TITLE:
Improvement of Scalp Condition and Quality of Life through Proper Skin Care of Dry Scalp
AUTHORS:
Mika Oshima, Maiko Sogawa, Hiroshi Matsunaka, Yumi Murakami, Yumiko Saya, Takashi Sugita, Yoshihiro Matsudate, Nozomi Fukui, Kazutoshi Murao, Yoshiaki Kubo
KEYWORDS:
Atopic Dermatitis, Seborrheic Dermatitis, Moisturizer, Malassezia, Bacteria, qPCR
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Cosmetics, Dermatological Sciences and Applications,
Vol.4 No.4,
September
24,
2014
ABSTRACT: Introduction:
Appropriate skin care for dry scalp includes treatment for dandruff and
itchiness. However, little is known about the appropriate washing methods for
subjects with dry scalp. Me- thods: A scalp moisturizing lotion was used for 8
weeks on 30 outpatients at the Tokushima University Hospital who had dry scalp.
All subjects were given the same hair shampoo/conditioner and instructions on
how to wash their hair. Scalp symptoms were observed before and after the
testing period. Indigenous bacteria were collected from the scalp for
quantitative assessment. A survey was conducted to assess the quality of life
(QOL). Results: All scalp condition items (dryness, scales and desquamation,
itchiness, excoriation, and erythema) improved significantly after the testing
period; the levels of Malassezia and
bacterial colonization also decreased significantly. The QOL evaluation
indicated significant improvements in “symptoms”, “emotions”, and “global”
measures. A correlation was found between the extent of dryness at the start of
the test and the level of Malassezia colonization, as well as QOL scores. Conclusion: Using a scalp moisturizing lo-
tion, washing hair with a shampoo and conditioner that cause low irritation
levels, and using a hair washing method that avoids irritation led to
improvement in scalp condition, QOL, and pa- tient satisfaction.