According to some statistics, every third inhabitant of the planet over 12 years old has dandruff or other manifestations of skin pathology – seborrhea. In Europe, experts believe that up to 40% of the population suffer from dandruff. Often it becomes the lot of the young. Why does it appear, is it possible to get infected with it and how to cope with such a defect, they told on the air of the program “About the most important thing” Alexander Myasnikov and invited expert – dermatologist Irina Gosteva.
“Dandruff is not an independent problem of a person who suddenly began to fall off pieces of skin from the scalp. Any peeling in this area we call dandruff. Dandruff is a symptom, and a large number of diseases,” said the dermatologist.
To Myasnikov’s question: can there be dandruff under the armpits, the dermatologist answered in the affirmative, because any peeling is regarded as dandruff.
Reasons for development
Dandruff can appear for various reasons. One of them is the systemic disease psoriasis. It exfoliates the scalp. A person sees these pieces on the shoulders and regards them as dandruff. The first thing that pulls you to do is to take a special shampoo. But this measure in this case will aggravate the situation.
Quite often, Gosteva noted, dandruff is a manifestation of such a disease as seborrhea. With it, uneven production of sebum is noted, and when it is in excess, a fungus also sits on the skin – we are talking about mold fungus, which is familiar to many. Therefore, in an anti-dandruff shampoo, you can find an antifungal component as a component.
“Uneven fat production can be for various reasons. Including against the background of the heating season, when the air is too dry. The skin is a smart organ, and it tries to compensate for this dryness. The glands produce more fat. The situation also escalates easily: they drank alcohol – it became aggravated, they ate something fatty – it became aggravated. And this is such a process that goes on endlessly, from which it is very difficult to get rid of, ”Irina Gosteva emphasized.
It is important to look for additional symptoms that may accompany dandruff formation. So, if it is itching, a reaction to detergents and water, seborrhea can be suspected. “But at the same time, it is quite possible to confuse several diseases. Therefore, the doctor takes scrapings, examines the head with a special lamp. Not always only shampoo is required for treatment, systemic drugs that are taken orally can also be prescribed, ”explained Gosteva.
Another reason for the development of dandruff can be contact dermatitis after, for example, hair coloring due to a reaction to the dye.
Myths about dandruff
It is believed that if you do not wash your hair for a long time – a week or two – dandruff will pass. In fact, this is not so. The effect will only be visual. “The top layer, which peels off, sticks together, and there is an effect that there is less dandruff. This is the biggest myth. You need to wash your hair as often as you need it, ”the specialist emphasized.
The second myth is that shampoo with silicone will help with dandruff. “About the same mechanism of action – silicone compresses exfoliated pieces of skin, a film is created and the appearance that there is no dandruff and it has become better. As soon as you stop using it, everything returns, ”the doctor notes.
Is dandruff contagious?
Irina Gosteva noted that by default, doctors consider dandruff contagious until the cause of its appearance is clarified. So, for example, it can be against the background of a fungal infection that is transmitted from person to person. Therefore, doctors recommended that if a person sees that someone close has dandruff, do not wear his hat, do not use the same towel with him.
How to treat?
A doctor should prescribe therapy for such a symptom. Do not prescribe shampoos on your own. “Do not start treatment with some cosmetic procedures – peelings, plasmolifting and others. Deal first with the cause of the appearance, and then with the therapy, because improper treatment can be a provocation for the further development of dandruff, ”the dermatologist warned.
The following sources were used in preparing the material:
About the most important
Source: aif.ru
