What is Dandruff?
The itchy head, flaky scalp, patches and bumps of dandruff – almost everyone has experienced one or more of these symptoms occasionally. But continuous bouts of dandruff usually indicate you have an actual skin condition, clinically known as seborrheic dermatitis.
You might have tried to treat the itching and flakiness of dandruff on your own with shampoos and rinses. And sometimes it works – for a while. But if you’ve been fighting dandruff with no, or only sporadic, success, it might be time to come in for a professional assessment and treatment plan. Make your appointment today by calling:(210) 692-3000 or (210) 370-9995.
It’s not because you don’t wash your hair or body enough
Seborrheic dermatitis is not a result of your hygiene habits; a chronic skin condition causes those patches of itchy, scaly skin to appear in your scalp and other parts of the body that produce a lot of oil, such as the back and chest. And even though the condition doesn’t impact health, it can be uncomfortable, annoying and embarrassing.
Seborrheic dermatitis can cause stubborn Dandruff
If your dandruff doesn’t go away with traditional products, a visit to our office can help you make sure you’re pursuing the correct treatment. I have had patients who’ve been treating dandruff by washing their hair several times a day. But dandruff actually occurs when the scalp is dried out, resulting in the appearance of those embarrassing skin flakes.
It might not be dandruff
Dandruff might seem like the easiest thing in the world to recognize – the symptoms are well known – and a simple visual inspection is usually enough. But if your condition is especially severe, a scalp biopsy can help rule out other chronic skin conditions, which could benefit from different treatments. For example, psoriasis, eczema and rosacea all have symptoms that are similar to seborrheic dermatitis.
Long-term treatment can be the key
Dandruff is a chronic skin condition, which means it can require continuous treatment:
- Over-the-counter treatments, such as medicated shampoos, lotions or creams.
- Stronger medications, such as bacteria fighting creams/gels, prescription strength shampoos or ointments or antifungal medications.