Are You Sure Its Dandruff?

Everybody hates dandruff ( Pityriasis capitis, pityriasis sicca). No body likes the falling white flakes and the itching scalp. we all try many shampoos and treatments, both natural and chemical to get rid of Pityriasis capitis or pityriasis sicca. I want to ask many of you who suffer dandruff- how are you sure that you are having dandruff? Unless a doctor diagnosed it as dandruff, how can any one be sure that he/she is suffering dandruff if it is not clearing after many washes? May be you are suffering from something else? Let us look at the other problems that may confuse you.

Pityriasis capitis/ pityriasis sicca and other scalp problems-

There are many scalp problems that itch and produce scales and white flakes. Psoriasis is one of the tough ones. Unless you get it diagnosed and get treated it will not go away. Many cosmetic applications may cause allergic dermatitis or irritant contact dermatitis. Atopic dermatitis or commonly called eczema can also appear on the scalp. Seborrheic dermatitis is one of the common scalp problems that mimic Pityriasis capitis or pityriasis sicca.

What is it then?

In dandruff what we see as white flakes are skin cells. Our skin regenerates itself every month. The new cells travel from the bottom of the skin layer to the top in a month and the dead cells are shed. These are so microscopic and small in quantity that we don’t notice this shedding of cells. In dandruff this shedding increases. That is how these dead cells with skin oils form white flakes and we can see them.

Diagnosis of Pityriasis capitis/pityriasis sicca

If you are not able to get rid of dandruff after trying many formulas, it is time that you visit a doctor and get the proper diagnosis done. Once you are sure that it is dandruff, you can take proper measures and get a shiny scalp.