Dandruff is a common scalp
condition related to the shedding of the skin on your scalp. Dandruff does not
spread from person to person and is seldom serious. However, some people might
find dandruff embarrassing.
What
causes dandruff?
There are many causes of
dandruff. The more common causes are:
- Dry skin
- Not washing your hair
regularly
- Irritation from a fungus
called Malassezia furfur
- Contact dermatitis, a medical condition with
itchy, red scalp, caused by irritation to certain products
Certain medical conditions such as:
- Eczema (dry, scaly
skin with redness and itch)
- Psoriasis (scaly
skin resulted from buildup of cells on the skin surface)
- Seborrhoeic
dermatitis (red and greasy skin with flaky white or yellow scales on the
scalp)
What
medicines are used to treat dandruff?
For less serious cases, washing
the scalp every day with a gentle shampoo can help reduce oiliness and build-up
of skin cells on the scalp.
For more serious cases,
using medicated dandruff shampoos may help. Examples of medicated dandruff
shampoos are:
Zinc
pyrithione shampoo
Zinc pyrithione is used to treat fungal and bacterial infections. When it is
used for dandruff, it can reduce the growth of the fungus Malassezia
furfur,.
Coal
tar based shampoo
Coal tar can reduce the speed at which skin cells on the scalp die and flake
off. Using coal tar may cause some staining of blonde, grey or white hair. If
you use coal tar shampoo, you should protect your scalp from the sun by wearing
a hat.
Selenium
sulphide shampoo
This shampoo can reduce the speed at which skin cells on the scalp die and
flake off. It may also reduce the growth
of Malassezia furfur.
Ketoconazole
2% shampoo (Nizoral®)
Ketoconazole is used to treat fungal infections.
If your condition does
not improve after using these shampoos, you should see a doctor. Depending on
the cause of your dandruff, the doctor may prescribe steroid lotions for your
condition or refer you to a doctor specialized in skin conditions.
- What can I do to prevent dandruff?
- You can reduce or
prevent your dandruff problem by
- Learning relaxation exercises
such as deep breathing, as stress is known to worsen dandruff
- Washing your hair
regularly to reduce oily scalp which can worsen dandruff
- Reducing the use of hair
styling products
- Having a healthy diet
Click here to see Medication List
