NJH CME.
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 1995 Nov / Dec VOL VI NO 6.
Dr Asrani C H.

Seminar Reports

NJH CME
Seeing the stupendous response to our concept of providing clinical knowledge to the practising Homoeopath and innumerable requests for something more, made us do some fast thinking, and once again our EB has come up with another bright idea. In addition to our programme on 16th June 1996 (details on Pg. 337) every issue of NJH will carry an article on some important aspect of medicine, which may or may not pertain to the theme of the issue. This information will be such that will help us understand a disease or investigation better and may help us in treating our patients better (of course with Homoeopathy).

This issue of Hair and Nail talks of Dandruff (Seborrhoeic Dermatitis). Readers are requested to send in their choice for topics in NJH-CME as we always provide what our readers want.

Seborrhoeic Dermatitis - Dandruff:
What is a Dandruff?
Dandruff is a Papulo-squamous dermatitis. One of the Scaling disorders, others being Atopic Dermatitis, psoriasis, Lichen Simplex and Pityriasis Rosea.

It is an acute or chronic dermatitis. It occurs as a result of excessive secretion of Sebaceous glands. It is based upon a genetic predisposition and mediated by diverse factors like hormones, infections and emotional stress.

Diagnostic Features:

1. Dry scales with or without underlying Erythema.
2. Involvement of scalp, central face, pre-sternal and inter scapular regions.

1. Simple Dandruff - mild scaling without any erythema
2. Seborrhoeic Dermatitis - general erythema without tight, thick silvery scales.
3. Psoriasis - Well demarcated red plaques with silvery scales.

Local Measures - SCALP - In addition to acute - constitutional medicines shampoos should be advised. Patients always ask the doctor to recommend one; it is therefore necessary for the doctor to have a working knowledge of various shampoos available for Dandruff. It is our duty to caution patients against using home made stuff and using anything that has a stamp of Herbal.

One of the good ones that I have been recommending for over 18 years is not a cosmetic one but medicinal - Cetavlon Cetrimide Concentrate - to be used in a dilution of 1:10 once a week.

Face - mild soaps have to be used, so as not to further irritate the skin.

Involvement of Eyelids - usually responds to gentle cleaning of the lid margin using a cotton bud dipped in some very gentle baby shampoo (undiluted) as most baby shampoos do not cause tears to flow.

Prognosis:
The tendency to life long recurrences with periods of remissions should be very clearly explained to the patients. Under no circumstances a CURE should be promised.

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