This Just In: What Really Causes Dandruff
Photo source: KeyAromaTherapy.com
In the June 2008 issue of Allure magazine, Kristin Sainani reports that researchers at Procter and Gamble have recently cracked the genetic code of the fungus that causes dandruff (all 4285 genes)! According to Thomas L. Dawson, Jr., a researcher at Procter and Gamble Beauty, “The [fungus] lives on every person’s scalp, [and] eats oil from the scalp and releases by-products that irritate the skin and cause flaking in susceptible individuals.” This is very exciting news, because understanding the fungus is the key to finding a cure. In fact, according to the article, current dandruff treatments (like pyrithione zinc in Head and Shoulders) only work because they reduce the number of fungi. New treatments will actually control the growth of the fungus. I say, this is dermatology and the beauty business at their best. Major kudos! I’ll keep you posted when new treatments are developed from the findings.
whoa that’s good news!! lol I’ll definitely be looking forward to knowing the products to cure dandruff. I need to be completely utterly flake free–I hate it when those white flakes show up on my black hair–embarrassing!!!!
hopefully they’ll come out with products quickly AND have them super affordable cuz i can’t be chucking out a lotta money for shampoo/conditioner ;.;
Comment by IchigoBunnie | May 18, 2008
Hi, just found your blog via the Derm Blog. Nice mix of articles including some that even us guys can learn something from. Don’t anticipate using lip gloss any time soon, but you never know.
I’m going to come back later when I’ve got more time and read some of your older posts. (Should be studying neuro right this moment, but I get so bored with it.)
Feel free to drop by my blog sometime and say hello.
Comment by Neumed | May 18, 2008
My head feels all funny by reading this LOL.
Comment by Elizabeth | May 21, 2008
Great news! I always use dandruff shampoos just to be sure. Good thing that scientists are getting to the bottom of this problem. I like the animation.
Comment by Joyce | June 16, 2008