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Do you suffer from dandruff, an itchy scalp or flakes on the scalp? Although dandruff is very harmless in itself, problems of the scalp often indirectly lead to hair loss. But what is dandruff, what are the symptoms of dandruff in your hair, and of course: what can you do about it? In addition to dandruff, there are a number of other scalp conditions that resemble dandruff, but aren't the same. In this blog, we are happy to explain the differences to you!
Do you suffer from dandruff, an itchy scalp or flakes on the scalp? Although dandruff is very harmless in itself, problems of the scalp often indirectly lead to hair loss. But what is dandruff, what are the symptoms of dandruff in your hair, and of course: what can you do about it? In addition to dandruff, there are a number of other scalp conditions that resemble dandruff, but aren't the same. In this blog, we are happy to explain the differences to you!
If you suffer from dandruff in your hair, you will probably notice this from several things. For example, you can have an irritated scalp, itching on your head and a dry or very oily scalp. The most recognizable side effects are obviously the white, little flakes that are visible in your hair or on the shoulders. Dandruff is very annoying to have and can also be persistent, especially when using the wrong hair products.
Hair products are often also the culprit for an itchy scalp and a flaky skin. Men and women who use hair wax or gel every day are more likely to develop an itchy scalp. Or think about a lot of hairspray, this too can trigger it and make the dandruff worse. All of these products can build up on the scalp, leading to irritations such as itching and the aforementioned dandruff. Cheap shampoos and other hair care products can contain irritants, such as sulfates. A good quality shampoo does not contain SLS or sulfate. Find out why here.
Dandruff is generally thought to be the result of overactive sebaceous glands on an itchy scalp. So basically, skin cells that grow and die off too fast are the cause of this. This is why dandruff (also called seborrheic dermatitis) usually doesn't develop until the teenage years, when all those extra hormones in your body boost the skin's sebum production. Dandruff is caused by a fungal infection of the scalp and hair follicles. In addition to having an effect on the scalp and causing itching, yeast can weaken the hair root and lead to hair loss. Fortunately, hair loss from dandruff alone is rare. It only occurs when the dandruff is very severe and left untreated for a long time. Luckily, dandruff can be treated well with a good quality shampoo.
There are several ingredients and substances that have a proven effect against the dandruff flakes and dead skin cells that comes with this problem. Salicylic acid, ketoconazole and piroctone olamine are such ingredients.
Ketoconazole was developed for the control of dandruff and itching. It can also be effective against hair loss. It fights eczema and dandruff (fungicide), creating a better environment to allow the hair to grow. Next to that, ketoconazole is anti-inflammatory, which helps sooth the skin and prevent developing dandruff.
Has a similar action to ketoconazole. It reduces hair loss, stimulates hair growth, provides thicker hair and is effective against dandruff. Studies show that piroctone olamine outperforms ketoconazole on a number of fronts, such as hair thickness and number of hairs in the growth phase.
It exfoliates scalp cells in two ways. First, it loosens cells of the outer layer of skin by dissolving what is known as the cement material of the cells. Second, it lowers the pH of the outer layer, making it moist and supple. Thus, it acts as an exfoliant, helping the skin to break down and shed dead skin cells. It is effective in treating dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis and psoriasis.
When untreated, mild dandruff can become worse. It is possible it then turns into seborrheic dermatitis. This usually develops at the beginning of puberty and is not contagious. Seborrheic dermatitis is a form of eczema that occurs because the skin fat, or sebum, changes. When this sebum changes, the yeast cells on the skin are likely to grow faster. Everyone has yeast cells on their skin. But if there are many, they can cause inflammation of the skin. The course of seborrheic dermatitis is variable, alternating quiet periods with times when it is more active.
Psoriasis is a skin condition that can develop not only on the scalp, but on the entire body. It can be recognized by severe flakes on the scalp and the rest of the body. In psoriasis, the scalp can be very itchy and the white, thicker flakes are stuck on the scalp, so this is different from dandruff. About 50 percent of people living with psoriasis develop scalp psoriasis. This condition can lead to hair loss. If you think you have Psoriasis, we recommend that you see your doctor.
'Tinea capitis' or 'ringworm': is also known as head fungus. This often arises from a fungal infection on the head, eyebrows and eyelashes. This condition usually occurs in children and hardly ever in adults, while dandruff only develops from puberty. The main fungus is very contagious and is spread through the peeling skin flakes. Treatment for this fungus usually consists of an antifungal treatment prescribed by a doctor. In addition, daily washing with an antifungal shampoo is recommended to prevent the spread of fungal spores.
Folliculitis is an inflammation of the top part of the hair follicle and often this inflammation develops as a result of an infection with bacteria, fungus, virus or yeast. A pus head often appears on the spot of the hair follicle. This often goes together with itchy, irritating or even painful skin. The skin condition often irritates the hair follicles, this can be caused by the excessive use of oily (skin) products. This skin condition occurs in both men and women of all ages and is not contagious. Folliculitis usually resolves on its own. If it recurs more often or if it lasts too long, we recommend that you go to the doctor with this.
An itchy scalp occurs in many people. Persistent itching can be caused by a number of factors and can be a result of conditions such as dandruff and psoriasis, as explained above. It can also arise from the use of (wrong) hair products. In some cases, the itching may be accompanied by flakes, scaly patches, bumps and hair loss. Hair loss can occur when aggressive scratching or deterioration of the scalp condition affects the structure or strength of the hair follicle. Once the underlying scalp condition has been treated, the hair usually grows back.
In combating itching and dandruff in the hair, it is important to remove the underlying cause and let the scalp repair itself. A mild and nourishing shampoo and conditioner can help with this. To combat dandruff and prevent itching, it is best to look for a high-quality anti-dandruff shampoo with ingredients such as ketoconazole or piroctone olamine. These ingredients are known to reduce inflammation and be gentle on the itchy scalp. If, in addition to dandruff or itching, you also suffer from thinning hair or hair loss, you can also opt for a hair growth-stimulating shampoo with these ingredients such as the Neofollics exfoliating shampoo. This way you tackle hair loss and itching and dandruff. Make sure that the products you use do not contain sulfates, parabens or other harmful substances. You can read why this is important here in our blog about sulfates.
We have several highly effective anti-dandruff shampoos in our webshop. We believe that high quality ingredients are important when tackling your scalp problems. One of the treatments we advise is: Neofollics scalp therapy. This is formulated to effectively address scalp conditions like dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis. This treatment works by soothing and nourishing the scalp, reducing inflammation and flakiness associated with these conditions. It includes ingredients that target the overproduction of oils and the growth of yeast, two common causes of dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis.
With regular use, Neofollics scalp therapy helps to restore the scalp’s natural balance, promoting a healthier scalp environment. This not only reduces visible flakes and itchiness but also supports an ideal foundation for stronger, healthier hair growth.
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Another shampoo and effective treatment is Regenepure DR. It's most important active ingredient is ketoconazole. This ingredient combats eczema and dandruff through its antifungal properties. It calms the scalp and forms a good basis so that hair can grow better. In addition, Ketoconazole is anti-inflammatory and a mild DHT reducer by counteracting the formation of 5-alpha reductase in the scalp. Which makes it a good treatment against hair loss.
Do you still have questions about itching, dandruff or a sensitive scalp? View the products we recommend for these problems below, or request personal advice for free via email or on this page. We are happy to help you!
Do you still have questions about itching, dandruff or a sensitive scalp? View the products we recommend for these problems below, or request personal advice for free via email or on this page. We are happy to help you!
