For many people, dandruff is a chronic and embarrassing problem affecting the skin on their scalp. Irritating but not contagious, dandruff’s oily, white flaking skin can result from a number of causes and in many cases can also be difficult to get rid of.
The symptoms of dandruff are generally pretty easy to spot – white, clumped, oily flakes of dead skin in your hair and sprinkled on your clothing. Spending time indoors in warmer, drier air during the cooler fall and winter months tends to aggravate the problem.
Psoriasis, eczema, malessezia, seborrheic dermatitis, and being overly sensitive to shampoos and other hair care products are all potential causes of chronic dandruff. Many people see their dandruff problems increase during the winter months when they’re spending more time indoors where the air is warmer and drier.
A fairly common skin condition, seborrheic dermatitis can affect all areas of the body where there are higher concentrations of glands that produce oil, including armpits, groin areas, eyebrows, and sides of your nose. Oily, irritated skin is the most visible symptom of this. By contrast, psoriasis affects mostly knees, elbows, and body trunks, and manifests itself with silvery, raised scales.
A yeast-like fungus that lives on the scalps of most normal adults without issue, malessezia won’t cause problems for the majority of people. But it can grow out of control if the conditions are right – hair follicles secreting high levels of skin oils. This could end up further irritating the scalp and producing more dead skin cells that appear as white flakes on your clothing or in your hair.
Several internal factors beyond just having an oily complexion will encourage the formation of dandruff. Neurological diseases like Parkington’s, changes in hormone levels, a comprised immune system, and even an accumulation of daily stress are also suspected to be direct contributors to having dandruff. Many nutritionists also believe that dietary deficiencies in zinc, B vitamins, and certain fats encourage dandruff formation and make getting rid of dandruff just that much more challenging.
There are really no effective overnight cures to get rid of dandruff available today, and the types of treatments considered can vary widely. In many cases, mild dandruff can be treated with use of a gentle shampoo during more frequent hair washing to lower skin cell and oil build-up. OTC dandruff shampoos employ a wide range of external medications that work topically on the more difficult dandruff cases. Common remedies include ketoconazole, selenium sulfide, salicylic acid, zinc pyrithione, tea tree oil, and coal tar. There are, though, side effects that have been associated with the use of these agents, including burning, stinging, and other allergic reactions like breathing difficulties, hives, and rashes.
The most effective approach to be able to permanently get rid of dandruff seems to involve a more naturopathic approach. Treating the external symptoms of dandruff – flaking and itching skin – can provide some temporary relief, but the underlying internal causes of dandruff shouldn’t be ignored. A balanced , naturopathic approach is the best way to effectively make your body an inhospitable environment for dandruff to form.
Monica Limpasas, chief research associate at GetRidOf.biz, assesses and ranks many of the top information products available today in the health and fitness industry. Read her unbiased reviews of the most popular naturopathic self-help programs developed to help you not only get rid of dandruff, but to also get rid of acne and many other common conditions.