Dandruff is a very common problem in men and women of all ages. At some point in life, you must have felt the nagging itch, and flaky white residue on your clothes that is so characteristic of dandruff. Treatment for dandruff is promised by every second shampoo in the market, but unfortunately, in some cases shampoos alone cannot be the right treatment for dandruff. Dandruff is mainly of two types – dry dandruff and wet or oily dandruff.
- Dry dandruff – Dry dandruff is typically seen as white, dry flakes which fall from your scalp upon touching or shaking it. This is relatively easier to treat.
- Wet or oily dandruff – This is also known as seborrheic dermatitis. In this condition, oily flakes of dandruff collect on your scalp and further attract oil and dirt. This can result in inflammation and itching. Treatment for dandruff in the case of oily dandruff treatment needs to be more specialized to remove both the oiliness of the scalp and the dandruff.
Treatment for dandruff involves the use of one or more of the following specially formulated shampoos:
- Ketoconazole – Ketoconazole containing shampoos such as Nizoral act as broad antifungal agents and can cleanse the scalp in the case of oily dandruff treatment. Ketoconazole shampoos can be bought over the counter or as prescription formulations.
- Selenium sulfide – Shampoos containing selenium sulfide can often benefit patients suffering from prolonged cases of dandruff.
- Salicylic acid – Formulation of shampoos containing salicylic acid act as exfoliants of the dead skin of the scalp and allow it to be cleaned thoroughly. This exfoliant action is often necessary in the case of oily dandruff treatment or seborrheic dermatitis.
- Zinc pyrithione – Zinc pyrithione is a very broad-spectrum antibacterial and antifungal agent which is present in most advertised ‘treatment for dandruff’ shampoos such as Head and Shoulders, Clinic Plus etc. This cleanses the bacteria present in the scalp and hair follicles and help prevent dandruff.
Dandruff is not a serious condition but it can often be an embarrassing one. The constant need to look over your shoulder to see if there are any telltale signs of dandruff can be tiresome and exhausting. Why should you go through this if dandruff is so curable? Consult a dermatologist to fully understand your dandruff problem, and you can rest assured that you will be provided a treatment for dandruff in no time at all!
