Dandruff

Overview:

Dandruff is a common malady that has an effect on your scalp, and it causes skin flakes to appear. Our skin cells regenerate constantly, and when the scalp’s skin cells are renewed, the old ones end up coming to the surface and out away from the scalp. People with dandruff have a faster hair regeneration process, and they shed larger amounts of dry skin faster. This is why their dandruff is more easily noticed. You can also contract dandruff if your scalp is exposed frequently to extreme ranges of temperature. Dandruff is also called scurf, and the medical name for it is Pityriasis capitis.

Types/Causes

There is a serious form of dandruff known as seborrheic dermatitis, which causes the skin to become flaky or inflamed. This causes larger and greasier flakes than you would normally see. This more serious type also affects skin on other parts of the body.

How will you know if you have dandruff? It’s painfully simple, really. You will see flakes of skin in your hair and on your scalp, and the flakes may appear oily. Your scalp may feel itchy or sore and tingly. Adults with the more severe seborrheic dermatitis will have flaky red greasy skin patches on the scalp, and babies with cradle cap will have a rash, and crusting on their scalp.

Usually, dandruff doesn’t mean a trip to the doctor. But if you continually scratch your scalp, and it’s swollen or red, even after treating with the appropriate shampoos, you should see your doctor.

Dermatologists are not sure what causes dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis. They can tell you that it has nothing to do at all with poor hygiene, however. If you don’t often brush your hair – for instance if you work outside and have a hat on for a time during the day – may have a slightly greater risk of getting dandruff. This is only due to the fact that you’re not helping the shedding process with combing or brushing.

If you’re sensitive to yeast, you may be more likely to contract dandruff, too. People with this sensitivity have noticed that their dandruff gets better in the summer and worse in the winter. UVA sunlight seems to counteract the yeast. Also, skin is normally drier in the winter, due to indoor heat that is low in humidity, and cold air outside.

People with dry skin elsewhere tend to get dandruff more often, too. Cold air and indoor temperatures that are too hot in the winter can cause the flaking, itchy skin of dandruff.

Treatment:

Your physician can make a diagnosis of dandruff, but you can actually do it yourself. If you have scalp flakes that are white, this means you have dandruff. If you want to see a dermatologist anyway, to be sure, he or she will look at your skin and scalp to confirm the diagnosis.

If your dandruff doesn’t get better after a few weeks of treating it yourself, you should check with your physician, especially if you have swollen, red patches on your scalp.

Products for the scalp and specialized shampoos can be obtained over the counter, without a prescription. You need to remember that if you have the more serious form, seborrheic dermatitis, it can be controlled by these products, but not cured.

Before you shampoo, try to remove any of the crusty or scaly patches on your scalp, carefully. If you can get those out of your hair, the shampoo will do more for you. Men with dandruff in their beard can use the same products as those with dandruff of the scalp.

When you select a dandruff shampoo, use it every day until you have your dandruff under control. Even after that, you may want to use a dandruff shampoo once or twice a week, to make it less likely for dandruff to return. If one shampoo stops working for you, select another brand. Be sure you leave the shampoo on your scalp long enough for it to work, before you rinse it off. Five minutes is usually sufficient.