Is head and shoulder shampoo good or bad for hair loss and growth? | Find out now!
In this article, we will explain what head and shoulder shampoo is and whether it is good or bad for hair loss and growth.
What is heads and shoulders shampoo?
Most people have no idea what it is. It is an American brand of anti-dandruff and non-dandruff shampoo, which is produced by the parent company Procter and gamble that was actually introduced in 1961. It has been the number one brand since then. It has been noticed that no other hair care brand gets so many ad dollars as the Head & Shoulders.
An overview of Head & holders
The Head and Shoulders were actually launched in 1960. It was the only and first commercially available dandruff treatment that was very easy to be applied. Before Head and shoulders, most dandruff sufferers use coal tar or egg oil. However, these were very unpleasant treatments and could damage hair.
In this sense, it was a significant advance in hair care. It is one of the world’s most recognizable shampoo brands to this day. Today’s head and shoulders range include various hair care products, like most conditioners, oil, and many more. The shampoo also comes in various versions. All of these Head & Shoulders products have a variety of different ingredients. However, most of them contain the same two very basic active ingredients.
There has been significant controversy over the effectiveness of Head & Shoulders most products. Many men claim that Head & Shoulders products are causing hair loss and thinning. However, before we even examine these claims, it is essential to understand precisely how the Head & Shoulders treat them.
What is Dandruff?
It is a prevalent scalp condition. One of the main symptoms is the white-to-yellow and flaky skin crusts that stick to the hair or fall on your clothing. Around one out of two people will have experienced dandruff at some point in their life.
We lose a lot of dead cells in our scalp every day. This is a part of normal cell life and death. These cells fall off individually and are so small that they can not be seen through the naked eye. In dandruff, however, the dead cells will stick to each other, and then they fall off in big, very easily flakes.
These flakes do not by themselves cause hair loss. Yet the itching and irritation they bring will make people constantly scratch their Heads. If they are left locked, then this excessive scratching can slowly also damage your follicles. Eventually, this could also contribute to your hair loss. This is a very long-term process and not something that can happen in a few weeks or even in months.
Aside from the possible hair loss, the dandruff flakes are also very unsightly. This presence can also cause you social embarrassment and distress. It can also affect other people’s perceptions of you. In this sense, dandruff can have a psychological impact.
A very closely related condition is seborrheic dermatitis. The one main difference between dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis is that dandruff only affects the scalp. Seborrheic dermatitis can also appear in the other areas of your body, including the chest. Another big difference is seborrheic dermatitis, the skin is often red with inflammation.
The cause of dandruff
Scientists still have no idea what causes dandruff. One of the potential factors is a fungal species called the Malassezia. This fungus is always present in the scalp of all people. It is also part of the scalp microflora, in people with dandruff through Malassezia out of control. It essentially takes over the scalp.
Scientists still don’t understand exactly how Malassezia causes dandruff. One of the main reasons lies in its metabolites. These might irritate the scalp cells and will lead to normal flaking.
Ingredients of Head & Shoulders
Depending on what exact version you are using, there are a number of ingredients in the Head & Shoulders shampoo. Yet two are the most significant and active ingredients. This will also be in most of the various Head & Shoulders formulations.
They are pyrithione zinc and selenium sulfide. The manufacturer of Head & Shoulders lists that these are the two most significant and active ingredients. These have also been the subject of most scientific research in recent years. We will all look at these in turn.
Pyrithione Zinc
One of the main active ingredients in the Head & shoulders is Zinc pyrithione. This product is very much common in many other personal care products. It is also an antifungal and the other levels of Malassezia in the scalp. This also relieves the flaking and brings your dandruff under control.
Pyrithione zinc has a very wide antimicrobial action that is not limited to fungi. There is also research to suggest that zinc pyrithione may also serve as an antibacterial. It is also a very common ingredient in skin hygiene products for this main reason.
Selenium Sulfide
This is also another antifungal chemical. Like the pyrithione zinc, it stops the fungi from growing on the skin. It is also sold alone or as an ingredient in the more complex formulas, like the Head & Shoulders. Just like pyrithione zinc, researchers have found it very effective in relieving the symptoms of dandruff.
Other ingredients
1. Sodium Laureth Sulfate and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
These are the two most common ingredients of shampoos, facial cleansers, and body washes. They are surfactants. This also means that they trap dirt and oil on the hair. The water then easily washes this away, leaving the hair very clean. Due to their chemical properties, manufacturers also put SLES and SLS in the personal health care lines and the household cleaning products.
2.Methylisothiazolinone
It is a very attractive ingredient in various household products that are typically advertised as having antimicrobial capabilities. This chemical can also be found in many personal care products, hand soap, dish soap, and even products marketed to children.
Conclusion
In this article, we have explained what Head & Shoulders are. We also explained what dandruff is. Finally, we discussed what the ingredients of the Head & Shoulders are. We recommend you do some research of your own before jumping to a conclusion.
