Health A to Z

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Dandruff

A common condition known as dandruff causes the scalp’s skin to flake. It is neither severe nor contagious. However, it can be awkward and challenging to treat.

You can use a gentle daily wash to treat mild dandruff. A medicated shampoo might be helpful if that doesn’t help.

Dandruff symptoms 

Signs and symptoms of dandruff might include:

  • You have skin flakes on your shoulders, beard, hair, eyebrows, and scalp
  • Scratchy scalp
  • Infants with cradle caps have a scaly, crusty scalp

Stress can aggravate the signs and symptoms, which also tend to worsen during the cold, dry months.

Dandruff causes 

The following are some possible causes of dandruff:

  • Oily, irritated skin
  • Dry skin
  • Malassezia, a yeast-like fungus that feeds on oils on most adults’ scalps
Dandruff symptoms
  • Sensitivity to cosmetics for hair care (contact dermatitis)
  • Other skin disorders, like eczema and psoriasis

Risk factors

Although almost anybody can get dandruff,

Some things can increase your risk:

  • Age. Dandruff typically starts in adolescence and lasts until middle life. That does not imply that older people do not develop dandruff. The issue may persist forever for some individuals
  • More than women, men are more likely to have dandruff
  • Certain diseases. Dandruff seems more likely to develop in people with Parkinson’s disease and other nervous system disorders. Additionally, having HIV or a compromised immune system

How to take care of your dandruff

Use an anti-dandruff shampoo. You can purchase a variety of varieties from pharmacies or grocery stores.

Look for a shampoo with one of the following components:

  • Zinc pyrithione
  • Acid salicylate
  • Sulfide of selenium (or selenium sulfide)
  • Ketoconazole
  • Coke tar

You can learn how to use the shampoo from your pharmacist. Use the shampoo for a month and assess the results for your dandruff. To find a type that works for you, you might need to try a few different ones.

Consult a doctor if;

  • You still experience symptoms after using anti-dandruff shampoo for a month
  • Your scalp is itchy, or your dandruff is serious
  • Your scalp is swollen or red

The doctor might examine your scalp to look for skin disorders that can be the source of your dandruff.

Reviewed by – Dr. Priyanka, MBBS MD Microbiology
Page last reviewed: 16 JULY 2022