Medical App & Medical Advice with Hello Doctor

Oh no, I have dandruff!

Too scared to wear anything dark because you battle with dandruff? It’s painless and it won’t kill you, but dandruff is an embarrassing bother.

What Is Dandruff?

Those annoying skin flakes are caused by a skin condition called seborrheic dermatitis. It’s an inflammatory skin disorder that affects the scalp, causing white or yellow dandruff flakes to rub off a person’s head easily.

If you have dandruff, you might find that your scalp feels crusty or raw in the areas where seborrhea is getting worse, and it can also cause your scalp to itch. This condition may cause hair loss if it isn’t treated, but only in very rare cases, and any lost hair should start to grow back once the condition is treated. For some people, seborrheic dermatitis may spread to different areas of the body, such as the inside of the ear, the armpits, and even the belly button.

Note: You can’t catch dandruff from another person.

Who Gets Dandruff?

Current theories for the cause of dandruff are:

  • a weakened immune system
  • issues with the nervous system.
  • a lack of specific nutrients

Dandruff can start as you go through puberty, and lots of teens and adults live with it. People with eczema may find that their dandruff gets worse when they have an eczema flare-up, and it can also get worse during cold weather.

How Do I Treat Dandruff?

While more severe dandruff may need a prescription shampoo, steroid creams, or antifungal creams prescribed by your doctor, most of the time dandruff can be simply controlled with over-the-counter dandruff shampoo. Speak to your pharmacist about the different anti-dandruff shampoos available.

You may need to use a dandruff shampoo every day in the beginning, but once it improves, you can use the shampoo less often.

Note: If one type of dandruff shampoo irritates or bothers your scalp, try a different one. You can use your usual conditioner after your dandruff shampoo.

Living With Dandruff

Dandruff can’t be cured, but it can be kept under control. Don’t just put up with the flakes: speak to your pharmacist or doctor and wash dandruff out of your life.

Sources: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dandruff/Pages/Introduction.aspx