The Mayo Clinic defines dandruff as a chronic scalp condition that's caused by several different factors, including dry skin, oily skin, hair care and other skin conditions. Also known medically as seborrheic dermatitis, or seborrhea, dandruff is often characterized by an abnormal flaking of dead skin coupled by an itching sensation of the scalp. Treatment typically involves the use of a medicated shampoo.
Symptoms
According to the National Institutes of Health, seborrheic dermatitis is typically seen as white-to-yellow flakes along the scalp. It's usually accompanied by an itching sensation, but you may also develop some redness, crusting or lesions along any area of the skin suffering from this condition. In rare cases, it may cause a loss of hair.
Hair Care
Some people see an improvement in the severity of dandruff by changing their hair care routine. It isn't uncommon for the condition to clear after a regimen of daily washing with a gentle cleanser, according to the Mayo Clinic. This is largely due to the fact that washing the hair each day can reduce the amount of oil remaining on the scalp as well as remove dead skin before flaking can occur.
Treatment
If daily washing with a mild shampoo fails to improve dandruff, the National Institutes of Health recommends turning to medicated shampoos. Shampoos containing zinc pyrithione, salicylic acid, selenium sulfide or ketoconazole are the most effective, but you may also see an improvement in your condition with a tar-based shampoo. Most of these products can be purchased without a prescription. However, you may want to consult with a doctor or dermatologist to determine which shampoo is best for you and your skin.
Function
According to the Mayo Clinic, both tar-based and selenium sulfide shampoos retard the cellular death of your skin, thereby reducing the amount of flaking along the scalp. Zinc pyrithione and ketoconazole shampoos help to treat fungal infections that may be causing your dandruff, meaning they may not be beneficial for seborrheic dermatitis caused by dry or oily skin. Shampoos containing salicylic acid essentially exfoliate the scalp, removing dead skin before it can form into flakes. The only real drawback with this type of shampoo is that it may greatly reduce the amount of oil in the scalp, causing dryness that may eventually lead to flaking. The Mayo Clinic recommends applying a conditioner after each use to head this off.
Physician Care
When over-the-counter dandruff shampoos are unable to treat dandruff, a doctor can prescribe shampoos containing stronger concentrations of selenium sulfide and ketoconazole as well as cleansers containing corticosteroids. Much like the OTC shampoos, you'll need to massage the solution into the scalp each day for best results. After you see an improvement in your condition, you can alternate the days you use the medicated shampoo with your regular shampoo.
