DANDRUFF AND SEBORRHOEIC DERMATITIS
These conditions are the manifestations of an abnormal immune response to
Pityrospora ovale, a constituent of the normal skin flora.
The lipase in these organisms splits triglycerides into fatty acids, and the latter are
thought to be responsible for the dermal irritation.
There is often an atopic background.
There are several predisposing factors: genetic; winter season; excessive sweating
and sebum production; a change in the composition of the sebum; alkalinity of the
skin; an emotional component; and a neurological component as in Parkinsonism
and other neurological disorders.
Dandruff is scaling and moderate itching of the scalp without inflammation of the
skin; the scales are white, dry and loose.
Seborrhoeic dermatitis is an acute, subacute or chronic scaly dermatitis affecting
areas of sebaceous activity such as the scalp, hairline, forehead, face (especially
the nasolabial folds), retroauricular areas, the external ear canals, the presternal
and the interscapular areas.
The scales are either dry, gray and flaky, or yellowish and greasy.
In severe cases, there may be seborrhoeic eczema with or without oozing of the
skin.
The disease commonly affects the neonates in whom it lasts for about one year and
postpuberal persons in whom it is chronic and recurrent in spite of treatment.
The drugs effective in dandruff and seborrhea.
1. Imidazoles (ketoconazole 2% shampoo, cream or scalp gel) Salicylic acid (2%
aqueous cream)
2. Anti-inflammatory: Mild corticosteroid topically
3. Cytostatic: Selenium sulfide (2.5% shampoo) Zinc pyrithione (1% shampoo
weekly) Sulfur (2% aquous cream) Tar (tar B.P.C. 3%)
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These conditions are the manifestations of an abnormal immune response to
Pityrospora ovale, a constituent of the normal skin flora.
The lipase in these organisms splits triglycerides into fatty acids, and the latter are
thought to be responsible for the dermal irritation.
There is often an atopic background.
There are several predisposing factors: genetic; winter season; excessive sweating
and sebum production; a change in the composition of the sebum; alkalinity of the
skin; an emotional component; and a neurological component as in Parkinsonism
and other neurological disorders.
Dandruff is scaling and moderate itching of the scalp without inflammation of the
skin; the scales are white, dry and loose.
Seborrhoeic dermatitis is an acute, subacute or chronic scaly dermatitis affecting
areas of sebaceous activity such as the scalp, hairline, forehead, face (especially
the nasolabial folds), retroauricular areas, the external ear canals, the presternal
and the interscapular areas.
The scales are either dry, gray and flaky, or yellowish and greasy.
In severe cases, there may be seborrhoeic eczema with or without oozing of the
skin.
The disease commonly affects the neonates in whom it lasts for about one year and
postpuberal persons in whom it is chronic and recurrent in spite of treatment.
The drugs effective in dandruff and seborrhea.
1. Imidazoles (ketoconazole 2% shampoo, cream or scalp gel) Salicylic acid (2%
aqueous cream)
2. Anti-inflammatory: Mild corticosteroid topically
3. Cytostatic: Selenium sulfide (2.5% shampoo) Zinc pyrithione (1% shampoo
weekly) Sulfur (2% aquous cream) Tar (tar B.P.C. 3%)
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