I seem to have dandruff pretty bad. By pretty bad I mean just a few hours after I shower I am able to itch my head and it starts to snow. By the next day before I shower it is really bad. It really does not itch however. What is my best bet I have heard "head and shoulders" and the like are terrible on your hair. Also is there a difference between Dandruff and "Dry Scalp" or is this just a marketing ploy? And for that matter what is Dandruff exactly. thanks.
**********ANSWER:
That's a great question. It's one of those points that rarely gets mentioned in dermatology training. I think of dandruff as a non-specific term for visible scaling from the scalp. The causes of this scale can include dry skin (scalp), seborrheic dermatitis, and psoriasis. The treatment will vary depending upon the cause. Any dermatologist will be able to help you deter- mine which, if any, of these might be causing your problem. Head and Shoulders has zinc as its active ingredient. Other shampoo ingredients that seem to work with seborrheic dermatitis include selenium (Selsun and others), tars (T/Gel and others), and ketoconazole (Nizoral, by prescription only). As I said, the cause of the scale needs to be addressed first. Good luck.
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Dermatology Online: Served by Eliot N. Mostow, MD, MPH
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