Replacing old and dead cells with new ones is something that every part of our body does regularly. Dandruff occurs when the shedding of dead cells by the epidermal layer of the skin takes place at shorter intervals and a faster rate, thereby producing large amounts of flakes. The small flakes use the sebum (skin oil) as the medium to bind and form larger flakes, clumps and crusts. Dandruff - often a persistent condition and a major embarrassment for many people, usually force us to look for some quick fix to escape the ailment.
Searching for effective products for your dandruff problem, and trying a deluge of over the counter products to find a lone perfect formula that would help you vanquish the dandruff menace may be extremely frustrating.
Before jumping on from one product to another, you should first understand what's causing the dandruff problem. An excessive oily scalp is considered to be the main cause of dandruff. This condition affects teenagers the most due to their highly active oil glands. Skin oil combined with microorganisms like yeast only worsens the condition. There is no overnight magical remedy for dandruff. Mild cases of dandruff can be cured by using anti-dandruff shampoos that are available in the market. However, complicated and stubborn cases will require a physician's intervention.
Quite a few of the medicated shampoos available in the market contain special formulas which help in cleaning out the oil and dead cell accumulations. Their primary function is to cleanse the scalp and hair of all the grease, dirt and residues of hair gel, mousse, and sprays. If you are suffering from dandruff, using such chemical products without a second thought may only worsen the condition.
All the anti-dandruff shampoos contain special compounds like zinc pyrithione, salicyclic acid, selenium sulphide, coal tar and ketoconazole. These compounds help in reducing the growth of yeast and formation of flakes. Though repeated washes over several weeks often give results, it's best to seek the advice of a dermatologist before using them for long.
As the work of such formulations is to clean the scalp, using them for a longer period of time can leave the scalp dry. Even when most anti-dandruff shampoos today come enriched with vitamins and healthy oils to moisturize the scalp and contain active ingredients for maintaining the pH balance of the scalp, using them on your own may often prove to be detrimental. Remember - different symptoms of dandruff need different remedies depending on the severity of the case. So, there's no blanket solution that fits all.
