Do dandruff and itching always go together?
Dandruff, or as it is called in medical language ( seborrhea ), is a dermatic disease expressed by profuse flaking of the scalp as old cells die.
The process of cell renewal is natural, but only when it does not go beyond the norm . A number of factors can throw this process off track:
- Metabolic disruptions.
- Diseases of the gastrointestinal system.
- Vegetative-vascular dystonia and problems with the nervous system caused by prolonged stress and lack of sleep.
- Disruption of sebaceous secretions.
- Violation of personal hygiene rules.
- Improper lifestyle (lack of the required amount of physical activity, poor diet, smoking, alcohol consumption, lack of sunlight).
- Long-term use of antibiotics can also lead to dandruff.
Itching may occur for the following reasons.
Allergic reactions to certain components included in shampoos or popular hair strengthening oils today, which, unfortunately, are not always of high quality and natural.
Often, in order to save money, manufacturers dilute natural oils (fir, burdock, etc.) with synthetic liquids and aromatic fragrances.
The result is a completely useless and sometimes even harmful mixture, suitable only for baths as an aromatic component and nothing more. Using such oils can lead to itching and even more serious problems.
Therefore, when the first unpleasant symptoms appear, it is necessary to immediately rinse your hair and scalp with warm water and regular shampoo .
Itching, like dandruff, can occur due to poor quality, too hard water . Therefore, to solve the problem, you should either soften the water or use shampoos for hard water.
A painful itchy condition also occurs due to the development of Malasecia fungus on the scalp . Under normal conditions, the fungus is constantly present on human skin, but if some function in the body fails, the fungus begins to develop.
To destroy Malasecia, you need a comprehensive, competent treatment that relieves inflammation and skin irritation.
Here you need:
- antiseptic effect;
- mitigation;
- restoration and regeneration of cells for rapid treatment of the disease.
Today, there are many known ways to combat dandruff and itching . Therapeutic procedures, the use of special pharmaceutical products (ointments, shampoos, sprays), folk remedies.
So, to relieve the unbearable itching, you can use the good old advice: take a small amount of olive oil and massage it into the scalp.
Wash off after 30 minutes with hot water using medicated shampoo.
REFERENCE ! Rubbing simple olive oil into the scalp helps get rid of dry seborrhea and the accompanying itching in 1-2 weeks. In addition, the hair will become soft, silky, and its growth will improve.
Rinsing with chamomile infusion, as well as pharmaceutical products, also help in this case, which we will talk about a little later.
ATTENTION ! If you have dandruff and itching, scratching your scalp is unacceptable, as this will lead to even more serious consequences. Microscopic trauma to the scalp that occurs when scratching opens access to aggressive influences from the outside, that is, to infections of various types, which can be very dangerous.
IMPORTANT !
If you have dandruff and, especially, itching, you should not use a hairdryer, hairspray or paint, since, in the first case, overdrying, and in the second, the action of chemical reagents, aggravates the disease.
When to see a doctor
Peeling of the dermis and the appearance of sores are reasons to consult a specialist. There are a number of signs indicating the development of serious diseases, so you should not hesitate to visit a doctor.
The main symptoms that should cause immediate contact with a trichologist:
- excessive hair loss;
- severe itching accompanied by burning of the dermis;
- flaky areas that rapidly increase in volume;
- formation of ulcers on the scalp;
- extensive rashes that itch;
- the appearance of blisters, open wounds
- sores on the head are filled with purulent contents.
In such cases, you should not use pharmaceutical drugs or home remedies. Delay in treatment will result in rapid spread of the lesion to healthy tissue.
Effective remedies for dandruff and itchy scalp
Today there is a wide selection of industrial products against seborrhea and itching. But how to choose the right drug, inexpensive and, at the same time, effective, how not to get confused in the abundance of brands and advertising deception?
So, the top 5 most effective industrial anti-dandruff products :
One of the most popular medicated shampoos that helps deal with dandruff quickly is Nizoral . Manufactured using a unique Belgian technology, the shampoo destroys the pathogenic fungus that causes excessive flaking and unbearable itching.
The product is effective even with advanced seborrhea, as well as with lichen , this is its undeniable advantage.
The shampoo's properties also include a disinfecting, antiseptic and restorative effect , because after a disorder caused by dandruff, the scalp needs to start the process of cell regeneration, only in this case recovery can occur quickly.
But along with the advantages, it is worth noting the disadvantages: firstly, the shampoo is not cheap - about 400 rubles. for a small bottle, and secondly, some components included in its composition can cause allergic reactions in case of individual intolerance (which, however, happens extremely rarely).
Sulfuric ointment . This, one might say, is an ancient remedy; it has been used for decades to combat various types of skin diseases. Eczema, psoriasis, lichen , and much, much more.
