If you're afflicted by dandruff, you're familiar with the white, powdery flakes that often accumulate in your hair and end up on your clothing. Dandruff is a non-contagious disorder of the skin on your scalp that causes flaking and itching. It can occur to anyone at any age, although it is more common in men. Luckily, most mild to moderate cases of dandruff can be alleviated using over-the counter medicated shampoos and, in severe cases, prescription-strength remedies to treat the fungi that cause dandruff and help combat bacterial infections caused by excessive scratching.
Symptoms
The most common symptoms of dandruff are white, oily flakes or patches on your scalp that itch and fall out of your hair when you scratch. The flakes occur because of overactivity in your skin's renewal process. Your skin produces more skin cells, resulting in a faster shedding of the old cells.
Causes
Although the exact cause of dandruff is not known, researchers believe several factors play a role in its development. Dandruff may be caused by a hormonal imbalance, improper hair care, a fungal infection or a reaction to a specific type of yeast that normally lives in the skin on your scalp, known as a Malassezia, according to NHS UK. Stress is also believed to trigger or exacerbate dandruff. While bacteria does not cause dandruff, you can develop a bacterial infection from open wounds caused by excessive scratching, according to "Brunner and Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing."
Over-the-Counter Shampoo
Most mild to moderate cases of dandruff can be treated with over-the-counter medicated shampoos. Anti-bacterial medicated shampoos that are effective in fighting skin bacteria generally contain active ingredients such as zinc pyrithione, found in shampoos such as Head and Shoulders, or anti-fungal ingredients such as ketoconazole, found in Nizoral, according to MayoClinic.com. You may need to shampoo your hair daily in order to combat excess oiliness and dead skin cell buildup.
Alternative Treatment
Tea tree oil may also combat dandruff. According to MayoClinic.com, tea tree oil has antibacterial, antifungal and antiseptic properties and may help to alleviate dandruff. Shampooing your hair with an over-the-counter shampoo containing tea tree oil or applying a few drops of pure tea tree oil to your scalp prior to shampooing may help to reduce symptoms of dandruff, according to Cynthia B. Olsen in her book, "Australian Tea Tree Oil First Aid Handbook: 101 Plus Ways to Use Tea Tree Oil."
Warning
If your scalp starts to bleed or ooze, contact your physician or a dermatologist. According to NHS UK, you may have a condition known as seborrheic dermatitis, which can cause more severe symptoms, such as oozing crusty patches, irritation or inflammation.
References
- NHS UK: Dandruff
- MayoClinic.com: Dandruff: Symptoms
- MayoClinic.com: Dandruff: Treatments and Drugs
- "Australian Tea Tree Oil First Aid Handbook: 101 Plus Ways to Use Tea Tree Oil"; Cynthia B. Olsen; 1999
- "Brunner and Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing"; Suzanne C. Smeltzer, Brenda G Bare, Janice L. Hinkle and Kerry H. Cheever; 2009
