Dandruff
| Dandruff | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Pityriasis capitis, pityriasis sicca[1] |
| A microscopic image of human dandruff | |
| Specialty | Dermatology |
| Symptoms | Itchy and flaking skin of the scalp[2][1] |
| Usual onset | Puberty[1] |
| Causes | Genetic and environmental factors[1] |
| Diagnostic method | Based on symptoms[3] |
| Differential diagnosis | Psoriasis, dermatitis, tinea capitis[2][1] |
| Medication | Pyrithione zinc, salicylic acid, coal-tar, selenium sulfide, and ketoconazole shampoos[4][5] |
| Frequency | ~50% of adults[1] |
Dandruff is a skin condition of the scalp.[1] Symptoms include flaking and sometimes mild itchiness.[1][2] It can result in social or self-esteem problems.[6] A more severe form of the condition, which includes inflammation of the skin, is known as seborrhoeic dermatitis.[1]
The cause is unclear, but believed to involve a number of genetic and environmental factors;[1] the condition may worsen in the winter.[7] It is not due to poor hygiene,[8][9] and the underlying mechanism involves the excessive growth of skin cells.[7] Diagnosis is based on symptoms.[3]
There is no known cure for dandruff.[10] Antifungal cream, such as ketoconazole, or the keratolytic agent salicylic acid may be used to try to improve the condition.[1][2] Dandruff affects about half of adults, with males more often affected than females.[1] In addition, people in all areas of the world are affected.[1] Onset is usually at puberty, and it becomes less common after the age of 50.[1]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Tucker D, Masood S (August 2021). "Seborrheic Dermatitis". StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. PMID 31869171.
- ^ a b c d "Dandruff". nhs.uk. 18 October 2017. Archived from the original on 1 January 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
- ^ a b "Patient education: Seborrheic dermatitis (including dandruff and cradle cap) (Beyond the Basics)". www.uptodate.com. Archived from the original on 1 January 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
- ^ "Dandruff - Diagnosis and treatment - Mayo Clinic". Mayo Clinic.
- ^ "How to treat dandruff".
- ^ Grimalt R (December 2007). "A practical guide to scalp disorders". The Journal of Investigative Dermatology. Symposium Proceedings. 12 (2): 10–14. doi:10.1038/sj.jidsymp.5650048. PMID 18004290.
- ^ a b Ranganathan S, Mukhopadhyay T (2010). "Dandruff: the most commercially exploited skin disease". Indian Journal of Dermatology. 55 (2): 130–134. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.62734. PMC 2887514. PMID 20606879.
- ^ Dandruff Archived 1 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine. National Health Service
- ^ "Dandruff: How to treat". American Academy of Dermatology. Archived from the original on 29 March 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
- ^ Turkington C, Dover JS (2007). The Encyclopedia of Skin and Skin Disorders (Third ed.). Facts On File, Inc. p. 100. ISBN 978-0-8160-6403-8. Archived from the original on 19 May 2016.