an overview of dandruff and antidandruff …

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Tipugade et al. World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

AN OVERVIEW OF DANDRUFF AND ANTIDANDRUFF

FORMULATIONS AS A TREATMENT STRATEGY

Shubhangi Londhe1, Mayuresh Joshi

2, Pratiksha Band

3, Omkar Tipugade*

4, Shobhraj

Malavi5

1Department of Pharmaceutics, Government College of Pharmacy, Karad, Tal- Karad,

DistSatara, 415110, MS, India.

2Department of Pharmaceutics, SSR College of Pharmacy, Silvassa. Tal: Dadra Nagar Haveli

Dist: Dadra Nagar Haveli, 396230, MS, India.

3Department of Pharmaceutics, SND College of Pharmacy, Babhulgaon, 423401, MS, India.

4Department of Pharmaceutics, Genesis Institute of Pharmacy, Sonyachi Shiroli, Tal:

Radhanagari, Dist: Kolhapur Maharashtra 416212, India.

ABSTRACT

The hair is an integral part of the way to feel about the self-appearance,

and when the hairs are lost, it can be damaging to self-esteem and self-

confidence. One common reason is dandruff; a very common scalp

disorder with high prevalence in the population is caused by numerous

host factors in conjunction with Malassezia furfur. Most of the

commercially available anti-dandruff hair shampoos contain some

form of antifungal agents that appear to reduce the incidence of the

disease. Examples of such agents include keratolytics, antifungal

agents, and regulators of keratinization, antimicrobials, and

naturopathic therapies. We examine their mechanisms of action along

with structures and their efficacy in treating dandruff.

KEYWORDS: Shampoo, Dandruff, Fungicidal substances, Cytostatic substances,

Keratolytic substances.

INTRODUCTION

The use of cosmeceutical products has skyrocketed in recent years. Dr. Albert Kligman of the

University of Pennsylvania created the word cosmeceuticals about 25 years ago. Cosmetics

WORLD JOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES

SJIF Impact Factor 7.632

Volume 10, Issue 11, 663-675 Review Article ISSN 2278 – 4357

*Corresponding Author

Omkar Tipugade

Department of

Pharmaceutics, Genesis

Institute of Pharmacy,

Sonyachi Shiroli, Tal:

Radhanagari, Dist: Kolhapur

Maharashtra 416212, India.

Article Received on

05 Sept. 2021,

Revised on 25 Sept. 2021,

Accepted on 15 October 2021

DOI: 10.20959/wjpps202111-20479


664


with biologically active chemicals that act on the skin cellular structure through topical

application and have therapeutic, disease-fighting, or healing qualities are known as

cosmeceuticals. Cosmeceuticals refers to a product that is either a medication or a cosmetic,

or a combination of both, or a bridge between personal care and pharmaceuticals. Anti-

Dandruff shampoo is both a cosmetic (for hair washing) and a medication (for treating

dandruff-like skin conditions).[1]

Nearly 400 cosmeceutical industries supply chemicals &

cosmetics products to the US market.[2]

Cosmeceutical active substances are manufactured by

a variety of large and small businesses. The capacity to metabolise into skin, safety, efficacy,

novelty, formulation stability, and innovation are all significant properties for cosmeceutical

agents.[3]

Cosmetics are made with a variety of herbal extracts and powders for the goal of

beauty and attractiveness. Cosmetics come in a variety of dose forms, including soap, cream,

gel, and solutions, and are applied to the skin, nails, teeth, hair, and mouth.[4]

Hair is the most distinguishing feature of animals, and it serves a variety of tasks including

thermoregulation, sensory activity, physical protection, and social connection. Conditioning

agents, special care chemicals, and hair growth stimulants are all included in hair

cosmeceutical products.[3,4]

Hair growth cycle

Approximate hair growth is 10 cm/year. Hair growth cycle consists of four phases.

Anagen - (Growth phase): It determines hair length and lasts for 2-6 years. Hair follicles are

nourished via blood flow during this period, which enables for hair development.

Catagen -(Transition phase): It has ten-day duration. The hair follicle shrinks and separates

from the dermal papilla in this condition.

Telogen -(Resting phase): This phase follows the transition phase and lasts for 2-4 months.

