Causes and risk factors
Skin usually reproduces new cells and shed the dead one, accumulation and excess shedding of dead cells is the primary cause for dandruff. Oily skin is more prone for dandruff. Environmental factors like pollution, extremes of temperatures are some of the contributing factors for dandruff. Some people can be sensitive to certain hair care products such individual can come up with complaints of dandruff. A fungal or yeast infection is another common cause of dandruff. Certain skin conditions like eczema, seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis can also present with dandruff.
Clinical presentation:
As the name suggests the only complaint which the patient suffers from is white flakes on the scalp and itching of scalp. People present with presence of white powder like flakes on shoulder and on wearing dark clothes. It can lead to embarrassed feeling at social circles. Sometime it may be associated with redness of the scalp skin or feeling of tightness or soreness on the scalp.
Investigations:
Generally no investigations are required for diagnosing the complaint of dandruff. Patient themselves can diagnose. Diagnosis can be confirmed on the basis of the symptoms narrated by the patient and physical examination carried out by the doctor.
Treatment:
Maintenance of the scalp hygiene is the foremost priority. Selection of a good regular shampoo resolves most of the dandruff problems. It is seen as the age grows the problem of dandruff decreases. Where regular shampoos do not help Shampoos containing salicylic acid, tar based, zinc pyrithione, tea tree oil, anti fungal can be used for until the dandruff is under control. Steroid lotions can also be advised by the doctors. If there exists any underlying diseases appropriate medications are advised.
Recent updates:
A research carried out by the University of Hawaii at Manoa has revealed out that a ubiquitous skin fungus linked to dandruff, eczema and other itchy, flaky maladies in humans has now been tracked to even further global reaches including Hawaiian coral reefs and the extreme environments of arctic soils and deep sea vents.
Efficacy of treatment with peptides is being tried in treatment of atopic eczema, dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis.
