Dandruff is a chronic scalp disorder which is marked by itching and excessive flaking of the scalp. Although not serious, it can be an embarrassing and nagging cosmetic problem affecting self-esteem.

For mild cases of dandruff daily shampooing with a gentle cleanser is all that is necessary. For more stubborn dandruff, medicated shampoos can be used and in cases not responding to even those measures, prescription shampoos may be necessary. You might need to consult with your doctor for medical treatments.

Dandruff Causes

Malassezia a yeast-like fungus present normally on the scalp can cause irritation of the scalp leading to a large number of dead skin cells which can clump together with oil from hair and the scalp making them appear as white flakes.

Other contributing factors include:
*Increased oil production
*hormonal fluctuations
*stress; illness or suppressed immune system
*neurological disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease
*infrequent shampooing

Risk factors
Age.
Dandruff usually begins in young adulthood and continues through middle age. For some people, it can be a lifelong problem.

Sex.
Dandruff is more common in men. In addition to hormonal effects of the male hormone testosterone on the oil producing glands, men also have larger sebaceous glands that produce sebum which makes the scalp oily.

Oily hair and scalp.
Malassezia thrives on oily scalp. Therefore persons with excessively oily skin and hair are more prone to dandruff.

Some diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, persons who had stroke or heart attacks and those with compromised immune system are more susceptible to develop dandruff.

Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of dandruff are:
*white, oily looking flakes of dead skin that are seen on hair and shoulders
*itchy, scaling scalp.

Dandruff Treatment

When regular shampoos fail, try medicated anti-dandruff shampoos. Use a shampoo daily until dandruff is controlled.

While shampooing, leave the shampoo on for at least five minutes as this allows the ingredients time to work.

A prescription-strength shampoo or more aggressive treatment with a steroid lotion may be needed for stubborn cases.

These include:
*Zinc pyrithione shampoos containing the antibacterial and antifungal agent zinc pyrithione.
*Tar-based shampoos contain coal tar, which is especially suitable for such as those with seborrheic dermatitis and psoriasis.
*Selenium sulfide shampoos help prevent cell turnover and may also reduce the number of malassezia.
*Ketoconazole shampoos contain ketoconazole which is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent.

Prevention
Dandruff can be prevented by taking a few simple measures:
*Learn to deal with stress effectively. Stress can trigger or exacerbate dandruff.
*Shampoo regularly if you tend to have an oily scalp.
*Avoid excessive use of styling products such as hair sprays, styling gels, mousses and hair waxes which can lead to a build up of oil on your hair and scalp, predisposing you to dandruff.
*Eat a healthy diet containing zinc, B vitamins and essential fatty acid which may help prevent dandruff.
*Tea tree oil. It has been shown to be useful in controlling dandruff in some persons with dandruff.

Dandruff is a chronic and persistent problem and can be controlled and managed effectively.