Hair dies and falls out if it is not properly nourished.

Exogen - (Shedding phase): The time between when a resting hair reaches its terminal

position in the follicle and when it finally detaches is referred to as this phase. The resting

hair loosens over time, resulting in hair shedding.[5]


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Figure no. 1: Hair growth cycle.

Dandruff

The word dandruff comes from the Anglo-Saxon language and is made up of two words:

'tan,' which means 'tetter,' and 'drof,' which means 'filthy.' Dandruff is a persistent skin

ailment that primarily affects the scalp and causes white flakes of dead skin to appear as a

result of fungus overgrowth. Malassezia species, such as M. restricta, M. globosa, M. obtuse,

M. sloofiae, M. sympodialis, M. furfur, and M. pachydermatis, are the most common causes

of dandruff. Constant itching, redness, and flaking skin without inflammation can spread and

exacerbate dandruff. Dandruff is more severe in the winter than in other seasons.[6]

Dandruff

affects about 5% of the population. Male suffers from this types of skin disorders more than

that of female & dandruff has peak incidence & severity at about 20 to 30 years (at puberty)

of age & becoming less frequent after age of 50.[7,14]

Causes of dandruff[8,10,11]

1. Neurological abnormalities- Depression, Parkinsonism.

2. Lifestyle factors - incorrect skin care, trauma, stress, excessive perspiration.

3. Nutrition factors - Poor nutrition, alcoholism, food allergies.

4. Environmental factors - Pollution, exposure to dust, exposure to UV light, climate

changes.

5. Hormonal factors - Increased in sebaceous gland secretion, Increased in androgen level in

young adults.


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6. Dermatological diseases - Dry skin, seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, and contact

dermatitis.

7. Immunologic abnormality - Improved sensitivity to Furfur.

8. Sebum/sebaceous gland secretion.

9. Individual susceptibility.

10. Sensitivity

11. Not showering sufficient

Mechanism of dandruff formation

The microbiome of a dandruff-prone scalp is different from that of a healthy scalp.

Surprisingly, neither bacteria nor fungus appear to be primarily responsible for dandruff; in

fact, both appear to be involved.

Fungal - Main cause of dandruff is Malassezia furfur & it acts by following mechanisms.

(a) Lipase enzyme is found on the scalp, which is triggered by Malassezia and creates two

types of fatty acids: saturated and unsaturated. Fungi use saturated fatty acids by sebum

oxidation for self-proliferation and development, whereas unsaturated fatty acids include

oleic acid (which causes skin irritation) and arachidonic acid (causes inflammatory

response). The production of Dandruff is caused by the degradation of various types of

fatty acids, which results in dry, white flakes.

Fungi affect the normal shedding of dead skin cells. On the scalp, several enzymes eat off

dead skin cells, but Malassezia inhibits enzyme function, causing corneocytes to clump

together and create dandruff.

Bacterial - Propionibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis may also be a cause of

dandruff.[9]

Dandruff composition - Corneocytes detach from the stratum corneum's surface and form a

cluster of corneocytes due to a higher degree of cohesiveness. Cluster size and abundance

differ from one location to the next. The formation of dandruff is frequently caused by

parakeratotic cells.[6]


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Types of dandruff

1. Dry (common) Dandruff - Caused by Pityri and characterised by the accumulation of

white/ash coloured minute scales on the scalp. There is no considerable hair loss in this

variety.

2. Oily Dandruff - Young males are the most commonly affected. The severity of these

types of dandruff is determined by sebum production, and severe hair loss is common.[5]

Figure no. 2: Types of dandruff.

Home remedies for dandruff[8]

Lemons: (C.limon) are rich in antioxidants, essential vitamins, and citric acid (a form of

vitamin C). This combination of vitamins has a reputation for boosting the immune system

and maintaining hair health.

Onion: (Allium cepa) has antifungal and antimicrobial in nature. Carbohydrates, protein,

sulphur, salt, potassium, and phosphorus are all abundant. It inhibits the growth of dandruff

and improves the appearance of your hair.

Neem: (A. indica) Possessions are used to treat a variety of skin and hair problems. It's

mostly made up of quercetin, nimbosterol, and liminods. It has both blood purifying and

antimicrobial properties. It has antifungal and antiviral properties, as well as anti-

inflammatory properties. It's utilised to get rid of dandruff and achieve healthy, lustrous hair.

