Causes
The disease is caused by a fungus that is activated as a result of improper functioning of the sebaceous glands. The exfoliation of dead cells is disrupted, they accumulate, forming whitish-gray flakes in the scalp.
The consequence of the process is the development of seborrhea, hair loss, itching, peeling, and unpleasant symptoms. Dandruff develops on the head against the background of the following changes within the body:
- hereditary factor;
- disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract;
- hormonal imbalance;
- use of inappropriate hair care products;
- suffering a severe nervous shock;
- the presence of chronic illnesses;
- course of pregnancy, transition period;
- lack of B vitamins, unhealthy diet (eating fast food, soda, fatty foods);
- dermatological diseases (lichen, psoriasis).
Various atmospheric phenomena negatively affect the condition of hair. There are other less important factors (vitaminosis, colds). To select the right treatment, it is worth finding out the specific cause. It is best to consult a trichologist, visit an endocrinologist, gynecologist (women), urologist (men).
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Causes of dandruff and itching
The main task is to find out what caused the snow problem. Dandruff is just a consequence of the problem. To make a correct diagnosis, seek help from a trichologist.
The causes of itching and dandruff can be several items from the list:
- Metabolic disease. A failure in metabolism lowers a person’s immune defense, thereby making him an easy prey for the proliferation of fungal parasites on the head.
- Hormonal imbalance. Women often suffer from this problem after childbirth.
- Chronic diseases that occur in a latent form. This list includes diseases of the pancreas and thyroid gland, neurasthenic conditions, and reduced immunity.
- Genetic predisposition. If your parents suffered from dandruff, then you can’t escape heredity.
- Secretory dysfunction of the sebaceous glands. Clogged pores lead to dandruff, itching and severe hair thinning.
- Insufficient amount of protein in the diet, vitamin deficiency. Monitor not only the quantity of food, but also the quality.
- Chronic fatigue.
- Temperature changes: washing your hair with too cold or hot water leads to dandruff.
- Mycosis. The restless fungus is found on the body of almost every person. Under certain conditions, it multiplies intensely on the skin, causing dryness and discomfort.
- Overheat. Regular thermal exposure dries out not only the hair, but also the scalp.
- Rarely wash your hair.
- Transitional age. Hormonal surges are accompanied not only by a teenager’s first love, but also by dandruff.
Interesting! The unusual scientific name for the disease is seborrhea or seborrheic dermatitis. With this diagnosis, epidermal cells die faster, causing peeling and itching.
Seborrheic crusts are a reason to visit a therapist, undergo a general examination and identify the cause of the disease. If there are no health problems, then try to solve the problems with the help of pharmaceutical products.
Types of disease
Depending on the composition of sebum secreted by the sebaceous glands, dandruff is divided into two types: dry and oily. Each has its own symptoms and specific treatment method.
Dry dandruff
It may appear due to viscous sebum, insufficient sebum secretion. This situation occurs when the sebaceous glands are inhibited. Most often the process occurs during puberty. This pathology is less common in adults.
Dry dandruff affects the upper layers of the epidermis, makes them dry, and the skin begins to peel. In such a situation, the hair does not receive the required amount of nutrients and becomes separated. This is especially noticeable at the ends. Not completely dead skin particles begin to accumulate and form yellowish-grayish flakes.
Unpleasant symptoms are accompanied by itchy skin; with prolonged inactivity, there is a high probability of seborrheic dermatitis and pink spots at the site of scratching. This type of dandruff is characterized by a feeling of tightness and dryness of the skin.
Oily dandruff
This type of disease is necessarily accompanied by increased production of sebum. Scales of not quite dead cells cover greasy hair. Curls quickly become greasy, even with daily washing.
The situation is complicated by blockage of the sebaceous ducts and hair follicles. The process leads to alopecia and unpleasant sensations. There is a high probability of acne and comedones appearing as a result of infection. In any case, the situation requires immediate intervention and treatment.
Some patients note the appearance of mixed symptoms, then this disease is called mixed type of dandruff or seborrhea.
READ ALSO: Effective folk remedies for dandruff at home, the best recipes for decoctions and hair masks
Prevention
To prevent skin problems from becoming an unpleasant surprise, just follow a few tips:
- Keep it clean with cosmetic shampoos.
- Never use someone else's combs, hair clips, or hair ties.
- Maintain a balance of vitamins and minerals with a nutritious diet or special medications.
In addition to these measures, dermatologists recommend periodically applying nourishing or moisturizing masks to reduce dryness.
Itching on the scalp is a signal that something is wrong with it. Most often it occurs due to allergies to cosmetics, lice infection or one of the many types of microscopic fungi. To get rid of the symptoms, it is enough to use a special anti-itch shampoo. Many varieties of this product have been created, but they all have the same active ingredient – ketoconazole.
Treatment methods and recipes
There are many ways to get rid of dandruff. Some prefer store-bought medicines, others prepare decoctions and masks based on natural ingredients.
Medicinal shampoos
The main task of foaming products is to destroy pathogenic fungi and prevent relapses. It is best to give preference to medications that are sold in pharmacy chains. In most cases, cosmetic products do not have the necessary composition that effectively fights the disease.
Before purchasing a healing shampoo, you should carefully study the composition, method of use and other information specified in the instructions. The product must meet quality standards:
- quick, effective impact on fungal colonies, destruction of its population. Elimination of favorable conditions for the normal functioning of pathogenic microorganisms;
- ease of application;
- wide range of effects;
- the product must have anti-inflammatory and bactericidal effects.
The combination of these factors determines a high-quality product that will quickly and efficiently get rid of your problem without harming your hair. Carefully study the composition; the shampoo should contain many natural ingredients (tar, zinc, salicylic acid, ketoconazole). The best option is a remedy that includes all of the above criteria.
