Dandruff

What is dandruff?

Dandruff is when white or grey flakes of skin appear on your scalp and in your hair. It's very common and nothing to worry about. You cannot catch dandruff from someone else, and it won't harm you.

The flakes are easier to see if you have dark hair, and they might fall onto your shoulders. Your scalp may also feel dry and itchy.

What causes dandruff?

Dandruff is not caused by not washing your hair enough, though it might be more obvious if you don't wash regularly.

Several things can make dandruff worse:

• Stress
• Cold weather
• Certain skin conditions

How to treat dandruff at home

The best way to treat dandruff is with special anti-dandruff shampoo. You can buy these from pharmacies or supermarkets.

Look for shampoos that contain one of these ingredients:

• Zinc pyrithione
• Selenium sulphide (or selenium sulfide)
• Ketoconazole
• Coal tar with salicylic acid

How to use anti-dandruff shampoo:

• Ask your pharmacist how often to use it
• Try the shampoo for a full month to see if it helps
• You might need to try different types to find one that works for you

When to speak to your GP

You should see your GP if:

• You still have dandruff after using anti-dandruff shampoo for a month
• Your dandruff is very bad or your scalp is extremely itchy
• Your scalp looks red or swollen
• You have flaky, itchy patches on your face or other parts of your body

Your GP can check your scalp to see if a skin condition might be causing your dandruff.

Other conditions that can cause flaky scalp

Sometimes what looks like dandruff might be caused by other skin conditions:

• Red, scaly patches on your scalp, face or other areas
• Red or silver rash on your scalp, sometimes with patchy hair loss
• Very dry, red, flaky skin that's extremely itchy
• Red, irritated skin that might have blisters (this could be from hair products like dyes, sprays or gels)
• Red, flaky patches covered with silvery scales
• Greasy, yellow crusts on a baby's scalp (called cradle cap)

Important points to remember

• Dandruff is harmless and very common
• It's not caused by poor hygiene
• Anti-dandruff shampoo usually helps
• Give treatment time to work - at least a month
• Different shampoos work for different people

Don't worry if you're not sure what's causing your flaky scalp. Try the advice above, and speak to your GP if things don't improve after a month of using anti-dandruff shampoo.

Your GP can help figure out if you need different treatment or if another skin condition might be causing your symptoms.

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Based on NHS.uk guidance. Written by Dr Krishnan Pasupathi, NHS GP.