Photo source: KeyAromaTherapy.com
In the June 2008 issue of Allure magazine, Kristin Sainani reports that researchers at Procter and Gamble have recently cracked the genetic code of the fungus that causes dandruff (all 4285 genes)!  According to Thomas L. Dawson, Jr., a researcher at Procter and Gamble Beauty, “The [fungus] lives on every person’s scalp, [and] eats oil from the scalp and releases by-products that irritate the skin and cause flaking in susceptible individuals.” This is very exciting news, because understanding the fungus is the key to finding a cure. In fact, according to the article, current dandruff treatments (like pyrithione zinc in Head and Shoulders) only work because they reduce the number of fungi. New treatments will actually control the growth of the fungus. I say, this is dermatology and the beauty business at their best. Major kudos! I’ll keep you posted when new treatments are developed from the findings.