A telltale sign of dandruff is the formation of itchy, white flakes on the scalp that come off easily if you give your scalp a little scratch. Like pretty much every condition in life, high stress levels, hormonal fluctuations, or poor diet can trigger the overgrowth, though it tends to be hereditary.
Try cutting inflammatory foods like dairy products, cheese especially, and highly spicy or sugary snacks out of your diet, since these are some of the most common triggers. Many people mistake seborrheic dermatitis for an extra dry scalp because of the flakes, but at its roots literally , the condition is an oil problem. The fungus interacts with the oils on the scalp which can cause an overreaction in some cases. The cause of this reaction could even be genetic. Persons with dandruff should seek help from a dermatologist.
Sometimes, what one assumes is dandruff can be seborrheic dermatitis. This condition affects about 1 in 3 persons worldwide. If dandruff is a mild reaction, seborrheic dermatitis is an extreme case. The inflammation worsens, causing harsh redness, flakiness, and a scaly scalp. Also, seborrheic dermatitis can happen anywhere on the body that has sebaceous glands. This includes the nose, mouth, back, and shoulders. There are even cases of seborrheic dermatitis under the armpits, ears, or chest area.
The condition impacts the quality of life and needs medical help to manage. Similar to dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis is a harsh reaction to fungi that naturally lives on all humans. This is common in infants and referred to as a cradle cap. Daily cleansing with a gentle shampoo to reduce oiliness and skin cell build-up can help in removing loose flakes. For some people this may be sufficient, but it does not treat the cause of the dandruff.
To treat dandruff, look for an over-the-counter OTC medicated dandruff shampoo. Anti-dandruff shampoos that contain pyrithione zinc treat dandruff and are typically gentle enough for daily use. If you have dandruff and sensitive skin or scalp, look for an anti-dandruff shampoo free of common chemical irritants. There may be some trial and error in determining how frequently you need to use shampoos for dandruff. Because not all medicated products are the same, always follow product directions.
If symptoms become unmanageable or there are signs of infection, contact a doctor or dermatologist who can prescribe prescription strength products to get your symptoms under control. Seborrheic dermatitis is an inflammatory skin condition associated with the oily areas of the body including the scalp, face, eyebrows, ears, eyelids, chest, armpits, groin, or under the breasts.
Common symptoms include greasy, white to yellow, scaly or crusty patches and white to yellow, oily flakes on the scalp, hair, eyebrows, beard or mustache. The skin may become red, inflamed, and be accompanied by excessive itching. As compared to dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp causes more flaking, and the flakes tend to be larger with an oily, yellow appearance. Redness and Inflammation may be present and itching can be more intense.
Although seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff are closely related, the key difference is in the severity of symptoms and where the symptoms occur. The term dandruff is used when the symptoms are mild and are confined to the scalp.
The underlying causes are the same, which is why some of the treatments for dandruff are also effective in combating seborrheic dermatitis. If you are Black, dermatologists recommend washing your hair once per week with a dandruff shampoo.
If you are Asian or White, aim to wash your hair every day and incorporate a dandruff shampoo about twice weekly. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life.
Seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff: a comprehensive review. J Clin Investig Dermatol. Diagnosis and treatment of seborrheic dermatitis. Am Fam Physician.
American Academy of Dermatology Association. Dry skin: who gets and causes. What is psoriasis? Contact dermatitis. How to treat dandruff. Cleveland Clinic. Updated October 29, Anti-inflammatory and skin barrier repair effects of topical application of some plant oils. Int J Mol Sci. J Am Acad Dermatol.
Seborrheic dermatitis in skin of color: clinical considerations. J Drugs Dermatol. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page. These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data.
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