FAQ's

Stress can increase dandruff by increasing the oiliness of the scalp. The incidence of dandruff is hence much higher in urban than rural population.

Dandruff is caused due to colonisation of the scalp by Malassezia furfur (normal resident of the scalp) which feeds on the natural oils (sebum) produced by the oil glands.

A) To prevent dandruff, avoid oiling the scalp as it is not caused due to dryness ( Perhaps this is the biggest myth associated with Dandruff).

B) Use a shampoo or scalp cleanser containing Ketoconazole/Zinc Pyrithione twice or thrice a week.

C) Apply shampoo on the scalp rather than hair and rinse thoroughly.

Dandruff cannot cause severe hairfall or thinning or baldness but can coexist due to other causes. Often the symptom is scalp itching due to inflammation.

Hair is made up of protein which is the most essential backbone for any hair treatment. Egg, sprouts, pulses, protein bars or drinks are a must along with anti-oxidant rich foods like Dryfruits, pomegranate, citrus fruits .Egg white particularly is a good source of biotin. Low fat dairy products like milk, cheese and buttermilk are good sources of Vitamin B12 too. Iron rich foods like dates, beetroot, liver (chicken and lamb) should be take in more quantity. Omega three rich food sources like walnuts, flaxseeds and canola oil add to the strength of the hair. A right combination of these foods with regular meal times to enhance absorption of the nutrients is a must for healthy hair.

Keeping the scalp clean is a must for growth of healthy hair. It is generally recommended to atleast wash hair twice a week but if the scalp is too oily or exposed to increased levels of dust and pollution, a daily wash with mild shampoo is not harmful. Please choose a mild shampoo,( preferably sulphate and parabens free) along with a conditioning agent to prevent split ends and hair damage.

Consume more proteins as compared to carbohydrates in your daily diet. Add beneficial fats like omega three along with Antioxidants to your diet. Use a sulphate and parabens free shampoo with good conditioner containing hydrolysed protein for your mane. Avoid chemical treatments and cosmetics containing harmful constituents like waxes. You can consult your dermatologist to recommend a good serum containing natural constituents like procapixyl and anagain which help in improving the hair growth with minimal side effects.

No, Psoriasis cannot cause hair loss except if the scalp is scratched rigorously. In that case as well, the hair regrows.

Canitis can be hereditary or acquired in which Vitamin B12 deficiency is the commonest cause.Calcium pantothenate supplements are helpful in preventing the progression. Melitane is being used topically in the prevention of early greying as well.

Fungal infection can be a cause of hairloss in children but it is generally reversible except in severe cases like kerion. It is highly unusual to see fungal infection of the scalp in adults as increased sebaceous gland activity prevents the colonisation of fungus.

Shampoos can be used daily as a clean scalp provides the right milieu for hair growth. But the daily shampoo has to be chosen carefully. It should be parades free and Preferably even free from Sulphates which can dry the hair body if used regularly.

Baldness or androgenetic alopecia can be treated and controlled as I consider it to be more of a tendency than disease. It can be successfully tackled with long term measures.

Chemical peel is a painless and office procedure with most of them requiring no downtime.

Skin tags are generally a result of genetic tendency or sometimes impaired glucose metabolism. A healthy diet with an active lifestyle especially weight loss in certain cases goes a long way to prevent further skin tags. But existing ones need to be removes using electrofulguration or Co2 laser.

Warts are caused by a virus known as human papilloma virus or HPV. It has a property of autoinoculuation , hence can spread to the parts easily.