How to treat dandruff

Welcome! Diseases & conditions • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Featured Natalie tried many acne products without success. Find out how a board-certified dermatologist helped Natalie see clear skin before her wedding. JAK inhibitors are helping patients with alopecia areata, eczema/atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and vitiligo. Here’s what you need to know. Everyday care • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Featured Everyone's at risk for skin cancer. These dermatologists' tips tell you how to protect your skin. Find out what may be causing the itch and what can bring relief. Darker Skin Tones • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Featured Find out why dark spots appear and what can fade them. If you have what feels like razor bumps or acne on the back of your neck or scalp, you may have acne keloidalis nuchae. Find out what can help. Cosmetic treatments • • • • • • • Featured You can expect permanent results in all but one area. Do you know which one? If you want to diminish a noticeable scar, know these 10 things before having laser treatment. It can smooth out deep wrinkles and lines, but the results aren’t permanent. Here’s how long botox tends to last. Public health programs • • • • • • • • • • • Featured Use these professionally produced online infographics, posters, and videos to help others find and prevent skin cancer. Free to everyone, these materials teach young people about common skin conditions,...

What Is Dandruff? Dandruff is a common scalp condition that causes flaky skin and an itchy scalp. It's a very common condition in people of all ages. What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Dandruff? Common signs and symptoms of dandruff include: • white flakes of dead skin in the hair and on the shoulders • red, crusty, or raw areas on the scalp • an itchy scalp What Causes Dandruff? Dandruff is a mild form of seborrheic dermatitis (seh-beh-REE-ik dur-muh-TY-tis). The exact cause of seborrheic dermatitis is not known, but it's likely a combination of things like: • too much skin oil (sebum) in the oil glands and hair follicles • a type of yeast found on the skin called Malassezia Stress, cold and dry winter weather, and some hair care products may make dandruff worse. Almost anyone can have dandruff. Many teens and adults live with it. Hormone levels are high during the teen years, which causes more oil production. This may be why dandruff usually begins around puberty. Dandruff isn't contagious. People can't catch it from or give it to someone else. How Is Dandruff Diagnosed? Health care providers can diagnose dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis based on symptoms (like an itchy scalp and flakes on the shoulders) and an exam. How Is Dandruff Treated? In most cases, over-the-counter dandruff shampoo can control dandruff. Check the labels for these common "active ingredients": • selenium sulfide 1% shampoo (such as Selsun Blue®, or a store brand) • zinc pyrithione shampoo (such as ...