Dandruff and its more severe incarnation, seborrheic dermatitis, result in unbecoming white flakes shed on the scalp--and sometimes on the face for men. These flakes are simply dead skin cells shed as the skin renews itself. Although anyone of either gender or any age can get dandruff, it tends to affect certain groups of people more than others. Dandruff is more common in men.
Your Risk
Simply being male increases your risk for getting dandruff. Mayo Clinic experts note that male hormones may exacerbate dandruff. Additionally, the glands on the scalp that produce oil are larger in men than they are in women, which also contributes to dandruff. Age factors into risk as well. Dandruff typically starts when you're a young adult and lingers into middle age. People with oily scalps and hair are also more prone to getting dandruff.
What To Do
Men can control milder cases of dandruff simply by shampooing every day with a mild shampoo. But when white flakes are more pronounced and persistent, Mayo Clinic experts advise taking the next step: shopping around for an anti-dandruff shampoo. The consumer items you see in your drugstore or pharmacy have different active dandruff-fighting ingredients, so men may have to use different shampoos or alternate them to resolve dandruff.
Choosing the Solution
Dandruff shampoos containing zinc pyrithione, selenium sulfide and ketoconazole act as antifungals, decreasing the number of malassezia yeast present on the scalp--a suspected contributor to dandruff. Other active ingredients, such as salicylic acid and coal tar, reduce scaling on the scalp. Although these shampoos are readily available, these shampoos are classified by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration as a drug, as they are intended to treat a specific medical condition.
Dandruff Shampoo Use
Men with dandruff should pick a dandruff-fighting shampoo and use it daily until white flakes are contained, then drop down to a frequency of two to three times a week. Mayo Clinic experts advise leaving the shampoo on the scalp for at least five minutes to give it time to take effect. If you're unsure which dandruff shampoo will work, it's best to select a couple of different types and alternate them.
If All Else Fails
If you've used a dandruff shampoo for a number of weeks with no results, it's time to see a physician. Seborrheic dermatitis, a skin disorder that results in itchy, scaling red skin, can affect not only the scalp, but other oily areas of the body, such as the face, upper chest and back. Men with this condition may want to shave facial hair, as itching and flaking under beards and mustaches can be more pronounced. Mayo Clinic experts note that treating seborrheic dermatitis may require use of a stronger dandruff shampoo, topical steroid lotion or other prescription medications.
