Unilever introduces latest anti-dandruff technology to combat white flakes

May 2007

Unilever at the CLEAR research technology centers has teamed with some of the world's leading hair experts to develop the new range of anti-dandruff shampoo, Clear.

The vital components in the new shampoo range, Vita Ace - a combination of amino acid, Vitamin E with Sunflower oil, and Zinc PTO, are said to work in harmony on both the scalp and hair.

Vita Ace, nourishes the scalp to keeping the hair's nutrients intact, whilst Zinc works to removing the dandruff. Therefore now hair can be both dandruff-free and in a healthy condition.

According to Iain Potter, Vice President of Marketing Hair Loss and Personnel Care Products; 'The regular use of Clear will remove dandruff and prevent it from coming back. No longer will users have to alternate between shampoos. They can have both dandruff-free and beautiful hair using our latest shampoo.'

Dandruff is a global phenomenon that affects more than 50% of the population, due to the excessive shedding of dead skin cells from the scalp and can occur at any age, but is most expected in the early 20s.

Despite being a commonplace ailment, the condition can cause social or self-esteem problems. Treatment may be important purely for psychological reasons.

For unknown reasons, people with some illnesses, or under stress, are more likely to have dandruff.

Hormones may also be involved, because dandruff usually starts after puberty and is more common in men than women.

Small amount of flaking is normal and in fact quite common. The cells of scalp naturally flake as part of the rejuvenation process. These flakes are usually too small and unnoticeable.

However, sufferers of dandruff experience an unusually large amount of flaking, accompanied by itching and irritation.

Certain conditions such as environment and general ill health may cause cell loss to be unusually rapid.

In cases, the cells may mature and be shed in less than 7 days, as opposed to around a month in people without dandruff. The dead cells are shed in large, oily clumps, which appear as white patches on the scalp, noticeable when brushing the hair.

'In Saudi Arabia, dandruff seems to occur more commonly than rest of the world'', said Saudi hair and skin care specialist, Rana Atiayah; 'We estimate that around 60% of Saudis suffer from dandruff. The heat, humidity and air conditioning play havoc with the scalp.

Scalp becomes dry, chafed, scaly and itchy sometimes causing hair loss too. And while most of my patients are young men, approximately 25% are girls in their teens, as well as a few women over 40. Most complain of dandruff associated with hair loss.

In most cases test results indicate that conditions are diet and vitamin deficiency related. In search of the ideal figure and lack of exposure to the sun, many females suffer from deficiency in Vitamin E and C in Saudi; which affect the hair, causing loss.

Most anti-dandruff products do not help as they strip the hair of the essential minerals and oils, actually increasing loss.'

Pharmaceutical and healthcare specialists have been battling for over 40 years to find the solution to the embarrassing problem. There have been many lines of attack for the control of dandruff. Most anti-dandruff shampoos contain the active ingredient Zinc pyrithione.

However, sufferers often complain that while treatments may control the dandruff with frequent use, unfortunately they may also leave hair rather dry and hard to style.

This may leave the user in a dilemma; dandruff-free or beautiful hair? No wonder the lack of lustrous hair has often had relief seekers alternating between beauty and treatment shampoos with no real satisfaction.

Dermatologists identified a fungus Malassezia found naturally on the surface of people's skin.

The fungus lives off of fat compounds in human oil, creating an acid which may trigger an inflammatory response disturbing the scalp. The fungus grows out of control, on the disturbed scalp resulting in the excessive flaking of scalp.

Mrs. Yvonne Mohammed the Saudi/Polish healthcare and beautician commented that she is fascinated by the latest product, 'Most of my affected clients of different ages were not happy with the condition of the hair after regularly using medicated shampoos.

Most resort to Hair Loss-remedies such as tea tree oil, vinegar, baby oil and antiseptic mouthwashes, often with burning sensation, plus they aggravate the flakes even further. I now use CLEAR. My sons and daughter now use it daily."