Dandruff

Dandruff is a common problem, affecting about 20 percent of adults in the United States. Many people are embarrassed by dandruff, but it is not contagious and is fairly easy to control.

Cause

The skin all over your body, including your scalp, sheds dead cells all the time. Dandruff occurs when dead skin cells on the scalp stick together and become visible white flakes.

Self-Care Steps for Dandruff

Although there's no cure for dandruff, there are things you can do to control it.

• Gently brush hair before each washing.

• Wash hair every day. It may be enough to keep mild dandruff under control.

• Use antidandruff shampoos if your scalp is red and flakes are obvious. These shampoos may contain selenium sulfide, zinc pyrithione, coal tar derivitives, salicylic acid and sulfur.

• Follow antidandruff shampoo directions. Most say to lather and let it sit for at least 5 minutes before rinsing.

• If a dandruff shampoo seems to lose its effectiveness after several weeks, try another. Coal-tar shampoos may be the most effective.

• Try not to scratch or brush your scalp too hard. Too much scratching may cause more dandruff.

• If your dandruff is difficult to control, check with your doctor.  You may have seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis of the scalp , atopic dermatitis, a fungal infection or other condition.  Seborrhea may also develop as a result of  parkinsonism or AIDS.