Dandruff can be stubborn and annoying. But it is by no means rare: half of the population worldwide are affected by dandruff at least once in their lives.*
How dandruff develops
The formation of flakes of dead skin is an absolutely normal process: We lose flakes of skin every day – also from our heads. The skin regenerates approximately every four weeks. As it does so, it sloughs off old, dead skin cells. But, if the skin cells of the scalp regenerate too quickly and slough off from the scalp in large groups of cells, visible dandruff develops.
Not all dandruff is the same
There are two types of dandruff:
Oily dandruff flakes are large, yellowish and plaque-like. They have greasy, yellowish deposits that stick to the head and the hair.
However, dry dandruff flakes are small and white and they fall off the head and out of the hair. They develop on a very dry scalp that tends to be itchy. This type of dandruff should be taken care of with a special gentle shampoo.
Causes and symptoms of oily dandruff
The sebaceous glands on the scalp produce sebum. This protects the scalp from moisture loss and the effects of the environment. In a greasy scalp, the sebaceous glands produce excessive sebum. This enables germs and microorganisms that occur naturally on the skin to multiply faster.
The Malassezia yeast, for example, breaks down sebum and dead skin cells. But if it grows too rapidly, the scalp reacts by producing more skin cells, which are later sloughed off in large groups of cells. The excess sebum causes the cells to stick together, forming large, visible dandruff flakes.
Oily dandruff can also be a symptom of seborrheic dermatitis. If you also suffer from severe itching, redness and inflammation of the scalp, please see a doctor.
What helps against oily dandruff
There are various ways to combat oily dandruff. The active substances piroctone olamine and zinc pyrithione are very effective against the Malassezia yeast. Salicylic acid has an anti-inflammatory effect on the scalp and it loosens the flakes of dead skin; fumaric acid has a lasting effect on stubborn dandruff.
The choice of the right anti-dandruff shampoo is always important. Choose a shampoo that meets the special needs of your scalp. Degreasing anti-dandruff shampoos are suitable for preventing oily dandruff.
Double effect: Counteracts dandruff and recharges the hair with energy
Alpecin Double-Effect Caffeine Shampoo counteracts dandruff and recharges the hair with energy. Due to the unique formula, the anti-dandruff active substances salicylic acid and piroctone olamine can remove the dandruff thoroughly, clearing the way for the caffeine complex to do its work.
- Effect: crusted cells of the horny layer are loosened gently and the dandruff is thoroughly removed from the scalp.
- Effect: Alpecin Caffeine travels all the way along the hair, recharging it with energy.
