Is it dandruff?

[JCCS]

About six months ago I started to notice large flakes in my hair; I assume they're dandruff. I've tried the conventional household chemical approaches (Baking soda, for example) with little success - it might go away for a day but even if I keep washing  I will find large flakes 2mm+ in diameter.

Is this common size for flakes in dandruff (They break if I scratch), and is there a way to get rid of it easily? It's irritating and socially awkward.

[BhumikaMD]

Hi,

The best way to treat dandruff is to use a dandruff shampoo. Look for shampoos with ingredients such as zinc pyrithone, salicyclic acid, coal tar, selenium silfide, or ketoconazole. All of these ingredients have been shown to work on dandruff; to use the shampoo, apply it to your scalp and hair, rub vigorously, and allow it to sit for five minutes so that the ingredients can work before rinsing it out. Dandruff shampoo should be used every few days, and you may need to try several shampoos before you find one which works. You will also need to use it routinely to prevent recurrence, and you may find that a dandruff shampoo becomes ineffective at a certain point, in which case you will need to try a new product.

In addition to medicated shampoos, dandruff can also be treated with tea tree oil, a plant compound which has been used in traditional medicine for hundreds of years. Tea tree oil will help sooth the itching and irritation associated with dandruff, while also eliminating any organisms which might be triggering the dandruff production. Tea tree oil shampoos are readily available in many markets. Some people also have success with periodic applications of baking soda to their scalp.

Some people can eliminate dandruff entirely with diligent shampoo applications, while others may always have naturally flaky scalps. However, using dandruff shampoo should radically improve the condition; if the dandruff persists or grows worse, it may be a sign of psoriasis, seborrhoeic dermatitis, or even lice. These conditions require medical treatment to improve.

Let us know if you need any other information.

Regards.