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The onset of cold weather has increased the number of people complaining of flaky and itchy skin, and dandruff.
Before
buying anti-dandruff shampoo, however, people could consider the advice of the Consumer
Council: “Consumers should first look into the root cause (of dandruff) before
selecting suitable products to address their problem.”
In a study, the council tested 25 brands of shampoo containing four anti-dandruff active ingredients -- zinc pyrithione (ZPT), piroctone olamine, climbazole, and salicylic acid – with prices ranging from $50 to $430 per bottle. The test did not grade them for their dandruff removal performance.
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The
council found that three of these brands did not contain the four anti-dandruff
ingredients, of which two claimed to use herbal ingredients against dandruff.
Of
these 25 brands, four were found to contain ZPT at above the limits set by the European
Union’s (EU) Cosmetics Regulation, although they meet the requirements of the United
States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) for use as an active ingredient in
Over-the-Counter (OTC) drug products, and complied with the requirements of the
Mainland’s Safety and Technical Standards for Cosmetics.
Aside
from its anti-dandruff quaity, ZPT is also antibacterial. “However, animal
studies have shown ZPT may damage the unborn child, while studies have also
shown that it could cause allergic contact dermatitis, as well as irritation if
it gets into the eyes,” it said.
The
Consumer Council said 10 brands contained salicylic acid, one of which had a
concentration as high as 1.9%, which may be categorized as an OTC drug if sold
in the US.
“…
the majority of the models with salicylic acid as a labelled ingredient did not
carry the warning label ‘not to be used for children under 3 years of age’ in
accordance with EU requirement,” the council said.
The
test also found fragrance allergens in over 90% of the brands, of which two were
even detected with the butylphenyl methylpropional (BMHCA), which is banned in
EU due to its reproductive toxicity.
Eight
of the brands were found to contain galaxolide (HHCB), which is not only
allergenic, but also highly toxic to aquatic life and not readily
biodegradable, posing a threat to the marine ecosystem, it said.
The Council said consumers should take care of their scalp regularly to avoid dandruff problems by doing the following:
- Select products based on the scalp and hair type, and
consider switching shampoos according to changes in the weather, such as using
products with better oil control during summer, and opting for more moisturizing
products in winter;
- Avoid using excessively hot water for washing hair, and
refrain from scratching the scalp with fingernails as it may cause wounds and
infection. Rinse hair thoroughly after using hair products;
- Minimize use of hairstyling products and hair dyes, as the
irritating ingredients may increase dandruff formation; also reduce the use of
products containing alcohol or greasy haircare products.
- Carefully review product labels before purchasing, and
avoid products with highly allergenic ingredients such as fragrance allergens,
methylisothiazolinone (MIT) and methylchloroisothiazolinone (CMIT), especially
for individuals with eczema or skin allergy;
- Use according to the instructions, including the usage
frequency and amount, and the duration of leaving the product on the scalp;
- If symptoms do not subside after using anti-dandruff shampoo for a period of time, or if redness or swelling of the scalp occurs, the user should seek medical advice.
