Chronic dandruff

What is a chronic disease?

WHO (World Health organization) defines chronic diseases as the diseases which have long duration and which generally progress slowly for example; stroke, cancer, diabetes etc are chronic diseases. Not every dry skin desquamation or shedding of dead skin cells; appearing like dandruff is chronic, whereas seborrheic dermatitis is chronic dandruff. In contrast to the chronic diseases, acute diseases emerge abruptly and are generally short-lived for example a flue is an acute disease whereas hepatitis is a chronic medical condition.

What is dandruff?

Dandruff is mild skin disorder arising from oily skin and associated with shedding of small, thin usually white flakes of dead skin cells. It causes irritation and itch on the scalp which prompts the urge to scratch the scalp to the utter displeasure of the sufferer or causes shedding of prominently visible white flakes, usually on the shoulder or in the hair as unsightly dispersion. None, other than, the sufferer presumes that the people around him or her may consider these flakes like some living microbial mass. The condition is easily controlled by cleansing hair, using an appropriate, medicated anti dandruff shampoo. More than a medical problem, dandruff is a social and psychological problem. A large segment of the world population experiences the socio psychic problem, which in many, hurts the self esteem.

What is chronic dandruff?

Chronic dandruff is a severe form of dandruff and is medically known as seborrheic dermatitis. It is characterized by prolific shedding of dead scalp skin cells, in the form of yellowish oily flakes leaving the effected scalp with reddish coloration and prompting urge to scratch repeatedly. It is a persistent condition and not easily treatable. Medicated shampoos do ease out the condition but the position reverts very frequently to the dismay of the person suffering from it. It is caused by hyperactivity of sebaceous glands, which under influence of hormonal disbalance, tend to produce excessive sebum. The pathogenic fungus ‘Malassezia globosa’; which causes chronic dandruff, attacks the sebum and splits it to produce fatty acids like oleic acid which is an irritant. The irritation caused by oleic acid speeds up the shedding of flakes leaving scalp skin exposed and susceptible to attack by the fungus and in this way a vicious circle of shedding followed by infection is set up.

What is the treatment of chronic dandruff?

• If the occurrence and dispersion of dead skin cells is too prolific and it is followed by excessive scaling and too frequent shedding, then it is time to see the dermatologist. There are other skin disorders appearing like dandruff and they are  not dandruff.
  
• Seborrheic Dermatitis or chronic dandruff may be prevented by the use of Head & Shoulder Zinc Pyrithione, Nizoral Ketoconazole antidandruff shampoo or tea tree (Melaleuca oil) which contains antifungal terpene.
  
• Massage of lime juice from two lime fruits, followed by washing, and another massage of canola or mustard oil followed by washing with a medicated shampoo is said to cure the condition within a couple of weeks.