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Dandruff
Alternative Names
Dandruff, Seborrheic Dermatitis, SeborrheaWhat is Dandruff
Dandruff is a common chronic scalp condition marked by itching and flaking of the skin on your scalp.This disease isn't contagious and is rarely serious, but it is difficult to cure sometimes.
Signs and symptoms
The common symptoms of dandruff are considered to be:
- White flakes on shoulders of dark clothing
- Itchy scalp
- Dry facial skin
- Recurrent ear "eczema"
- Facial rash by eyebrows, nose and ears
- Oily scalp and facial skin with dry flakes
- Eyebrow dandruff
- Beard dandruff
- Chest rash with dry flakes and red spots
Possible complications
There is no essential complications to occur as a result of dandruff. The most likely complication is an adverse reaction to any dandruff treatments that you may be using. If a product causes irritation to your scalp you should stop using it immediately.
It is possible for dandruff to cause an infection if a germ enters a break in your skin or scalp.
What causes
The exact cause of dandruff is unknown, but there are some possible causes such as:
- a reaction to a type of yeast that lives on the skin called a Malassezia
- hormones, because dandruff commonly occurs after puberty
- not brushing your hair regularly
- a fungal infection or the deeper layers of the skin (subcutaneous fungal infection) caused by fungi such as moulds and yeasts
- stress
Prevention
You may take the following steps in order to prevent dandruff:
- Keep hair and scalp clean
- Brush hair daily
- Massage of scalp regularly
- Avoid unnecessary exposure of the head to the rays of the sun
Treatment
- Ordinary shampoo
- Anti-dandruff shampoos (contains selenium, zinc, sulphur or tar)
- Ketoconazole
- Hydrocortisone lotion
- Oiling the scalp
- Nizoral
- Vitamin B2
- Topical corticosteroid
- Salicyclic acid shampoos
- Antifungal creams
- Aloe vera gel
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