Curd: (Yogurt) is a natural anti-dandruff product due to its anti-inflammatory things. You

may also see curd touted as being antimicrobial to help treat scalp infections.

Treatment of dandruff

Shampoo - A shampoo is a preparation of a surfactant in a suitable form–liquid, solid or

powder–which when used under the specified conditions will


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Remove surface grease,

Dirt,

Skin debris from the hair shaft and scalp without adversely affecting the user.[5,11]

Ideal characteristics of shampoo[5,11,12]

1. It should completely remove the dust, dirt and excessive sebum.

2. It should be Economical.

3. It should be easy to remove through rinsing with water.

4. It should produce a good amount of foam.

5. It should be well preserved and have good stability.

6. It should be non-toxic, non-irritant to the surface of the scalp.

7. It should be easy to apply/ easy to spread.

8. It should maintain the physiological balance of hair essential elements.

9. It should give a pleasant fragrance to the hair.

10. It should not make the hand rough.

11. It should not have any side effects or cause irritation to skin or eye.

Types of shampoo[13]

Shampoos are of the following types:

Powder shampoo

Liquid shampoo

Lotion shampoo

Cream shampoo

Jelly shampoo

Aerosol shampoo

Specialized shampoo

Conditioning shampoo

Anti-dandruff shampoo

Baby shampoo

Two-layer shampoo


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Formulation of shampoo[5,11,14-16]

1. Detergent: They are also known as surfactants and are amphiphilic in nature (This means

these molecules have oil attracting and water attracting sites). The following are the basic

detergent categories:

(a) Anionic surfactants - A negatively charged hydrophilic polar group is present. Anionic

surfactants are excellent at removing sebum and grime, but they are harsh cleaners that

can cause an increase in electrical negative charges on the hair surface.

E.g.ammonium lauryl sulfate, sarcosine, sulfosuccinate.

(b) Cationic surfactants- Positively charged hydrophobic polar groups characterise this

material. It's primarily utilised in everyday shampoos, and it's known for its conditioning

and manageability.

Eg. Trimethyl Alkyl Ammonium chloride.

(c) Amphoteric surfactants- It has both anionic and cationic groups, and its foaming,

detergent, and wetting capabilities are excellent.

Eg. alkyl imino dipropionate.

(d) Nonionic surfactant - Second most popular surfactant & no polar groups are present.

Eg. Polyoxyethylene fatty alcohols.

(e) Natural surfactant- comes from various plants, having good lather producing properties

but poor cleansing action.

Eg. Soap bark, soapwort, soap nut, acacia concinna.

2. Foaming agent- Lathering Agents are another name for them. These ingredients provide

a foamy lather that cleans the hair.

Eg. Lauramine oxide, lauramide MEA.

3. Conditioning agent - It gives hair manageability, shine, and antistatic characteristics.

The main goal of the conditioning agent is to reduce friction in the hair and make

combing easier.

Eg. Fatty alcohols/esters, vegetable/ mineral oils.

4. Thickeners & Opacifiers - Thickeners increase viscosity of shampoo without changing

other properties.

Eg. Cellulose gum, polyethylene glycol.

Opacifiers (Pearlescent agents) are additives that impart a rich, creamy, luxurious feel and

appearance to cosmetic formulations.

Eg. Methyl cellulose, clay.


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5. Sequestering agent - Sequestering agents / chelating agents react with the calcium or

magnesium preferentially to surfactants, preventing scum formation.

6. pH adjuster - With alkaline detergents damaged hair swells, hence acidic pH adjustment

is done by using citric & lactic acid.

7. Perfumes- The use of these ingredients gives the shampoo a pleasant scent. It also masks

the unpleasant odors of other formulation chemicals, particularly surfactants. It has now

become a significant aspect in customer happiness. They're frequently derived from

natural sources like flowers, fruits, and herbs.

8. Preservatives - These compounds have the capacity to stop bacteria from growing.

They're frequently included to keep the preparation stable for a specific amount of time.

Preservatives such as para hydroxyl benzoic acid and phenyl mercuric nitrate are

routinely utilized.

