title: Assessing therapeutic effectiveness of scalp treatments for dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis, part 1: a reliable and relevant method based on the adherent scalp flaking score (ASFS).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis (D/SD) are common and troublesome scalp conditions with the primary signs and symptoms being presence of skin flakes, pruritus, a tight feeling, and sometimes erythema.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To demonstrate the reliability and relevance of a clinical model for the assessment of therapeutic efficacy of a treatment using the Adherent Scalp Flaking Score (ASFS) method to quantitate the flaking severity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six randomized, double-blind, parallel design studies were conducted in either North America or Asia with subjects suffering from dandruff using the ASFS grading method before and after a 3-week test product treatment period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment with a commercial potentiated 1% zinc pyrithione (ZPT) shampoo resulted in statistically significant (p < 0.0001) improvements in total ASFS compared with the placebo cosmetic shampoo. Results were consistent across all studies, geographies, and product usage protocols (controlled on-site versus home use conditions), and were associated with statistically significant improvements in self-perception of scalp condition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ASFS-based clinical model was demonstrated to be a reliable and proven methodology to assess the effectiveness of widely used anti-dandruff treatments. The results are consistent with patient self-assessments, establishing this methodology as relevant to patient perception of product benefits.
authors.affiliation: The Procter and Gamble Company , Cincinnati, OH , USA.
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Bacon
authors.forename: Haruko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mizoguchi
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Schwartz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D063807:Dandruff / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012628:Dermatitis, Seborrheic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006203:Hair Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011725:Pyridines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012535:Scalp / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006203:Hair Preparations; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D011725:Pyridines; C010423:pyrithione zinc