Friday, March 9, 2007

Dandruff

Having dandruff on your hair can sometimes be uncomfortable and especially awkward when friends point out to you about the presence. It is good to find out more about the causes of your dandruff before you consult a trichologist or dermatologist for further treatment.

Psoriasis

The skin condition is a inflammed characterized by excessive layers of new skin are formed over the normal skin (scaling). Typically, they are well-defined patches of flaking and the scales appear silvery. The patch can get really itchy and they are sometimes triggered by stress and hormonal changes or infection. Research shows that this could be caused by abnormal immune system that produces too many T cells that triggers excessive inflammation and flaking of skin. Some even suggest that it could be an indication of heart attack risk factor.

Neurodermatitis

The dandruff is stress-related condition that resembles psoriasis. It is a skin inflammation condition where the skin tends to flake at localised area. The initial could start with as small as an insect bite. It gets worse with a constant habit of scratching due to the itch (scratch-itch cycle) and stress. As the symptoms are similiar to psoriasis, consult your hair specialist for a more accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.

Seborrheic Dermatitis and Cradle Cap

It has dry or greasy scaling and can be red and itchy. It is a condition that causese the flaking of the skin. For serious conditions, this rash can also spread from the scalp to the face. For a condition that occurs in infants, it is called Cradle cap. You can try to soothe the rash with olive oil and brush the hair regularly to loosen the flakes. For infants, you can rub the scalp gently with olive oil and leave it overnight before brushing and cleaning.

Contact dermatitis

It is also flaky and itchy on the scalp. Sometimes, it can also be blistered due to reaction with the chemicals that contact with the scalp. Typically, the chemicals are from colouring dyes, wave and relaxer treatment as well as shampoos, conditioners and styling products. The blisters may rupture and form a crust. If worsened, the skin may become dry and the scales thicken as the cells accelerate the rate of replacement. When this occur, you need to find out the source, preferably with a tichologist or dermatologist to determine the right treatment for you.

Other useful articles

1) Psoriasis

2) Neurodermatitis

3) Seborrheic Dermatitis

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