Find out what dandruff is, what causes it and how
What is dandruff?
Dandruff, also known as seborrheic dermatitis, is a common chronic scalp condition that can affect people of all ages, from childhood all the way through adulthood. Young people, especially teenagers, can be prone to dandruff due to the effects of puberty and hormones on the natural sebum production of the scalp. Dandruff is flaky skin on your scalp. Some flaking skin is normal because the top layer of the skin flakes away naturally over time. In most people, these flakes are too small to be visible. However, certain conditions cause cell turnover to be unusually rapid, especially in the scalp. The result is that dead skin cells are shed in large, oily clumps, which appear as white or grayish patches on the scalp, skin and clothes.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
- A dry, itchy scalp
- White flakes in your hair and on dark clothing
If you have other symptoms coupled with these we recommend you speak to a doctor.
What causes dandruff?
In short: Dandruff is caused when the natural cycle of skin renewal is speeded up. This means bigger patches of dead skin build up than normal and result in the flakes that come away in the hair.
Why does the cycle speed up?
According to the NHS, it’s not always clear what causes this but two factors include:
- Seborrhoeic dermatitis –a condition that cause oily skin and skin flakes on other parts of the body.
- Malassezia – a type of fungus that naturally occurs on the scalp but if it grows out of control can accelerate production of new skin. The fungus can grow out of control if the skin is particularly oily.
Other causes include:
- Emotional stress
- Not washing or over washing the hair
- Other skin conditions such as psoriasis or eczema
- A weakened immune system
Why does dandruff keep coming back?
Sometimes just the effects of our everyday lifestyle like stress, hormones or blow-drying hair can make dandruff keep re-appearing. That’s why sometimes when you stop protecting your hair from dandruff it can return. If you want to protect your hair and scalp from dandruff, we recommend using products from our anti-dandruff range.
Just washing your hair will help to remove flakes, but anti-dandruff shampoos also contain special ingredients to control yeasts or reduce inflammation on your scalp. Ideally the Vosene Original Anti-Dandruff Shampoo should be used at least three times a week, as regular use will ease flakes and itching. If you use a conditioner, then ensure it is an anti-dandruff one – this will increase the effectiveness of the regime (against an ordinary conditioner). When the treatment stops, it is natural for the Malassezia Yeasts to return along with the flaky by-products.
What ingredients are in Vosene products to tackle dandruff?
Our Original Anti-Dandruff Shampoo uses salicylic acid, a highly effective dandruff prevention ingredient, to help tackle dandruff.
Its key benefits are:
- Slows skin cell turnover (flaking)
- Controls excessive skin oiliness
- HELPS Relieve itching
How often do I need to use Vosene to prevent dandruff?
Ideally anti-dandruff shampoos should be used at least three times a week, as regular use will ease flakes and itching.
How quickly after using Vosene should I see results?
Our formulations are specifically designed to start providing protection against dandruff from the first use. For best results, we recommend using them for a minimum of 4 weeks.