Dry Flakes: How to Get Rid of Them?

In France, dandruff affects 1 in 2 people. Despite being harmless, dandruff can tarnish the daily life of those affected as it is unsightly and can cause varying degrees of itchiness.

Easily identifiable, these are dead cells or scales that are whitish or greyish on the scalp. These dead cells are the result of an accelerated cellular renewal at the scalp level. This too rapid cellular renewal leads to a maturation defect of the epidermal cells that cannot naturally eliminate themselves. They clump together, thus forming dandruff. Generally, dandruff appears from puberty onwards.

Although the mechanism of accelerated cell renewal causing dandruff is well understood, theorigin of dandruff remains a topic of debate. Indeed, the proliferation of microorganisms (Malassezia fungus), genetic predisposition, and excess sebum are the main causes identified. However, there are other factors that promote the appearance of dandruff (diet, moments of stress...).

Dandruff is therefore a common condition of the scalp. There are two types of dandruff: dry dandruff and oily dandruff.

The dry flakes represent the most common type of dandruff. Thin, dry and of a whitish colour, they fall like snow onto the shoulders.

It's important to note : unlike oily dandruff which sticks to the scalp, dry dandruff does not adhere to the scalp. As a result, it becomes visible on clothing. This type of dandruff is rarely accompanied by itching.

Generally, dry dandruff is predominantly observed on dry or normal scalps. A dry scalp is characterised by a lack of substances that help to keep skin cells together (ceramides, fatty acids, cholesterol). Consequently, the skin's barrier function is impaired. This results in an insensible water loss at the scalp level.

This dryness leads to a phenomenon of desquamation with the appearance of dry flakes on the scalp. Due to a lack of sebum, these flakes do not adhere to the scalp and fall like snow.

We propose a combination of two treatments to combat your dry dandruff: the anti-dandruff shampoo and the soothing scalp treatment.

• Anti-dandruff shampoo.

Dandruff requires the use of a suitable gentle shampoo. Generally, anti-dandruff shampoos are composed of:

1. Of antifungal agents : they help to combat the proliferation of Malassezia type fungi.

2. Of anti-proliferative agents : they act against the excessive multiplication of epidermal cells in the scalp.

3. Of anti-inflammatory and soothing agents : to combat redness and itching of the scalp.

Our anti-dandruff shampoo is suitable for both oily and dry dandruff. It is formulated with1% of piroctone olamine which has antifungal activity and limits sebum secretion. It also containsjujube extract which regulates desquamation and thus reduces the formation of dandruff. It also soothes itching and irritation. In addition to this, this treatment contains essential oils of atlas cedar and clary sage known for their anti-dandruff and sebum-regulating actions.

Apply our shampoo from root to tip and wash your hair, taking care to thoroughly massage the scalp.

• Calming scalp treatment.

Formulated with1% of bisabolol which is anti-inflammatory andcotton extract which is softening, our calming treatment reduces scalp discomfort (dryness and itching). It containssweet almond oil known for its anti-inflammatory and rebalancing virtues as well as vegetable glycerin which prevents dehydration.

Apply one to two pipettes over the entire dry scalp once a day, in the morning or evening, and massage. This treatment does not require rinsing.

• Luis J. Borda & Tongyu C. Wikramanayake, Seborrheic Dermatitis and Dandruff: A Comprehensive Review (2015)