Today, sulfur ointment is actively used to treat dandruff and is prescribed by trichologists . The advantages here include effectiveness in the treatment of all forms of seborrhea .
The disadvantages are that they are not easy to use (the need to rinse the ointment from the hair, which becomes problematic); it is also worth noting that you need to treat sulfur ointment with the utmost caution.
ATTENTION ! The percentage composition of the ointment is prescribed only by a doctor after diagnosing seborrhea, since a discrepancy in the choice of the percentage composition of the ointment can aggravate the disease.
It should also be noted that sulfur, which is part of the ointment preparation, has the property of burning, therefore, along with an unpleasant burning sensation, even greater flaking of the scalp may be observed as a side effect if used incorrectly and not taking into account the individual characteristics of the condition of the scalp.
Preparations based on ketoconazole . Such products are classified as effective; they have a powerful antiseptic effect and destroy the fungus that causes dandruff .
But the substance ketoconazole may be useless if dandruff does not arise as a result of activation of the fungus, but for other reasons: drying of the scalp due to excessive use of paints, varnishes and other chemicals, hair dryers, straightening irons, curling irons; hereditary factors; hormonal imbalances; lack of essential vitamins and microelements in the body, which also causes seborrhea.
Zinc ointment . Like sulfur, zinc ointment is very effective in combating dandruff, but it is usually used to combat oily seborrhea , while it is practically not used to treat dry seborrhea.
Zinc is an active chemical substance that, on the one hand, destroys all fungal formations, viruses, pathogenic bacteria , and on the other hand, it starts the process of healing and restoration , which is simply necessary for seborrhea.
Zinc has long been used in pharmaceuticals as a healing agent. There are known zinc-based ointments that are used even in the postoperative period, and this already says everything.
But again, any chemical product should be used with great caution, only after consulting a doctor, and strictly following the instructions.
Sulsena medicinal shampoo . The main purpose of the drug is to combat the cause of itching and dandruff . Sulsena is widely used to treat all types of dandruff, different stages of complexity.
Efficiency and ease of use are advantages, but the disadvantages include high cost .
Also, the drug is capable of drying out hair, however, like all of the above industrial products, so they should be used only when folk recipes, gentle and harmless, have already turned out to be useless.
Check out reviews of effective anti-dandruff shampoos:
- cosmetic : Head & Shoulders, Clear Vita ABE, Alerana, Horsepower, tar shampoo;
- pharmacy : Sulsena, Sebozol, Fitoval, Ketoconazole, Vichy, shampoos with zinc.
Read tips on how to choose the right shampoo for a man or woman, as well as for dry or oily dandruff.
A course of treatment
A very important condition when choosing industrial anti-dandruff products is correct diagnosis and diagnosis . Seborrhea is divided into types, subdivided according to the degree of complexity, each type, each degree requires its own approach, active substances, and its own treatment period.
But, as a rule, not the most advanced dandruff is cured with proper therapy within three weeks . Moreover, after the first week of proper treatment, a positive result is observed.
But in order to avoid the resumption of the pathogenic process, it is necessary to constantly monitor the condition of the scalp, do not forget about basic hygiene rules, monitor your diet, if possible, excluding fatty foods, alcohol and tobacco products, and excess confectionery and flour products .
Also, for the health and beauty of hair, an influx of fresh air and sunlight is necessary, which produces vitamin D .
What to do if the skin under your hair is dry?
If unpleasant sensations occur infrequently, but cause concern, you need to do the following:
- Change all hair care products. Choose mostly natural ingredients.
- Emphasize proper nutrition. Porridge, seasonal vegetables and fruits, drinking regime, meat and fish, etc.
- Never wash your hair with hot water. In addition to the fact that this makes them dull, you injure your scalp every time.
- Try to dry your hair naturally - without a hair dryer. Limit the use of a straightening iron - this is generally the funeral march for your hair.
- Every day, comb your hair at least 300 times in different directions, thereby improving blood circulation in your head.
- In sub-zero temperatures, wear a hat, and in hot weather, too.
How to relieve an attack of itching quickly?
When the itching becomes unbearable, it is difficult to reassure yourself with the thought that using this or that industrial product in two or three weeks, this painful condition will pass.
We need to act urgently, immediately. In this case, traditional medicine will help out .
Take two tablespoons of dry nettle herb and pour a cup of boiling water over it .
Cover and let sit for 15 minutes, then strain.
Rinse your scalp with nettle infusion and see how the itching subsides in a matter of minutes. In addition, nettle effectively fights dandruff, soothes, relieves irritation, restores, and promotes hair growth.
Find out more about the use of various folk remedies for dandruff:
- salt, soda, eggs, apple cider vinegar, aspirin, laundry and tar soap;
- masks : with egg, for itching and hair loss, for oily hair;
- essential oils : castor, burdock, tea tree;
- herbs : nettle and celandine.
