What is Shampoo?
It is the specific cosmetic product for hair washing, seemingly a simple and easy-to-use product but it must be used correctly.
It is used almost every day therefore, in order not to run into problems, it is necessary that the formula and use are correct.
It is basically a mixture of surfactants in water and consists of structural, accessory and optional elements.
THE DERMATOLOGICAL SHAMPOO
Shampoo under the magnifying glass
Commercial shampoo is a cosmetic product that aims to wash the hair with a preference for sensory effects such as fragrance and foaming, while dermatological shampoo, on the other hand, pays more attention to gentle surfactant, quick and thorough rinsing, active ingredients with healing action.
The differences between dermatological shampoo and common shampoo
| Characteristic elements | Dermatological shampooo | Common shampoo |
| Surfactants | Delicate | Normal |
| Rinseability | Rapid | Slow |
| Foaminess | Minimum | Abundant |
| Active ingredients | Necessary | Not necessary |
Dermatologists’ needs are to have a Shampoo that is both cosmetically valid and adjuvant in the treatment of scalp dermatitis.
WHAT THE SHAMPOO SHOULD DO
Shampoo Chemistry
The shampoo should remove oily dirt from the hair without altering the hair structure or irritating the scalp skin.
| Structural components | % | Function |
| Surfactants | 15-30 | Degrease hair and skin |
| Foam Stabilizers | 1–4 | They maintain the foam. |
| Thickeners | 0.05 | Viscosize shampoo |
| Deionized water | q.s. to 100 | Vehicle the other components. |
| Components Accessories | % | Function |
| Preservatives | 0.1-1 | Control bacterial and fungal growth |
| Humectants | 1–5 | They help combat hair dryness. |
| Calcium chelators | 0.02 – 0.2 | They remove limescale from water |
| Optional Components | % | Function |
| Opacifiers | 0.2-2 | Take away transparency |
| Scents | 0.5-1 | Increase pleasantness |
| Active ingredients | 2 | Have specific activities |
| Colorants | 0.1-1 | Color shampoo |
| Conditioners | 0.1-1 | Facilitate combability |
THE PROBLEM OF SURFACTANTS OR TENSOACTIVES
Surfactants allow the shampoo water to wet the hair by breaking the surface tension of the water itself and at the same time act as cleansers of greasy dirt, emulsifying it and promoting its elimination during rinsing.
The most commonly used surfactants in shampoos are Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate or Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate (SLES). The reason for the widespread use of these surfactants in shampoos are to be found in their ease of processing, production of abundant lather, and low cost.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate or Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate (SLES)
These surfactants of the anionic class are skin irritants but are also pollutants and , lately, have been accused of being carcinogens.
The problem of foam in shampoos and body cleansers
The lather, white, creamy, persistent foam reminiscent of whipped cream, is considered as an indispensable pleasure factor for a shampoo; massaging the hair or body with the foam gives a sense of cleanliness and freshness. From a dermatological point of view, on the other hand, the amount of foam that is released from a product is directly proportional to the irritation it causes on the skin, and, moreover, the washing power of a product is not related to the foam.
MOST Dermictiol Shampoo
MOST Dermictiol Shampoo is the shampoo containing ichthyol sulfonate. It is formulated to reduce scalp dermatitis is has the characteristic of being nonfoaming, high rinsability so that it does not leave traces on the hair and head after washing. Useful in the treatment of Seborrheic Dermatitis and Psoriasis of the head and in all itchy or dandruff conditions.
