff can cause severe itching on your scalp and interfere with your day-to-day life. It causes the scalp to flake. These flakes can fall and show on your clothes, which can be a bit embarrassing.
Not every person who is suffering from dandruff experiences the same set of symptoms. Dandruff comes in different types, and you need to closely watch your symptoms and consult a doctor who will help you with the right treatment and medication if required. There are 4 most common types of dandruff faced by individuals today.
1. Dry scalp dandruff
Dry scalp skin dandruff is the type of dandruff caused in the winter season. People with curly hair are the ones that suffer the most from this type of dandruff. It is caused when the individual washes their hair with hot water during winter, causing their scalp to dry up and become flaky. You might even experience a severe itching sensation on the scalp. Avoid bathing in hot water and use good moisturising shampoos, along with regularly giving the scalp a good oil massage. This will help the individual get over this type of dandruff. This is one of the most common types of dandruff faced by people.
2. Oily scalp dandruff
Oily scalp skin dandruff is caused due to accumulation of the ‘sebum’ oil on the scalp. Usually, the stress in individuals leads to excessive secretion of the sebum oil, thereby making the scalp extremely oily and even greasy in many cases. This kind of sebum oil accumulation can cause dead skin cells on the scalp to form clumps and appear oily and yellow in colour. This type of dandruff usually goes away when stress and anxiety levels in the individuals go down. If you face symptoms of oily scalp skin dandruff, you need to consult your doctor for medication.
3. Disease-related dandruff
Disease-related dandruff is nothing but the type of dandruff caused by hair, scalp, and other health conditions. Some of these conditions include Seborrheic Dermatitis, Atopic Dermatitis, Psoriasis, Eczema, and more. These conditions usually cause scaling on the scalp, which leads to dandruff. The only way to get rid of disease-related dandruff is to get the underlying causal disease treated. Watch out for symptoms and consult your doctor for the right treatment.
4. Dandruff is caused by a fungal infection
Malassezia, a type of fungus, is the main cause of this type of dandruff. This fungus is a natural component housed in the scalp. Malassezia feeds on excessive oil that is present on the scalp and secretes oleic acid. This oleic acid causes the dead skin cells to clump together and cause white flakes, that is, dandruff. You need to consult your dermatologist or trichologist and also use a good anti-fungal shampoo to tackle dandruff caused by a fungal infection.
These are the most common types of dandruff that individuals face. In the coming section of the article, we will discuss the various causes and symptoms of dandruff. Stay with us!!
Dandruff – Causes and symptoms
DID YOU KNOW?
Dandruff is a milder form of a scalp condition called Seborrheic Dermatitis, a scalp/skin condition that causes yellow or red flakes, which can be both oily and dry. Seborrheic Dermatitis is usually caused by a wide range of factors, including medical conditions like HIV and Parkinson’s disease.
There are different types of dandruff, with each type having a slight difference in its symptoms. If you are under the impression that a dry scalp is the only cause of dandruff, then you are wrong. Let’s look at the different causes as well as symptoms of the scalp condition.
What are the symptoms of dandruff?
Dandruff is usually caused by several factors, which we will discuss a little later in this section. However, the following are the signs you need to watch out for if you think you have dandruff
- The skin on the scalp is dry and flaky..
- You find flakes on your clothes, especially in the shoulder area.
- You find flakes on other parts of your body, including eyebrows, beard, moustache, hairline, nose, and ears.
- You have an excessively oily scalp.
- You have a constant itching sensation on your scalp and other parts of your face closer to your hairline.
- You find scoopable flakes on your scalp and have the urge to scoop them out with your fingernails.
- You find flakes that are red, yellow, white and off-white.
- You have yellowish or red scaly bumps on your scalp and sometimes, even around your eyebrows, forehead, and more.
- You experience a sudden acne outbreak.
- You also notice increased hair fall with every stroke through your hair.
These are some of the symptoms of dandruff. If you find yourself experiencing any of the signs, you must consult your dermatologist or trichologist immediately and get it treated.
