What Is Dandruff, Seborrheic Dermatitis, And What Can I Do To Treat Them?
What is Dandruff, Seborrheic Dermatitis, and What Can I Do to Treat Them?
Dandruff, also known as seborrheic dermatitis, is a very common scalp condition that causes flaking and itching of the scalp. These white or yellowish flakes are dead skin cells that are shed at a faster rate than normal due to various underlying factors. While dandruff is not a serious health condition, it can be embarrassing, uncomfortable, and often difficult to manage without the right treatments. In this blog post we’re going to talk about what dandruff is, what causes it, and how Allura Medicinals offers truly effective, safe medications so you can get the quick relief you are looking for.
Causes of Dandruff
Several factors contribute to the development of an itchy or flaky scalp. The most common cause is something called seborrheic dermatitis, which is the medical term for dandruff. Seborrheic dermatitis is a condition that can make the scalp oily, red, and flaky. This condition affects not only the scalp but sometimes other areas rich in oil glands, such as the eyebrows, sides of the nose, and behind the ears. Seborrheic dermatitis is thought to be due to the presence of a yeast called Malassezia, which naturally resides on everyone’s scalp. In certain patients it grows out of control which can then cause an inflammatory reaction leading to the formation of flaking and itching. We do not understand why this overgrowth of yeast happens in certain patients, but it may be due to the composition of the oil produced by the sebaceous glands by those individuals. This is not an actual yeast infection as it is normal to have it on the skin, but more like a hypersensitivity reaction to the heavy burden of yeast.
Scalp psoriasis is a slightly different condition that often presents in a similar manner to seborrheic dermatitis (dandruff). While there is likely some overlap between the two conditions, scalp psoriasis isn’t thought to be as driven by yeast growth as seborrheic dermatitis is.
What factors can worsen dandruff, or seborrheic dermatitis?
From our clinical experience there does seem to be some relationship between the severity of seborrheic dermatitis and geographic location, but this is not always the case. We have found, in general, that patients who move to more humid environments will often have a worsening of their condition. But, of course, those who live in dry climates can also have problems with dandruff that require treatment.
Is Dandruff Genetic?
The question of whether dandruff is genetic is complex. While there is no single "dandruff gene," genetics can play a role in predisposing individuals to conditions that cause dandruff. For example, seborrheic dermatitis, a major cause of dandruff, tends to run in families. Additionally, genetic factors can influence the sensitivity of your skin and how your immune system responds to the Malassezia fungus.
Research has shown that individuals with a family history of certain skin conditions, such as eczema or psoriasis, are more likely to experience dandruff and we do know that psoriasis tends to be genetic. However, environmental factors, such as stress, climate, and personal hygiene habits also significantly impact the occurrence and severity of dandruff. As family members can often share these characteristics it can appear sometimes that this is hereditary while not actually related to genetics.
Can I Permanently Cure My Itchy, Flaky Scalp?
There is no cure for seborrheic dermatitis (dandruff) or scalp psoriasis, but there are several highly effective treatments to manage these conditions. For most people a topical regimen (shampoos, sprays, foams, oils) are effective, but rarely patients with scalp psoriasis may require a pill or injectable medication. Dermatologists typically will start all patients on a topical regimen, then consider other medications as dictated by the response. At Allura Medicinals we offer specially compounded prescription medications that can quickly get your itchy, flaky scalp under control and keep it that way for as long as needed.
How to Get Dandruff Under Control Fast
Managing seborrheic dermatitis (dandruff) centers on addressing each of the root causes that we identified above. First there is the overgrowth of the yeast on the skin. As this yeast is everywhere in the world we cannot permanently eliminate it from the scalp, but we can keep it under control. This is best done with a topical anti-yeast medication, such as ketoconazole. This is a very safe medication that can effectively decrease, but not eliminate, the amount of yeast on the skin and can be used indefinitely to keep it under control. At Allura Medicinals our shampoo begins with a base of 2% ketoconazole, and then we add specialized prescription ingredients beyond that to work even more effectively.
The second aspect to treating seborrheic dermatitis is to control the inflammatory response from the skin. This can be done with medications such as topical steroids, or non-steroidal medications like calcipotriene and tacrolimus. Through various means these medications suppress the inflammation in the skin and are also safe to use long term to keep this condition under control. This inflammation is what drives the itchiness in the scalp, so for those individuals who experience more itching than flaking we recommend focusing on the anti-inflammatory types of medications.
And finally we also want to address the flakiness of the scalp. While the above medications can sometimes help with that issue we often find the need to approach this from the perspective of physically getting rid of the dead skin cells. There are a few different ways to do this, but essentially come down to using medications that can dissolve dead skin cells (like salicylic acid) and oils that over the course of several hours will soften the dead skin cells to the point where they are no longer anchored to the live, healthy cells in the skin. Simply trying to scrub or exfoliate those dead skin cells off the scalp usually does more harm than good because unless they are very soft the dead skin cells are firmly glued to healthy skin cells and will take those with them when they are scrubbed off. This weakens the protective barrier of the skin, causes more inflammation, which then leads to more itching and more flaking! So, in patients where flaking is the more dominant concern we recommend using medications like salicylic acid and oil based products to address that concern.
There are many different medications for seborrheic dermatitis (dandruff), and just as many formulations of those medications into creams, gels, foams, liquids, shampoos, etc. Knowing which is the right medication, or combination of medications, can be overwhelming and is ideally done with the help of a dermatologist who can address your specific needs and concerns.
Why Choose Allura Medicinals?
With all of the treatment options available for seborrheic dermatitis (dandruff), why go With Allura for your skin health? Simply stated, there is no other online telehealth service that offers the specially compounded medications for an itchy, flaky scalp that we do and delivers them to your door.
We started Allura Medicinals because we saw a massive shortfall in the current treatments being offered to patients with seborrheic dermatitis (dandruff) and scalp psoriasis. With a combined 20 years of clinical experience as board certified dermatologists we have seen thousands of patients with this condition and found the regular, commercially available medications that we have access to in our clinics to be woefully inadequate. While there are several medications that can sometimes address one aspect of this complex skin condition, there are none that address the multiple causes of it like our products can. And, even if a regular prescription shampoo would be sufficient there is still the process of seeing a dermatologist in person. This can take months in some parts of the country and requires taking time out of the day to go there in person, not to mention the need for follow up visits. Allura has taken that out of the equation: we tell you how the products we have work and then empower you to make the decision about which one is right for your specific concerns and your lifestyle.
Our products are all unique combinations of the medications that we know to be the most useful in controlling seborrheic dermatitis (dandruff). Instead of addressing one aspect with one medication we want to address all of them in one simple to use topical formula. And, because different patients have different symptoms associated with their dandruff (some patients have more itching, some will have more flaking) we offer different products and combinations that will allow you to personalize your treatment choices.
Conclusion
Dandruff is a common, yet manageable condition that affects many people. By understanding its causes and utilizing effective treatments, you can control and reduce the symptoms it causes like itching and flaking. While genetics can play a role in predisposition, lifestyle choices and proper scalp care are crucial in managing dandruff. There are many treatment choices available, from over the counter medications, commercially available products that a dermatologist can prescribe, as well as specially compounded medications to address multiple aspects of this condition simultaneously. At Allura we have changed the game in managing this condition by offering potent, specially compounded prescription medications that we can send directly to you without having to interrupt your day. Get started on your journey to a clear, itch free, and flake free scalp today.