Dandruff
Description:
Contrary to popular belief dandruff is not a dry scalp but actually the excessive shedding of outermost cells as oily flakes. Most people are affected by dandruff at some point in their lives but in the majority of cases it is temporary and fluctuating.
Symptoms:
Small white oily flakes of skin from the scalp falling off into the hair on onto the shoulders
Often itching and scaling on the scalp
Causes:
Dandruff can be stimulated by micro-organisms that are normally present in the scalp. Our skin secretes sebum which controls the level of the organisms present, but if there are any adverse changes to the secretions the micro-organisms are able to flourish making the scalp produce the dandruff flakes faster. The speed of production and the increase in the amount sebum produced makes the flakes oily so that they stick the scalp. Some of the reasons for an adverse change could be:
Poor blood circulation
Improper diet
Use of strong shampoo
Insufficient rinsing of hair after shampooing.
Stress
Hormone changes
Cosmetic products
Poor hygiene
Treatments:
Since dandruff is actually a problem of an oily scalp massaging oils into the scalp or using similar hot oil treatments won’t help and will only compound the problem further. Instead it can be treated by special shampoos and leave-in scalp tonics and just by keeping the scalp clean.