9. Color - Addition of coloring agent impart appearance to preparation. Various FD & C

dyes are used for coloring purposes.

Anti dandruff shampoo

Anti-dandruff shampoo is a type of shampoo that contains an anti-dandruff ingredient and is

used to prevent or treat dandruff on the scalp. There are two sorts of anti-dandruff shampoos

on the market.

A. Synthetic anti-dandruff shampoos (based on ingredients of chemical origin)

Eg. Head & Shoulder, All Clear, Garnier Fructis Fortifying, Pantene Pro-V.

B. Herbal anti-dandruff shampoos (based on plant ingredients).

Eg. Himalaya Herbal Antidandruff Shampoo, Vaadi Antidandruff Shampoo, Lumina Herbal

Shampoo.

To address dandruff-like skin disorders, a variety of shampoos, lotions, ointments, creams,

suspensions, and hair oils are now available on the market. Anti-dandruff suspension is made

from zinc pyrithione, selenium sulphide, and sulphur. The majority of zinc pyrithione

dispersion in water is used in the US market, although just 1% is used in shampoo. Synthetic

antidandruff compounds are classified into three categories based on their mechanism of

action:

1. Fungicidal substances - Zinc pyrithione, Imidazole.

2. Cytostatic substances - Tar, Selenium sulfide, Octopirox.

3. Keratolytic Agents - Salicylic acid, Sulfur Compounds.[17,18]


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1) Zinc pyrithione

A coordination complex of zinc is zinc pyrithione. It's used to treat seborrhoeic dermatitis,

dandruff, scalp psoriasis, and acne because it's fungistatic and bacteriostatic. Zinc Pyrithione

stops yeast from growing, which is the main cause of dandruff.

Mechanism of action: Zinc pyrithione raises copper levels and destroys iron sulphur cluster

proteins, which are necessary for fungi to grow and function. Zinc pyrithione will deactivate

aconitase enzymes.

Side effects: Stinging/burning of scalp, Skin peeling, Irritation of the skin (rare).[9]

2) Imidazole antidandruff agents: Broad spectrum Antimycotic Agent.

a) Ketoconazole - Inhibits the cytochrome P-450 enzyme C-14 alpha demethylase,

preventing the demethylation of lanosterol to ergosterol, the primary sterol in fungal

membranes. This inhibits fungal cell growth and survival by causing membrane structure

and function to be disrupted.

Side effects: Irritation, stinging, dry skin, headache.

b) Fluconazole: Fluconazole is a bis-triazole antifungal agent that has been fluorinated. Its

mode of action, like that of other azoles, involves binding to fungal cytochrome P-450

and disrupting fungal membranes to prevent the conversion of lanosterol to ergosterol.

Side effects: Abnormal hair texture, discoloration, irritation, or pimple-like bumps on the

scalp.

c) Climbazole: Climbazole is a topical antifungal medication that is often used to treat

human fungal skin infections such dandruff and eczema. Climbazole has a strong in vitro

and in vivo efficacy against Malassezia spp., which appears to play a role in dandruff

aetiology. It has a comparable chemical structure and properties to other fungicides as

ketoconazole and miconazole. Frequently found in over-the-counter anti-dandruff

shampoos.

Side effects: localised irritation to skin (rashes, redness, allergic reaction).[9,19]

3) Selenium sulfide: Control dandruff by its anti-pityrosporum effect and rate of cell

turnover retarded. 1-2.5% concentration is used for antifungal activity.


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Mechanism of action: On the epidermis and follicular epithelium, selenium sulphide appears

to have a cytostatic effect, reducing corneocyte formation and consequent flaking. Its

efficiency is aided by its local irritating, antibacterial, antiseborrheic, and mild antifungal

properties.

Side effects: Oiliness or dryness of hair and scalp,Hair loss,Hair discoloration.Scalp/Skin

Irritation.[19,20]

4) Clotrimazole: Mechanism is the same as that of other Azoles (Inhibition of biosynthesis

of ergosterol). Generally 1% concentration is widely used.

