Skip to main content

Anti-dandruff shampoo, how does it work?

Anti-dandruff 

Dandruff

What is dandruff? Also called "roos" in dutch, are dead skin cells of the scalp, which are formed by a pathological process, caused by an acceleration of keratinization (also known as hyperkeratosis).
These dead cells will stick to eachother, together with tallow these compounds of cells will form to the dandruff as we know it. In some cases, due to the tallow, these 'flakes' can look yellowy, vivacious.

Most common cause is just a dry skin type, and by a yeast, living on the human skin, named Pityrosporum ovale (now known as Malassezia globosa). The exact mechanism how the yeast produces more dandruff is not fully known, but probably it's caused by a metabolisation of triglycerides into oleic acid. Fact is, reduce the yeast in population and dandruff will reduce significantly. N.B.: it has been proven that the colonization of the yeast is almost the double of normal population on people with more dandruff than other people.

Get rid of the yeast, get rid of the dandruff

The handle dandruff, the most commonly first-used solution is an anti-dandruff shampoo.
The shampoo is often a mild shampoo with antibacterial, antimycotical and keratolytic agents.

Most used agents: Zn/Na-pyrithione, Se-Sulfide (however contested due to toxicity, only used if really needed), coal tar, salicylic acid, nystatin, ...

Most preferred: Zn/Na-pyrithione, or Pyrithione Zinc, Pyrithione Sodium.
These molecules get rid of the yeast and thus the dandruff.




Structure of Pyrithione Zinc (source: Wiki)


For example: Procter & Gamble's "Head and Shoulders" shampoos contain about 1% of Pyrithione Zinc as an anti-dandruff shampoo.

One last thing that is very important to note, that not many people consider: allow these shampoos to rest on the scalp for a relatively long time! (1-2 minutes atleast), since these molecules need time to penetrate into the skin to get to the yeast! Thus, do not immediately rinse of the shampoo after application.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Coca-Cola: Life - myth or truth?

"Coca-Cola Life" Recently the Coca-Cola company released a new beverage: the Coca-Cola Life drink. It should contain less sugar than the normal Coca-Cola drink; a part of the sugar is replaced with the recently approved sweetener from the Stevia plant (stevioglycosides). It's being sold as a 'natural' drink, but those stevioglycosides are as natural as the chemical sweetener aspartame found in Light and Zero drinks. However it is true that the amount of sugar is much lower (being reported as 33%, some say it's around 20%); yet approximately still 3-4 sugar cubes / 33 cl can (5-6 in a normal can). I bought it myself and found that the flavor has not really changed from the original Coca-Cola, however it does taste more "flat" - but definitely true it yourself. The outside of the can has the colour green. I personally do not associate this "healthy - natural" colour with Coca-Cola, but it's growing on me. In sum...
1 comment
Read more

Alkylhalides: Introduction

Alkylhalides: an initiation Background information Alkylhalides are compounds (in this case salts ) that consist of an alkyl group and an halogen (seventh row in the table of Mendeljev).  Alkylhalides have good leaving groups , these groups are the atoms (or the atom) that will be substituted or eliminated during elimination or substitution reactions on the molecule. This fenomenon is caused by the polar bond formed between the halogen and the alkyl group, making the halogen more afferent to be attacked (substituated / eliminated) by a nucleophile. Nucleophile substitution reaction ( SN2 reaction) A nucleophile 'attacks' the alkylhalide, the leaving group - in this case the halogen - will be taken of the compound and will be replaced (SUBSTITUTED) by the nucleophile (hense the reaction its name). This reaction however is characterized and depended by several factors including: the solvent in which the reaction is taking place the reactivity or acti...
Post a Comment
Read more

Painkillers: brand names for paracetamol (= acetaminophen) in foreign countries

Do you ever need a medication when in a foreign country, but in this country the medication you need is not available under a certain name? It's useful to know the active compound of the medication! In this case, I will present to you a list of brand names which contain paracetamol (= acetaminophen) throughout the world. When you are in the local pharmacy, ask about the active compound ("paracetamol" or "acetaminophen") and they will know immediately what you mean! If you talk about a brand from your own country it can take a while until the pharmacist knows what you mean. Useful : in almost all countries, generic brands are available, usually under the name of the active compound, so just ask for "paracetamol" or "acetaminophen" if you would like the cheapest product. Paracetamol = Acetaminophen EUROPE Austria: Ben-u-ron, Mexalen Belgium: Algostase, Dafalgan Croatia: Daleron, Lekadol, Plicet Czech Republic/Czechia: Paralen ...
Post a Comment
Read more