洗極個頭都好多頭皮？藥性洗頭水幫到你！
Where’s My Anti-Dandruff Shampoo?
每逢轉天氣，對好多人嚟講都係挑戰。因為有唔少人都擔心個頭「落雪」（即頭皮屑脫落），特別著深色衫嘅時侯，令人非常尷尬。但並唔係太多人知原來頭皮屑脫落同真菌有關。要治療頭皮屑脫落，就必需處理「皮屑芽胞菌」。巿面上有唔少藥性洗頭水有助控制頭皮屑，唔知你又對佢哋有幾多認識呢？
Seasonal weather changes are always challenging, especially when you are troubled by those embarrassing “white flakes” snowing down on your nice dark-colored blouse. Do you know these “white flakes”, also known as dandruff, may be caused by fungal infections? Are you wondering what shampoos can help you get rid of this pesky dandruff problem? Medicated shampoos containing one or a combination of the following ingredients may be the answer to your dandruff nightmare.
1. Coal Tar
Coal Tar，即係焦油，佢嘅去頭皮藥理仍然不明，相信係透過影響頭皮細胞間嘅連繫嚟減少頭皮屑。除咗減少頭皮外，焦油亦會影響頭油分泌，並且有止痕功效。使用者要留意返，焦油本身氣味比較濃烈，而且具些少剌激性，並非人人可以接受得到。
As a by-product from the production of coke and coal gas from coal, coal tar is helpful in reducing dandruff with its anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory and anti-itch effects. Unfortunately, coal tar’s strong odor, plus skin staining and irritating properties limit its use in some patients.
2. Zinc Pyrithione, Selenium Sulphide
巿面上常見有「去頭皮」聲稱嘅洗頭水，通常含有Zinc Pyrithione或 Selenium Sulphide其中之一。兩者藥效相約，主要透過減慢頭皮表皮細胞嘅新陳代謝嚟改善頭皮屑。而Selenium Sulphide更可以減少皮屑芽胞菌嘅細胞分裂，從而達到抑制皮屑芽胞菌嘅功效。但留意返，長期使用Selenium Sulphide後，會令頭髮留有硫化氫嘅味道，亦會令頭皮變得較為油性。
Most over-the-counter shampoos marketed for dandruff contain either zinc pyrithione or selenium sulphide. Both agents have anti-fungal effects and are effective for mild forms of dandruff. Special caution should be exercised when using selenium sulphide on a long-term basis as it can leave a sulphate smell and cause an orange-brown discoloration of the scalp.
3. Ketoconazole
Ketoconazole亦係常用抗真菌藥，主要透過減少皮屑芽胞菌嘅細胞膜製造組成物，抑制皮屑芽胞菌嘅增生。抗真菌功效上嚟講，會比Zinc Pyrithione及Selenium Sulphide較為強，較適合於難處理嘅頭皮屑問題。
More potent anti-fungal shampoos containing ketoconazole can be sold via consultation with your pharmacist or your doctor. These anti-fungal shampoos are reserved for more resistant, or recurrent cases of dandruff.
使用藥性洗頭水要注意嘅地方？
Tips on using medicated shampoos
使用去頭皮洗頭水嘅時侯，必須確保有足夠嘅藥物接觸到頭皮，發揮功效。功效亦會因使用時間、溫度、濃度及使用頻率而異。一般建議使用者每星期至少用兩至三次，使用時先將去頭皮洗頭水均勻塗搽於頭皮上，並配合輕輕按摩，然後等大約五分鐘，再用清水沖洗。
Ensure adequate amount of shampoo is applied to the entire scalp area, paying special attention to the nape area. Apply the shampoo to the scalp and gently massage in a circular motion using fingertips for about 3 to 5 minutes then rinse thoroughly. Use luke-warm water to wash your hair.
一般嚟講，使用去頭皮洗頭水四星期後，頭皮情況就有所改善。若之後想控制及預防頭皮出現，就要每星期使用一次藥性洗頭水。
The minimum treatment duration with medicated shampoo is 4 weeks before noticeable improvement in dandruff symptoms. For recurrent cases, medicated shampoos can be used once weekly as prevention method.
屈臣氏藥劑師團隊
Watsons Pharmacy Team
