Dandruff Information

 

We have all seen people with those white flakes on their shoulders, but is it really just dandruff? Is it contagious? Can't they do something about it?.

Seborrhea (dandruff) is a skin disorder that results from neither too little moisture nor too much oil. It is a form of skin inflammation (dermatitis) which has no known cause. This condition can appear at any time from infancy to old age, and can come and go more or less at random. Treatment of seborrhea (dandruff) is directed at fighting the skin inflammation. This is done either directly, by using cortisone-based creams and lotions (which reduce inflammation), or by reducing the yeast that builds up on scaly areas and adds to the problem. Note, though, that dandruff is not a yeast infection.

Seborrhea is not just skin dryness. Actually, the word "seborrhea" means "too much oil." Seborrhea is also known as seborrheic dermatitis or common dandruff.
Seborrhea can present as a variety of conditions such as dandruff, thick scales on the scalp, redness on the face or in the armpits, or raw, red patches below the breasts. Although some of these conditions may feel "dry," moisturizing only makes them redder. In other cases the skin may seem oily or even oily and dry at the same time.

Who gets dandruff?

• About 2-5% of the population have this condition
• Adults and infants (in the first three months)
• Adults usually show signs in their 25's to 60's, but sometimes earlier
• A type of dandruff is seen in those with HIV disease and is very common in people with  neurological conditions like Parkinson's        
• It is more common if you are obese
• It is more common if you have rosacea, and possibly, acne
• You are more likely to get it if you live in a cold, dry climate
• Sometimes you also get redness and scaling on your eyelid (This condition is called blepharitis).
• Sometimes it's difficult to distinguish dandruff from scalp psoriasis in its early stages

Causes

• Some individuals have an increase in oiliness of the skin
• Dandruff is known to be increased with stress
• Some drugs, such as cimetidine and gold, may be risk factors
• Heavy drinking of alcohol can be a trigger About half of the patients have an increase in Pityrosporum yeasts on the involved skin. This yeast is a normal inhabitant of the skin
• Dandruff is not infectious, nor can you give it to any one else.

Treatment

There are a number of different types of medicated shampoos. These can be used to control dandruff on your scalp, face and trunk. They can be used daily, although 2-3 times a week is usually sufficient. Contact time with the scalp is ideally 5 minutes.

There are all different types of medicated shampoos, each with a different ingredient:
• Zinc pyrithione (i.e. Head and Shoulders)
• Salicylic acid (i.e. Sebcur)
• Tar shampoos (i.e. T-Gel)
• Ketoconazole (i.e. Nizoral)
• Selenium sulfide (i.e. Selsun)
• Ketoconazole (i.e. Nizoral)

If the shampoo doesn't control the dandruff on your face, a cream is probably required like hydrocortisone cream (which can be bought without a prescription at a concentration of 0.5%), anti-yeast cream (sometimes used in combination with a mild cortisone cream) or a 15% propylene glycol cream. Antifungal pills can be prescribed to reduce dandruff if it is severe. A new generation of treatments called immunomodulators, which are prescription creams and ointments, have been shown to help. These reduce the inflammatory reaction in the skin and are sometimes used to treat this condition.

If dandruff can't be controlled using over the counter treatments, it is best to see your doctor to determine whether or not it is actually dandruff and how it should be best treated.