New India_Assurance_ISSUE_July-2018

18 wellness
focus
Dandruff:
Those Pesky Flakes
Explains a report from the
Harvard Medical School, dandruff
is a condition in which dead skin
cells are shed from the scalp
in large enough amounts to be
noticeable. When these dead cells
stick together, often because of
surface debris and oil in the hair,
they are noticeable as flakes in the
scalp and on clothing.
Dandruff is a mild form of
seborrheic dermatitis (a common
skin disorder that mainly affects
the scalp, usually causing itchy,
scaly, red skin and stubborn
dandruff) of unknown cause. It is
more of a nuisance and a cosmetic
problem than a medical one.
Many people believe dandruff is
caused by poor hygiene, but this
isn’t true.
Many researchers believe it
may be due to hormone levels, a
weakened immune system, a lack
of certain nutrients, or nervous
system problems. Those pesky
white flakes of dry skin, annoying
as they are, especially if you’re
wearing dark colours, are fairly
easy to treat. This is how you
could beat dandruff:
Follow the
instructions: There are many
different dandruff shampoos,
and each contains different
active ingredients for controlling
symptoms. To get the best results,
always follow the instructions
on the bottle. For example, some
dandruff shampoos require that
you lather the shampoo into
the hair and scalp and leave the
shampoo in for about five minutes
before rinsing. Others should not
be left on the scalp.
Alternate: If using one
dandruff shampoo does not bring
relief, try alternating between
dandruff shampoos with different
active ingredients. Or you could,
after four weeks, alternate the antidandruff
shampoo with a gentle
shampoo once or twice a week,
and keep using the treatment
shampoo between outbreaks to
lessen their severity.
OTC shampoos: Overthe-counter
dandruff shampoos,
containing zinc, selenium, or
ketoconazole are good for
dandruff. For maximum benefit,
leave them on the scalp for
yourwellness.com • Volume VII • Issue II • July 2018