Healthy way of living helps control dandruff

Healthy way of living helps control dandruff

By Maria Endah Hulupi

JAKARTA (JP): An active young woman scratches her itchy scalp
and secretly looks at her shoulders and seems unhappy when she
notices reddish damp dirt on her nails and white scurf scattered
on her shoulders. The scurf remains visible even on her light
blue blouse. If she could see it, anybody can.

She starts worrying that her problem with dandruff will, in
the end, affect her relationship with her colleagues at the
office. That's not all, now she has a stinging irritation on her
scalp because of repeated scratching.

Survey firm AC Nielsen displays shocking data, one out of two
Indonesians have dandruff. Most of them fear of being seen with
this scurf which will ruin their appearance in the presence of
their colleagues during a party or during a job interview when
they have to look sharp for a good first impression.

Dermatologist Lily Soepardiman said that dandruff is the
result of an increase population of yeast pityrosporum ovale (P.
Ovale), a flora which is normally found on the scalp.

P. Ovale will speed up the formation of a new skin layer,
forcing the immature dead skin to the outer epidermis layer. This
damp dead skin accumulates and when this layer get thicker than
0.2 micron becomes visible and creates itchiness on the scalp.
The scurf will then fall, especially when the affected area is
scratched.

This skin renewal process normally occurs within 28 days and
the matured dead skin will be easily cleansed by washing the hair
periodically. In the case of dandruff, the process occurs within
only seven days, giving no time for the dead skin to become
mature enough to peel normally and will then accumulate.

Dandruff or Pityriasis Sika is very likely to occur on the
epidermis layer with excessive sebum, such as on scalp, ears,
chest, back and forehead.

"Dandruff is not contagious. It will not spread to other scalp
areas by scratching or combing the hair using a comb belonging to
a person with a dandruff problem. However, it can lead to
possible hair loss, usually from the center to the forehead," she
said during the launching of Head and Shoulder anti-dandruff
shampoo.

The hair will grow but will become finer and thinner, thus
will expose the scalp.

Lily said that enough rest to reduce stress, balanced low fat
diet and periodically washing the hair and scalp to cleanse
excessive sebum using anti-dandruff shampoo can control the P.
Ovale population.

"Living a healthy life will help because dandruff can be
triggered by other factors, such as androgen hormone
irregularity, stress, high fat diet, poor hygiene or using
cosmetics with active chemicals like hair coloring, shampoo,
soaps and hairsprays," she said.

Androgen irregularity will activate the sebaceous glands on
the scalp, providing an ideal location for P. Ovale to live. A
similar condition will occur when a person is stressed.

"However, dandruff and stress may lead to a vicious circle. A
person will become stressed if he has dandruff and the dandruff
itself cause stress in the affected person," she added.

As for cosmetics, some soaps, which contain extract of acacia
concina fruit and several traditional hair treatments, which are
made of coconut oil, will encourage the growth of P. Ovale.

Consuming chocolate, butter, peanut and other fattening food
will trigger sebaceous glands to produce excessive sebum on the
skin, which is a good medium for P. Ovale.

People with dandruff will complain of having itchiness,
especially during a hot day when they are sweating and the glands
become very active, reddish scalp or irritation and hairloss.

When the condition continues, the affected part will expand to
the rest of the scalp and sometimes to the forehead, ears, back
and neck. The scurf may be oily or dry and has yellowish or
reddish color.

Without proper treatment, this will lead to serious
irritation, accompanied by a stinging sensation and skin swelling
because of infections. This condition will dampen the scalp and
the hair may become sticky, with an offensive odor.

P. Ovale population can be controlled by using specially
formulated shampoo, containing anti-fungus active chemicals, zinc
pyrithione (ZPT), selenium sulfide or ketoconazole; anti-
proliferation chemicals, tar and octiprox and peeling properties,
salicyluric acid and sulfur.

According to Procter & Gamble's technical external relations
Erly Evita washing hair and scalp thoroughly with anti-dandruff
shampoo, containing one percent of ZPT and enriched with hair
treatment formula for a long term daily care is safe to treat
mild dandruff and at the same time, maintain a healthy hair look.

"Using rinse-off products such as shampoo is more practical
and safer to treat the dandruff and at the same time, to nourish
the hair than stayed-on products like ointment because the active
chemicals won't penetrate into the skin," the pharmacist said.

While in serious cases, a dermatologist will prescribe vitamin
B, korticosteroid oral and topical, antibiotic to treat the
infection, hormonal treatment and ketoconazole to control P.
Ovale.

"But never wait until the irritation worsens, consult with a
dermatologist immediately because he or she will decide the right
treatment for the problem," Lily said.