Dandruff has one telltale symptom: white flakes cascading from your scalp, often settling on your shoulders. It is an embarrasing, if relatively harmless affliction that may also cause some minor itching. Dandruff can be a stubborn problem, but in the end is amenable to be controlled. There is no cure per se, so you might have multiple bouts with the condition.
Causes
What some term mild dandruff may be nothing more than dry skin. In such cases, the condition would affect other areas of the body, too, and it would get worse with more frequent shampooing, according to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.
More severe cases tend to stem from a condition called seborrheic dermatitis. The affected area can attack the face, back and other body parts as well as the scalp, though in those locations you might not call it dandruff. This condition usually displays a bit of greasiness, scaliness and flaking.
Scientists do not know why seborrheic dermatitis develops, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Potential causes are heredity, hormones and a fungus called malassezia.
Patient Characteristics
Dandruff can affect people from all age groups. Infants, including newborns, are prone to a form of seborrheic dermatitis called cradle cap, where the top of the head becomes scaly and flaky. It is also common in people from age 30 to 60. Some deal with dandruff throughout their life. Men are more likely to develop dandruff than women.
Conventional Treatments
Over-the-counter dandruff shampoos are the most common treatment for the condition. A variety of active ingredients can appear in such products, including zinc pyrithione, selenium sulfide, salicylic acid and tar, according to the Mayo Clinic. If these do not work, a doctor can prescribe a steroid lotion.
Alternative Treatment
Washing your hair every day with tea tree oil may lead to less dandruff, according to the Mayo Clinic.
The shelves of a local natural foods store will likely hold several shampoos containing the substance, which is collected from the leaves of Melaleuca alternifolia--also known as the Australian tea tree--through steam distillation.
Holistic medicine practitioners tout tea tree oil for antifungal and antibiotic properties.
Expert Insight
One of the most vexing aspects of seborrheic dermatitis is the unpredictable nature of the dandruff it creates, according to Dr. Audrey Kunin, a dermatologist. It tends to go away for a while, then come back. She describes the condition to patients "as having a 'short circuit' in the way the skin is being made."
From time to time, the skin in the affected area begins reproducing too quickly, leading to a buildup. Patience and a relaxed attitude are a boon when treating dandruff.
