Dandruff

The flaking of skin on the scalp, or dandruff, is often caused by a skin problem called seborrhea. The flaking most often occurs on the scalp, on the face, and behind the ears. Sometimes thick layers of scales form on the skin.

There is no one specific cause for seborrhea. Sometimes it happens when there are changes in your hormones, or when a certain type of fungus or yeast is on the skin. People who have Parkinson's disease or epilepsy are more likely to have seborrhea. Some people who have seborrhea do not have enough of some types of vitamin B in their diet.

Factors such as stress, weather, dry skin, diet, hair care products, or hormones, or other medical problems such as psoriasis and eczema, may also cause dandruff.

Dandruff shampoo containing zinc or selenium may be all you need to treat the problem. Leave the shampoo on your hair for the amount of time recommended on the bottle before you rinse it out. Your healthcare provider may recommend a prescription antifungal shampoo if other shampoos do not help. Be sure to follow the directions for the use of any of these shampoos. Use them only as often as recommended.

Steroid cream or lotion may be used to treat more severe cases, sometimes in addition to dandruff shampoo. Be sure to follow the directions given for its use.

If you have dandruff and hair loss, talk to your healthcare provider for treatment advice.

Some other things you can try to help control dandruff are:

• Wash your hair every day with a gentle shampoo to see if this helps get rid of flakes and excess oil, and
• Don't put a lot of styling products on your hair. Hair sprays, mousses, and gels may build up on your scalp and may make it oily.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

HIA File derm4857.htm Release 13/2010