Dandruff

Also known as:  Scurf

Medical name:  Pityriasis capitis

Dandruff is a condition in which the Scalp is covered in flakes of dead skin.

Dandruff occurs as the result of acceleration of the normal growing process of the Skin Cells of the Scalp.  Normally, all of the (dead) Skin Cell Cells of the Scalp are shed every 24 days.  With Dandruff, this process is accelerated.  In a normal Sclap, the process of sloughing off old Cells and the production of their replacements is orderly and complete.  With Dandruff, disorder occurs and often the sloughed cells are not dead before they are shed.

Cosmaceuticals

 Salicylic Acid (in a 2% - 3% solution applied topically) may alleviate Dandruff (by causing the dead cells that comprise Dandruff to peel (shed)). 

Lipids

 Alpha-Linolenic Acid (LNA) deficiency may cause Dandruff. 

 Linoleic Acid (LA) deficiency may cause Dandruff. 

Minerals

 Selenium (in the form of Selenium Sulfide Shampoo applied topically to the Scalp) may be an effective treatment for Dandruff.  ^[1]