Side effects: General irritation of skin, peeling, blistering, pruritus, burning sensation.[21]

5) Tar: To treat dandruff and other scaly, itchy skin disorders, this drug is applied to the

hair/scalp (psoriasis or seborrheic dermatitis). Coal tar extract is less dirty and odoriferous

than tar. Keratoplastics are a type of medicine that includes coal tar. It works by inducing

the top layer of the skin to shed dead cells and slowing the growth of skin cells. Scaling

and dryness are reduced as a result of this impact. Coal tar can also help with the itching

associated with many skin disorders. Novel stain free lecithinated coal tar formulation is

frequently employed due to its staining problem.

Side effects: Skin/scalp irritation/Staining, odour, messiness and also increases chances of

sunburn and produces skin cancer.[6,9,19]

6) Salicylic acid: One of the ingredients in over-the-counter (OTC) dandruff shampoos is

salicylic acid. It can help remove flakes while nourishing a dry scalp. You can use the

shampoo to treat seasonal dandruff or to keep your scalp moisturised on a regular basis.

Mechanism of action: Salicylic acid is a kind of salicylic acid that is Increases the quantity

of moisture in the skin, causing the top layer of skin (Stratum corneum) to shed dead cells,

softening the skin's top layer, and reducing scaling and dryness. When salicylic acid reacts

with keratin, it generates a complex (skin protein). This compound weakens the skin's stratum

corneum, making skin shedding easier.

Side effects: Dry skin, Burning sensation, Redness, peeling effect, Allergic reaction (rash,

itching /swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.


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7) Sulfur: Sulphur having keratolytic (due to reaction between Sulfur & cysteine) and

Antimicrobial effect (conversion of sulfur to pentatonic acid by skin flora).[6,9,19]

8) Piroctone olamine: Piroctone olamine is a dandruff shampoo and topical skin product

component. Piroctone olamine, also known as piroctone ethanolamine and marketed

under the brand name "Octopirox," is an antifungal and antibacterial chemical used to

treat fungal diseases of the skin, especially dandruff-causing scalp infections.

Mechanism of action: The anti-dandruff action is related to the inhibition of sebum

triglyceride degradation to oleic and arachidonic acids (which causes dandruff). Another

possible mode of action is the production of molecular compounds with iron and aluminium,

which could prevent fungal cells from efficiently utilising energy. It has been shown to be

particularly effective against Malassezia yeasts, and hence may play a role in the treatment of

seborrheic dermatitis.

Side effects: Irritation, swelling, pain, numbness, bleeding, bruising, asymmetry, wrinkling

of skin.[22]

Combination product of antidandruff agent

Brand Name Drug Combination

Nizoral Antidandruff Shampoo 1% Ketoconazole

Scalps Plus Expert Antidandruff Shampoo 2% Ketoconazole + 1% Zinc pyrithione

Scalpe Pro Antidandruff Shampoo Climbazole + Zinc pyrithione + Piroctone

olamine

Cipla 8X 1% Ciclopirox +1% Zinc pyrithione

Selsun Suspension Anti Dandruff Shampoo 2.5% Selenium sulfide

Selsun Daily Antidandruff Shampoo for Dry

Scalp

1% Selenium sulfide

Keraglo Anti Dandruff Ketoconazole + Ichthyol pale + D-Panthenol

+ Aloe Vera

Salisia KT Antidandruff Shampoo 2% Ketoconazole + 2.5% Salicylic acid +

Ichthyol pale + D-Panthenol + Aloe Vera

Neutrogena T/Gel Daily Control 2 in 1 Anti

Dandruff Shampoo Plus Conditioner

1% Zinc pyrithione + Vitamin E

Head and Shoulders Anti Dandruff Shampoo 1% Zinc pyrithione

CONCLUSION

Scalp illness, sometimes known as dandruff, affects more than half of the world's population.

Individuals have varied causes of dandruff and treatment strategies. For the treatment of

dandruff, several formulations such as shampoo, cream, lotion, and ointments are available


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on the market. Synthetic and natural agents are primarily employed. Zinc pyrithione,

Salicylic acid, Selenium sulphide, and coal tar-like treatments are useful for mild to moderate

dandruff, whereas Imidazole antifungal medications are effective for moderate to severe

dandruff. When patients do not respond to single antidandruff agents, then combinations of

various synthetic antidandruff agents are available in the market at affordable cost for

preventing Dandruff.

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