Anti-Dandruff Expert Interview

Question: what is dandruff?

Answer: dandruff means the excessive shedding of horny layer skin cells from scalp skin. Under normal conditions scales are shed from scalp skin nearly invisibly. Under certain conditions scales can build up to visible flakes causing dandruff.

Question: who can get dandruff?

Answer: everybody can get dandruff episodes during lifetime. Mild dandruff is a very common problem present in one out of 5 people. Dandruff is mostly present in puberty and younger people and continues through middle age. In some individuals dandruff is present throughout lifetime. Men are more commonly affected than women which is related to the sebum-promoting action of male hormones. Dandruff is more often seen in individuals with neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and in stressful conditions including heart attack, stroke and in immune-compromised patients. During winter times dandruff is more prominent because the skin barrier is weakened and thus irritants can enter the skin more easily.

Question: what causes dandruff?

Answer: there are many different conditions causing dandruff which is more visible when people are not shampooing their hair often enough. Certain conditions provoke the generation of dandruff including the interplay of sebum secretion, malassezia yeast colonization and individual susceptibility to scalp skin inflammation. If this is pronounced the condition is termed seborrhoeic dermatitis also affecting other areas such as eyebrows, the sides of the nose, the backs of the ears and breastbone.

Question: what symptoms do individuals describe when they have dandruff?

Answer: dandruff symptoms in most teens and adults are white, oily-looking flakes of dead skin that are visible on the hair and shoulders. Individuals that suffer from dandruff often report itching, and, in severe cases, the scalp shows visible signs of inflammation.

Question: what does it really mean for these individuals to have dandruff?

Answer: dandruff causes a lot of trouble to the affected individuals. Due to the constant visible scaling particularly on dark hair and clothes a reduction of self-esteem and unattractive feeling is common. Businessmen or –women are embarrassed by dandruff as there are always white flakes on their dark clothes. Itch often present in seborrheic eczema lead to constant scratching of the scalp skin which is recognized by others. In addition, irritation of scalp skin by scratching results in increased dandruff formation causing a vicious cycle.

Question: what do you recommend doing when someone discovers he or she has dandruff?

Answer: to control dandruff regular use of an anti-dandruff shampoo is recommended and in most cases sufficient. If dandruff is severe and the scalp skin is itchy and red consult a dermatologist. In most cases the diagnosis of seborrheic eczema is made. However, other dermatological disorders can cause dandruff as well such as psoriasis.

Question: how are anti-dandruff shampoos working?

Answer: anti-dandruff shampoos remove sebum from the scalp, reduce inflammation and, most importantly, control the growth of malassezia yeast. The crucial involvement of malassezia yeast in dandruff formation has been substantiated in many scientific studies. Effective ingredients to stop malassezia are modern anti-mycotics such as climbazole and pircotone olamine. As the basis of dandruff including increased sebum production and colonization with malassezia yeast cannot completely be stopped anti-dandruff shampoos must be used regularly.

Question: what do consumers want an anti-dandruff shampoo to do? What experiences do they have with regular anti-dandruff shampoos?

Answer: first of all individuals suffering from dandruff want to use shampoos effectively controlling dandruff. The product should be suitable for daily use. In addition, anti-dandruff shampoos must have a favorable cosmetic and hair caring effect. After use the hair should be shiny and to easy to comb particularly in longer hair. A pleasant but discrete smell is favorable. The product should be worth the money.

Question: what do you recommend to look for when choosing the right anti-dandruff product?

Answer: the person should choose an anti-dandruff shampoo combining proven efficacy against dandruff with caring agents selected specifically for hair type and use. It is important to know for which ingredients activity against malassezia yeast have been scientifically proven. Products causing skin irritation should be avoided. In addition, the careful selection of caring agents is important to avoid adverse effects.

Question: what is so special in NIVEA’s new anti-dandruff range?

Answer: NIVEA’s new anti-dandruff range uses modern anti-mycotics effectively controlling malassezia yeast not leaving residual ingredients on hair or scalp skin. In addition, caring agents adjusted to hair type and use result in favorable cosmetic effects. Furthermore the formula was developed to both fight dandruff effectively and care for hair and scalp at the same time.