Who is the Real Culprit for Dandruff Formation? Is it Germs? How can it be Treated?
Have you ever tried to focus, is it the germs or your hygiene that cause dandruff?
A recent study reveals that bacteria, not fungi, may be to blame for your patchy scalp.
Approximately half of the world’s population suffers from dandruff, which a team from China and Japan discovered is more strongly linked to populations of two bacterial groups, Propionibacterium and Staphylococcus, than the Malassezia fungus, which also happily inhabits the human scalp and generally thought to be the primary cause of the condition.
Malassezia has been the subject of most dandruff investigations. Malassezia consists of 14 species, two of which, M. restricta and M. globosa, have been associated with skin conditions.
The adherent scalp flaking scale, which rates dandruff on a range from zero to eight, was also used by dermatologists to assess the individuals’ levels of dandruff.
Older persons had greater dandruff, as was expected, they discovered. Propionibacterium and Staphylococcus were the two major bacterial populations, and Malassezia was the most prevalent fungus. That also comes as no surprise.
But the presence of Malassezia was not related to the presence of dandruff. The control over scalp flakiness was instead more in the hands of Propionibacterium and Staphylococcus. Dandruff-affected scalps had less Propionibacterium and more Staphylococcus than normal scalps.
The bacteria each exude or meditate processes that make life tough for the other, the researchers write, and this mutual inhibition has been demonstrated in the past.
They contend that treating the bacterial imbalance by elevating Propionibacterium and reducing Staphylococcus may be a more efficient treatment for patients with severe instances of dandruff than antifungals.
What treatments are available for Dandruff?
Dandruff issues don’t just impact the scalp; they can also affect the ears, eyebrows, nose, beard, and, in extreme situations, the chest area that has hair. It can occasionally cause cradle cap, which affects newborns and babies.
Your doctor would prescribe you coal tar, zinc pyrithione, and selenium sulphide-based shampoos and conditioners. When used frequently, prescription ketoconazole shampoos are ineffective and you must choose more potent dandruff treatments. You need to tell him if your current shampoos and lotions are unable to reduce dandruff issues.
Problems with dandruff, such as itching, discomfort, swelling, and redness, can become serious if left untreated.
For the greatest outcomes, you may also need to use a combination of over-the-counter shampoos and steroid creams. Your dermatologist could advise oral steroids like prednisone if the dandruff problem is so bad that it is interfering with your lifestyle. However, oral drugs shouldn’t be used over an extended period because they aren’t typically thought of as the primary method of treating dandruff.
Washing your hair with prescription shampoos every day or every other day may be necessary if you have mild dandruff. Applying fluocinonide or betamethasone solution once or twice a day is necessary if there are severe dandruff issues, nevertheless.
What should you do after receiving dandruff treatment?
You must maintain good care throughout the treatment because treating dandruff is a continuous process. The lotions, shampoos, cleansers, and other products must all be used carefully. This is because a variety of different products and chemicals are frequently used in conjunction to provide the most effective dermatological therapy for dandruff issues.
To achieve your goals quickly, you should make sure you are using each one of them without exception. You shouldn’t allow your scalp to perspire and you should avoid wearing tight-fitting hats and caps. To prevent dandruff issues from reappearing, you should see your dermatologist at least twice a year.
What are the treatment alternatives?
In India, a variety of at-home dandruff treatment options are in use. These include using coconut oil, neem oil, vinegar, lemon juice, and several other substances. Some people use shampoos and conditioners with anti-dandruff ingredients and report positive outcomes. But if none of these solutions works to solve your dandruff issues, you should see a dermatologist.
Wrapping up
Contrary to popular belief, poor hygiene does not cause dandruff. Even though poor hygiene can lead to dandruff, hygiene improvement cannot guarantee that you won’t have dandruff. Using anti-dandruff shampoo and conditioner is the most efficient way to manage dandruff. You must get advice from a dermatologist who has received board certification in this matter.