The different causes of dandruff
There is no one clear reason why dandruff occurs. However, trichologists and dermatologists, through research, have determined a few possible causes for the scalp condition:
1. Medical conditions
This is one of the most common factors that cause dandruff in individuals. Medical conditions, especially Seborrheic Dermatitis, known to be a more severe or an amplified version of dandruff, is known to be one of the key contributors to causing dandruff in individuals. Sometimes, other medical conditions and also the drugs prescribed can cause dandruff. Medicines that are known to cause dry skin can also lead to a dry scalp. Some medical conditions known to lead to dandruff in individuals include psoriasis, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, HIV, depression, obesity, acne, and more.
2. Wrong shampooing and poor hygiene
The way you shampoo and the product you use can also be the reason behind dry scalp and dandruff. Washing your hair with hot water, especially in winters, and using the wrong shampoo for your hair and scalp type can lead to the scalp drying out and getting flaky. At the same time, not shampooing and washing your hair regularly can also have adverse effects on your scalp. When you don’t shampoo enough, your hair will get greasy and cause dirt to get collected. This is dandruff from excess oil and dirt that camp out on your scalp.
3. Fungus/yeast
As discussed in the earlier section of the article, Malassezia, a naturally growing fungus on the scalp, can also cause dandruff. The type of dandruff caused by this fungus is dandruff caused by a fungal infection. This is one of the major culprits of dandruff in adults. The fungus usually feeds on the oil in your hair and breaks down into oleic acid. This oleic acid gets dry skin accumulated and flaky, causing dandruff on your scalp.
4. Oily scalp
Oily scalp is another reason behind dandruff in individuals. It is a common misconception that only those with dry scalp suffer from dandruff. People with oily scalp also get dandruff. This is majorly caused due to stress, anxiety, and depression. These conditions catapult the amount of ‘sebum’ oil secreted by the scalp. In addition to this, leaving your hair oiled for days can also cause dandruff. Sebum oil is what keeps the scalp naturally moisturised. So, more sebum oil is secreted during stressful and anxious times, making the scalp excessively oily. This accumulates dead skin cells in clumps and causes yellow, greasy flakes on the scalp. This condition, as discussed earlier, is known as ‘oily scalp skin dandruff’.
5. Dry skin
Dry scalp skin dandruff occurs in individuals mainly during winters. When you use hot water and harsh shampoos to wash your hair during cold months, the scalp gets extremely dry, causing the skin to scale up and form flakes. You are also most likely to suffer from this type of dandruff if you are someone who suffers from dry skin in other parts of your body during winters. During this time, you must be extremely careful about your hair wash habits as well as the type of shampoo you use. Get in touch with your trichologist, who will recommend or prescribe you a medicinal moisturising shampoo.
Apart from dry skin, there are an array of other skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema that also lead to dandruff. Dandruff is a difficult condition to manage but not untreatable. RichFeel, India’s first and largest trichology clinic, offers a wide range of solutions for hair and scalp problems, including dandruff. Let’s look at their dandruff treatment in the coming section. Keep reading!!
Richfeel’s anti-dandruff treatment
RichFeel, India’s first and largest chain of trichology centres, was founded by Dr Apoorva Shah, India’s first certified trichologist. Being pioneers in the field of trichology, RichFeel has around 88 centres across India and treatment partnerships with several renowned trichology centres around the world. They offer professional and effective solutions to many hair and scalp-related conditions. Their anti-dandruff treatment is one of the best and most effective in the country.
About the treatment
The anti-dandruff treatment at RichFeel is here to completely free your from the scalp condition. When you go in for your consultation, the certified and trained trichologist at RichFeel will study your hair and try unearthing the underlying cause of dandruff before prescribing the treatment. Of course, they will redirect you to other treatments if your dandruff’s root cause lies in other medical and scalp conditions. However, if you are eligible for the anti-dandruff treatment at RichFeel, consider yourself completely cured.
Steps involved in the treatment
- A Capilloscopy examination is done to understand your scalp and the type of dandruff.
- You will be given shampooing instructions based on the severity of your dandruff condition.
- You will also be prescribed a dandruff cream. You might have to apply it overnight as well.
- In addition, you will also be given minerals to enhance your hair’s nutrition.
Conclusion
When it comes to hair and scalp-related problems, RichFeel is the most trusted trichology centre and the go-to clinic. The team involves some of the top trichologists in India, trained by Dr Apoorva Shah himself. If you are looking for treatment for dandruff or any other hair and scalp issues, head to RichFeel today.
