Dandruff - A Figment of My Imagination? Or What

Hi Kaye,

What your stylist has a lot of truth to it. Many people do not rinse well enough to get all the shampoo and/or conditioner out of their hair and sometimes a residue of soap or conditioning will "settle" over the scalp causing a type of hair scum. I am not telling you precise terminology because I don`t have the exact terms handy. I can tell you that often the buildup of shampoo or conditioning residues MAY cause itching and flaking and other problems.

Your stylist is right that many people including dermatologists that deal with scalp disorders believe that dandruff is a lot less common than the hair industry makes it out to be. Many doctors consulted about scalp or skin problems will make a point to tell their patients to rinse thoroughly because shampoo and soap residue can actually aggravate skin problems

However, dandruff does legitimately exist as does other scalp conditions. The common theory about dandruff is that it is caused by skin cells that grow and die off too fast. Doctors also will say that they don`t know why this actually happens. They just know that it does lead to dandruff problems.

There are other theories about what causes dandruff including an elevated level of fungus, yeast infections, heredity, alkaline soaps and shampoos, seasonal changes and allergies, to name a few of the suspected causes of true dandruff. Some people just have overactive sebaceous glands.

A good indicator whether you have real dandruff or just flakes is whether the flakes are greasy and yellow or not. If they are yellow and greasy the condition is probably seborrheic dermatitis. Psoriasis tends to manifest as larger scales and more like silver flakes or scales.

Many over-the-counter shampoos can keep moderate dandruff in check, but consult your doctor about more stubborn forms such as seborrheic dermatitis. Some herbal remedies may relieve the itching and dryness, but it usually takes a medicated product to subdue the greasy scales.

Some dermatologists believe that what seems to be dandruff is the soap scum buildup and that can be instantly relieved with a good clarifying shampoo. Some doctors believe you need a medicated solution. Also, doctors find that allowing your hair to air dry will often clear up a mild form of the itchies.

If your itching seems to be limited to just a few patches it is possibly that you have a fungus infection or some other scalp problem that requires medication prescribed by a doctor.

Hope that helps.

Best wishes,
Karen

Hi Princess Daisy,

I agree about the 2 in 1 shampoo. I just read an article about this and they experts are finding that when you buy the combo neither product works as well as when it is a single product.

Thanks so much for your posts.

Best wishes,
Karen