Tag: dandruff

October’s QOM- Can Apple Cider Vinegar replace shampoo?

 

questiontext

Dear Hair Doctor: What is your medical opinion on replacing traditional shampoo with Apple Cider Vinegar? Can it really help with dandruff and itchy scalp? Are there any benefits for tightly coiled black hair?

 

answertext

 

I don’t think Apple Cider Vinegar is that useful as  a complete replacement for shampoo as it cannot effectively remove oils etc from your hair that well because of its chemical properties.   See this blog post from another scientist :

http://www.thenaturalhavenbloom.com/2014/07/can-you-wash-your-hair-with-baking-soda.html

Apple Cider Vinegar has been used traditionally as a final rinse to close the cuticle, make the hair shiny, and to remove any residual soap deposits from the hair. People used to wash their hair with soap (as well as with other naturally saponin rich plants like soapwort and aloe vera). Because Apple Cider Vinegar is acidic it helps to restore the pH of the scalp and hair, and in the process tackles excess flaking (dandruff). For highly textured hair, in women of African descent, it is quite useful as it helps to restore the pH which would be significantly changed once exposed to high pH shampoos and soaps. This renders this hair type rough and make it extremely unmanageable. Once the pH is restored the hair will be more likely to act better.

 

About 

Dr. Llorenia Muir-Green is a practising dermatologist in Jamaica. She has an avid interest in hair and scalp disorders.  She is a member of the Medical Association of Jamaica,  Dermatology Association of Jamaica and is an Associate Member of the Caribbean Dermatology Association. She was a recipient of the 2013 Fellowship in Hair and Scalp Disorders at the University of British Columbia.

August’s QOM- What’s the difference between dry scalp and dandruff?

questiontext

Hey Doc, need some help. How do u differentiate between dry scalp and dandruff, and what’s the treatment for each? What causes or aggravates them? Pls help.

answertext

A completely dry scalp i.e. where there is no oil and the skin cracked is actually not common.  There are persons who have genetic and other unusual skin disorders where all of their skin including their scalp is dry. What people often refer to as “dry scalp” is actually dandruff. A flaky scalp does not necessarily mean it is dry. There are also other conditions that can result in a flaky scalp: psoriasis, discoid lupus and other scarring type hair loss.

For most persons they are experiencing  seborrhoeic dermatitis which most often refer to as dandruff. Seborrhoeic dermatitis is caused by inflammation of the scalp caused by a fungus that lives on the scalp that feeds on the sebum that our scalp hairs produce. The scalp produces a lot of sebum even more than the face. Your hair type which is excessively curly does not make you be aware of it. For other races with straighter hair it is quite obvious how oily their hair can get. You actually do not need to oil the scalp ever.

The number one thing to alleviate dandruff is to wash your hair often. Do not go a week without washing your hair. You will see a difference in how your scalp reacts. Antifungal shampoos used directly on the scalp can be helpful. Ketoconazole, Selenium sulfide, Zinc Pyrithione II, and Tea tree oil containing shampoos are helpful. Leave them on for ten minutes. Rinse then wash your hair with the regular shampoo afterwards. 

 

About

Dr. Llorenia Muir-Green is a practising dermatologist in Jamaica. She has an avid interest in hair and scalp disorders.  She is a member of the Medical Association of Jamaica,  Dermatology Association of Jamaica and is an Associate Member of the Caribbean Dermatology Association. She was a recipient of the 2013 Fellowship in Hair and Scalp Disorders at the University of British Columbia.

Have a question you would like to be answered? Send in your question to ask@askthehairdoc.com. Remember to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Google Plus.