Problems With Dandruff? the Causes and Remedies to Eliminate the Disorder“

“It is a very common problem and causes a lot of embarrassment. Let's find out the causes and possible remedies to combat flaking of the scalp”

Dandruff is a real ailment that results in intense flaking of the scalp, causing embarrassment and even self-esteem problems in many people. As we said, it is a scalp pathology, which macroscopically presents itself as white flakes and dries at the base of the hair. Normally the replacement of the epithelial cells of the scalp occurs regularly and the elimination of dead cells such as desquamation of the upper tracts of the epidermis occurs without problems, and a very modest presence of desquamation is physiological. However, when the presence of whitish and dry scales is quite high, it is called dandruff. It can be a symptom of seborrheic dermatitis, which is therefore chronic. Let's find out the causes and remedies in the Fitness center.

Causes of dandruff

To be able to identify the causes of dandruff,  you must first identify the type: in fact, two different types of dandruff can be distinguished, dry and oily.

• Dry dandruff  - in the case of dry dandruff  (or pityriasis) the scalp is dehydrated but does not appear inflamed, while peeling occurs quickly and continuously without itching or in a mild form and without skin irritation. Dandruff dry also tends to occur in periods of high emotional stress, and during the winter.
• Oily dandruff  - in the case of oily dandruff,  the scalp has an excess of sebum and greasiness, with copious production of very thick yellowish scales, similar to the "cradle cap" of newborns, which detach continuously from the head. Furthermore,  oily dandruff is accompanied by intense itching, with the consequent risk of the appearance of seborrheic dermatitis, and, in this case, unfortunately also of hair loss.

Identifying the type of dandruff is therefore important in order to understand what to do and act with the right treatment. In addition, both dandruff dry that the fat may occur in three different modes:  dandruff physiological,  dandruff occasional, and dandruff pathological.

Physiological dandruff falls within the physiological cycle of the scalp flaking and is therefore due to the replacement of the most superficial layer of the epidermis, which desquamates regularly. The fall of these epithelial cells is harmless to the scalp but can be accentuated by atmospheric and external agents, such as too dry air or frequent washing and with too aggressive shampoos.

Occasional dandruff can occur due to certain conditions:

• microorganisms (infections) - aerobic bacteria such as acne bacillus (Corynebacterium acnes) or pathogenic microorganisms such as Pityrosporum ovale and Malassezia, usually accompanied by severe itching and a lot of flaking;
• aggressive mechanical treatments - such as nails, brushes or combs, which cause small abrasions, give rise to localized inflammation, followed by flaking and  dandruff, and create an ideal environment for the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms (bacteria and fungi);
• incorrect hygiene treatments.

The main incorrect hygiene treatments that cause occasional dandruff  to appear  are:

• the use of too aggressive serbonormalizing shampoos with an alkaline base, which hinders the right balance of skin sebum and causes the breakdown of the sebum itself in the form of  dandruff ;
• the use of too many alcoholic lotions that have a negative effect on keratin, which dehydrates causing  dandruff ;
• excessive use of alkaline substances, which break down keratin and thus produce the classic scales of  dandruff ;
• exposure to too dry heat sources, which also causes dehydration of the keratin.

Pathological dandruff, however, is caused by the hydro-lipid-protein biological imbalance of the skin and can be caused by:

• hyperhidrosis - excessive sweating of superficial tissues and due to skin pathologies;
• dyshidrosis - poor hydration of the skin due to a dysfunction of the sweat glands and superficial vessels;
• seborrhea - excessive sebum production;
• asteatosis - insufficient sebum production;
• hypertrophy - excessive production of protein substances;
• atrophy - insufficient production of protein substances;
• dystrophy - inadequate nourishment of germ cells.

Finally, among the elements that contribute to accentuating dandruff we can find: a bad diet, stress and too frequent washing, too thin, or with aggressive products or not suitable for your hair type.

Remedies for dandruff

To effectively combat dandruff, it is therefore essential to first identify the type of dandruff you suffer from: in fact, an effective remedy against one type of dandruff can aggravate the problem with another type. In this sense, it is therefore important to undergo a dermatological medical examination, to investigate the causes and characteristics of dandruff and thus choose the most suitable treatment.

In general, to combat the annoying problem of dandruff it is good to adopt some good habits, such as using specific products for your hair type, avoiding excessive use of products such as gels, sprays, and mousses, following a healthy, varied, and particularly rich in sulfur amino acids, omega-3, antioxidants, and B vitamins, avoid sources of excessive heat (such as strengtheners and curling irons), the use of aggressive products and, when possible, particularly stressful situations.

In addition, it is possible to use specific shampoos for dandruff, which differ according to the active ingredient they contain, such as zinc pyriton, coal tar, selenium sulfate, ketoconazole or herbal products based on extracts of chili pepper, the vinegar of apples, or essential oils of eucalyptus, rosemary, lemon, sage, nettle and tea tree.