HAIR CARE
to use the products and often changing the product is necessary
to maintain effectiveness. It is not known if such practice generates biota resistance over time and drives evolutionary changes
to biota population that acquired tenacious strategies of self-pro-tection. This symptomatic treatment requires continued product
use, because the cycle of activation that led to the condition is
not broken.
Scalp Biota Species
Prior to the availability of sophisticated genomic techniques, microbiology research was limited to procedures of isolation, maintenance, study and accuracy in identification of body commensal
biota communities. Recent advances in techniques generated key
information in the understanding of potential underlying cause
and interplay between the biome and human cellular behavior.
Still, however, much is missing, even in the
biota’s role per se. For example, while genomic sequencing can point toward a presence of biota; it cannot provide information
on its livelihood or activity. If the biota sequenced is dead or not metabolically active,
its contribution to the condition may be
questionable. On the other hand, chemical
components on the biota cell wall, even if it
is not metabolically active, may stimulate an
innate immunity mechanism to facilitate human cellular biological cascades.
Until recently, the consensus has been that
Malassezia yeast (known as Pityrosporum), a
lipid dependent organism, dominates scalp
skin and therefore plays a pivotal role in
scalp disorders. Members of this genus are
numerous and some scientists classify them
as lipid dependent and lipid independent.
Identification of specific molecular markers
is required to differentiate between species.
Recent findings question this dogma. Before
genetic sequencing, the study of this class
was complicated because when isolated from
the scalp it requires very particular culture
conditions and its growth in culture may not
replicate modalities that reflect the natural
scalp environment. Genetic sequencing allowed further investigation of the Malassezia
species as well as other biota communities
on scalp. Market leaders such as Procter &
Gamble and L’Oréal studied its sequencing
and characteristics.
The fungus Malassezia globosa secretes
lipase and other enzymes that metabolize triglycerides present in the sebum into
unsaturated fatty acids such as oleic acid.
During DF formation and presence, the levels of Malassezia increase 1.5 to 2 times its
normal level. Oleic acid is a skin penetration
enhancer that fluidizes the stratum corneum
intercellular lipids, and can further partition
into the sebum triggering an inflammatory response in susceptible individuals. This
may disturb scalp environment homeostasis
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