Dandruff can be mild, with an itchy scalp and flakes as its main symptoms, or it can be severe and have worse effects. Some people suffer from crusty dandruff, according to the National Institutes of Health, or NIH, with a variety of other symptoms. It happens in both adults and babies and is treatable.
Definition
Crusty dandruff is called seborrheic dermatitis, NIH explains. It causes yellow or white flakes like mild dandruff, but it also involves reddened skin, crusty lesions and plaques on the scalp. The problem can spread to skin on the eyelids, eyebrows, lips, nose and around and behind he area. It sometimes reaches skin folds on the body's mid-section.
Causes
Like mild dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis is caused by oily hair. Oil is naturally produced by the scalp, but some people have too much of it. Crusty dandruff happens when the oil mixes with a fungus called malessizia, according to NIH. The fungus eats the oil and reproduces very rapidly, triggering the skin condition. Severe dandruff appears to have a genetic component, and NIH advises that fatigue, stress and poor hygiene are contributing factors. People with HIV, head injuries or neurological problems like strokes or Parkinson's disease have a higher risk for crusty dandruff.
Time Frame
Seborrheic dermatitis affects both infants and adults. It is called cradle cap when babies get it, NIH explains, and it usually happens between infancy and age three. The crust is thick and yellow or brown. It covers the baby's scalp and may also appear on the ears, eyelids, the skin surrounding the nose and the groin. It is not dangerous or contagious and it usually disappears on its own, according to NIH, although skin can get infected if the baby scratches the lesions.
Treatment
The Mayo Clinic recommends treating crusty dandruff on the scalp with a medicated shampoo. Popular ingredients include salicylic acid, ketoconazole, tar, ciclopirox, selenium sulfide and pyrithione zinc. All of these ingredients are available in over-the-counter shampoos. The chosen product must be used daily and left in the hair for at least three minutes while massaging the scalp. Seborrheic dermatitis on the body is treated with anti-fungal cream, the Mayo Clinic advises.
Considerations
People with crusty dandruff often need to change shampoos because products lose their effectiveness over time. Dr. Jerome Litt, a dermatologist and assistant professor of dermatology at Case Western Reserve University, advises experimenting with various shampoos and using the one that works best. Switch to a different active ingredient when the results from the initial product are no longer satisfactory.
