Managing dandruff, hearing loss, fainting spells and medical news
Take control of those unsightly flakes
Our skin is designed to shed old skin cells and grow new ones. Dandruff, however, is a kink in this assemblyline process, causing old skin cells on the scalp to build up and clump into the unsightly flakes that land on your favourite black shirt. About half of the adult population will suffer from a flaky scalp at some point.
Factors that may contribute to dandruff include seborrheic dermatitis, dry skin and certain skin conditions. Seborrheic dermatitis is a skin condition marked by large yellow scales, redness and inflammation of the scalp, or of other areas of the skin. While you might associate dandruff with a dry, flaking scalp, “it is actually caused by excess oiliness,” explains dermatologist Dr Charlene Linzon.
The culprit here is a common group of yeasts called Malassezia that grow on everyone, and it feeds on oil from the scalp, Linzon says.
What tips the scale in dandruff’s favour depends on the individual: how much oil your scalp produces, and how vigorously the yeast grows. “The yeast breaks down scalp oil, leaving behind a by-product [unsaturated fatty acid] that causes the flaking associated with dandruff, and the irritation, inflammation and scaling that define seborrheic dermatitis,” says Linzon.
Dandruff is also more likely to develop at certain stages of life, such as in infancy (called cradle cap), and around puberty, when oil (sebum) secretion increases, providing more food for yeast. Stress also increases oil production.
Thankfully, you can usually get this problem under control with over-thecounter (OTC) products. Start by shampooing your scalp frequently with a medicated shampoo to reduce oiliness. Here are your choices.
1. ANTIFUNGALS The active ingredients in these are zinc pyrithione, selenium sulphide and ketoconazole. They slow down the growth of the yeast that causes the flaking and scaling.
2. COAL TAR The active ingredient in this product slows skin cell turnover, and also works as an antiinflammatory, says Linzon.
3. SALICYLIC ACID These shampoos boast a keratolytic agent, which helps to loosen and dislodge scales, explains Linzon.