Popular, effective products today can safely be considered:
- Nizoral;
- Ketoconazole;
- Sulsena;
- Sebozol;
- Dermazol;
- Keto plus.
The products have been tested by many people, most of the reviews are positive.
Physiotherapy and head massage
The specific type of physiotherapy is prescribed exclusively by the doctor. At home, you can massage the scalp. The process helps exfoliate the epidermis scales and increases blood flow to the hair follicles. The hairs are better nourished, their growth accelerates, and the condition of the hair gradually stabilizes.
The procedure is very simple:
- place 5-10 drops of rosemary/tea tree/lemon anti-dandruff oil on your palm and warm it in your hands;
- start massaging your scalp in circular movements, constantly changing the rhythm and direction;
- after 15 minutes, the hair is washed with medicated shampoo.
Procedures are carried out at least three times a week. Most patients notice improvement after just a few treatments.
Traditional methods and remedies
People have been using herbs, essential oils, and home remedies for a long time. Let's look at specific recipes for folk remedies for dandruff:
- salt peeling . Take 50 g of iodized salt (it contains useful microelements, vitamins, iodine), add heated olive oil or full-fat kefir. Rub the resulting mass into the scalp, using gentle movements so as not to damage the epidermis. Leave for about one hour, then rinse your hair with warm water;
- cosmetic clay . It is better to take blue or white (50g). Dilute the remedy with a decoction of chamomile or nettle until a mushy consistency is obtained. If the strands are dry, you can add egg yolk. The mixture is lubricated on the scalp, all curls, and wrapped. After half an hour, wash off with your usual shampoo;
- tincture of calendula. The product does not require any special preparation, just mix it with olive oil in a 1:1 ratio, rub into the scalp, and leave for a quarter of an hour. Procedures are performed every four days until the desired result is obtained;
- effective mixture . Mix a tablespoon of onion juice, the same amount of vodka, castor oil, add a couple of drops of tea tree ether. Distribute the resulting mass throughout the curls and rub into the epidermis of the head. Be sure to wrap your head, and after half an hour, rinse your hair with medicated shampoo. For complete recovery you will need 10 procedures;
- eliminate itching . Take a glass of kefir, 50 ml of light beer, 30 ml of castor oil. Mix all components thoroughly, lubricate the scalp, it is not necessary to distribute throughout all the hair. After 40 minutes, the mixture is washed off the strands;
- we use honey. You will need only 35 ml of the sweet treat, add the same amount of olive and burdock oils, one chicken egg, 3 drops of lavender essential oil. Warm the finished product a little and lubricate your hair with it. Leave the useful mask for 25 minutes, rinse with water and shampoo. Repeat the manipulations every five days for a month;
- fragrant mixture . To 50 ml of sour cream add 15 ml of garlic, onion, lemon juice, add three drops of lavender ether, pour in a well-beaten chicken egg. The mask is evenly distributed over the hair, wrapped in polyethylene and a towel. After half an hour, rinse your strands. It is recommended to wash off the mask with acidified water;
- against oily dandruff . Squeeze juice or finely chop carrots, strawberries, apples, cucumbers, and pumpkin in a blender. You can mix many ingredients or use one product. The required amount of raw material is distributed over the hair, left for half an hour, then the strands are washed with a decoction of chamomile/nettle/calendula. The procedures are carried out during the season of vegetables and fruits, so as not to use products grown with chemicals.
READ ALSO: What to do if you have a lot of dandruff and an itchy head: the main causes and effective treatment methods
Experiment with different masks and choose the one that suits you best. All recipes have been tested, they help perfectly in the fight against the disease, and quickly relieve unpleasant symptoms.
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Nystatin
Nystatin is a drug that actively fights fungal diseases of the skin, gastrointestinal tract and vaginal candidiasis.
Therefore, it is imperative to establish the root cause of dandruff, since the effectiveness of medication treatment directly depends on this.
Another advantage of this drug is its low price and availability without a doctor’s prescription. It is worth adding that the components of the substance have a beneficial effect not only on the condition of the skin, but also on the hair itself.
Directly for the treatment of dandruff, use only in tablet form.
Using nystatin to treat dandruff is very simple. It is enough to crush 2-3 tablets of this medicine and add to a portion of the shampoo you use for one wash.
Rub into scalp using fingertips using massage movements. Leave for 10-15 minutes, then rinse under running warm water. In order to get results, you need to wash your hair in this way 2 times a day for 14 days. If, after the expiration of the period, dandruff has not been eliminated, then it is worth changing the treatment method to another.
Preventive recommendations
The appearance of dandruff can be prevented by following the rules:
- observe the rules of personal hygiene;
- do not eat fast food, fatty foods;
- go to the gym regularly, lead an active lifestyle;
- use only high-quality hair care products, regularly apply nourishing masks, use less all kinds of curling irons, hair dryers, and straightening irons;
- Monitor the condition of your hair and start treatment immediately when the first symptoms appear.
A few more methods for treating dandruff and itchy scalp in the following video:
How to get rid of dandruff?
Dandruff is a phenomenon that brings a lot of inconvenience, unpleasant, unsightly, and also dangerous, because it can cause hair loss and even baldness. Therefore, at the first sign of it, measures should be taken. The sequence of stages in the fight against dandruff:
- Visiting a specialist trichologist or dermatologist;
- Eliminating the possible cause of its occurrence, for example, reviewing your diet;
- Consuming more essential vitamins;
- Various strengthening of your immunity;
- Try to rest more and recharge with good emotions;
- Direct treatment of the scalp and getting rid of unfortunate scales.