It''s summer and that means dandruff or other skin problems for many people. Doctors have pointed out a simple way to reduce your risk of scalp issues. When your shampoo is running low, don''t be tempted to top it up with water. Just buy a new bottle. Why? Let''s find out.
When you find your shampoo bottle running low, maybe you top it up like this.
But diluting your shampoo with water creates a breeding ground for germs, says this chemistry teacher.
Dr. Hsu Li-chi
Wanfang Senior High School teacher
Surfactants like shampoo and detergent are not a good environment for microbes to live in when they''re thick. But water comes from the natural world. When you leave a bottle out, it easily becomes a breeding ground for microbes. Let alone the fact that there are lots of microbes in the air in the bathroom, especially molds.
Germs can be seen moving vigorously under the microscope. Is your skin crawling yet? When water is left to stagnate, it comes in contact with bacteria and spores in the air, which multiply more and more over time. And when you dilute cleaning products, even if they still bubble and slide through your hair like normal, they won''t be cleaning nearly as well as before.
We spoke to one dermatologist with a patient who had traced a mystery infection to their diluted shampoo. This doctor suggested that anyone with a sensitive scalp should expect more itching if they dilute shampoo.
Dr. Luo Yang
Neihu Cathay Clinic dermatologist
It was terrible folliculitis, like in the photos.
The patient had inflamed hair follicles on their scalp, causing red swelling. Their hair fell out in clumps and wouldn''t regrow. And no matter how much they washed their hair - with diluted shampoo - it just got itchier.
Dr. Luo Yang
Neihu Cathay Clinic dermatologist
People who have some latent, inherent issues with their scalp, for example, Seborrheic dermatitis or psoriasis…Seborrheic dermatitis is caused by Malassezia [malla-SAY-zee-ah] yeast and can inflame the skin… If you have that and then you use shampoo that isn''t very clean, it can lead to secondary infections. If you get more sores on top of your eczema, that''s not great.
Lots of us get scalp problems in summer. Doctors advise patients to wipe sweat away as soon as possible, but not to wash excessively. And if your shampoo runs out, get a new bottle.