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Understanding Dandruff - Treatment

What Are the Treatments?

Mild cases of dandruff may need nothing more than shampooing more frequently. Daily cleansing with an antidandruff shampoo to decrease oil and cell buildup can keep moderate dandruff in check, but consult your doctor about more stubborn forms such as seborrheic dermatitis. Some herbal remedies may relieve the itching and dryness, but it usually takes a medicated product to subdue the greasy scales.

Not all dandruff shampoos are alike, so you may need to experiment with them to find the one that works best for you. Here are some examples of some effective over-the-counter shampoos you can try.

Coal-tar preparations (Neutrogena T/Gel, Tegrin)
Pyrithione zinc (Suave Dandruff Control, Pert Plus Dandruff Control, Head & Shoulders)
Salicylic acid and sulfur (T-Sal, lonil T, Sebulex)
Selenium sulfide (Selsun, Exsel)
Ketoconazole (Nizoral A-D) available as a 1% over-the-counter shampoo and a 2% prescription-strength shampoo.

You may need to alternate between types of shampoos if one type initially controls the dandruff but later loses its effectiveness. If you find that you are still scratching and shedding after trying over-the-counter preparations, see your doctor. You may be using the wrong shampoo for your condition. For really stubborn dandruff cases you may need to use a prescription lotion or shampoo.

Most doctors recommend that dandruff sufferers use a medicated shampoo daily, rubbing your scalp well and leaving the lather on for at least 5 minutes. Be sure to rinse thoroughly; shampoo and soap residue can actually aggravate skin problems. Brush your hair from your scalp outward with steady, firm strokes. This will carry oil from your scalp, where it can cause dandruff, along the hair strands, which need the oil to stay shiny and healthy.

WebMD Medical Reference

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