Getting all the flakes?

Sukhdeep Kaur

Seborrhea or dandruff is one of the most common hair problems in winter. It is caused by Malessezia furfur, a fungus, which inhabits our skin. Due to immune-suppression states, extreme of temperature like heat and humidity or excessive dryness, it aggravates and presents in the form of small white flakes, which separate and fall from the scalp. It presents in the form of red scaly patches over the scalp, beard and this redness also spreads to eyebrows, corners of the nose, behind the ears and front of chest resulting in eczema.

It often leads to hair fall. Dandruff is troublesome as it results in itching and visible white flakes which hamper your professional life. A proper treatment from a dermatologist is required to tackle this problem.

The dos and don’ts 

• Avoid oiling of the scalp. Don’t use any form of home remedies like neem, aloe vera, mustard oil over the scalp.
• Topical anti-inflammatory lotions like Halovate lotion have to be applied over the scalp. Leave it for the night and later wash it off with medicated anti-fungal shampoos which contain 2 per cent ketaconazole. The anti-fungal shampoos have to be used twice a week for at least 15 days.
• Oral anti-fungals like itraconazole and flucaonazole are used when seborrhea is extensive and eczema is troublesome.
• Redness over the skin of forehead, nose, behind the ears causes itching for which anti inflammatory creams like flutivate and momate are used.
• Acne can be induced  because of dandruff. Anti-acne gels have to be applied.

(Dr Kaur is a Chandigarh-based 

dermatologist)