Dandruff

A visit to a dermatologist is recommended to clarify the cause of dandruff. If a skin disease is the cause for the dandruff, the dermatologist can make a diagnosis and suggest a treatment.

Banal dandruff can be brought under control with haircare that is suitable for the scalp. The hair should be washed infrequently with a mild, lipid-replenishing shampoo that suppresses the increased cell division. Shampoos with pyrithion zinc (e.g. de-squaman Hermal Anti-Dandruff Cream Shampoo) or selenium disulphide are suitable for this. In the beginning, you might think that there is more dandruff. This is an indication of its effectiveness.

With disorders of the hair base, the dermatologist will use keratolytics to remove very heavy dandruff deposits. These include e.g. salicylic acid.

With seborrhoeic eczema, the dermatologist may possibly prescribe a product that contains an anti-mycotic, e. g. Clotrimazole. This is expedient because yeast-like fungi (Pityrosporum ovale, Malassezia furfur) are often partly responsible for the occurrence of the disease. If the colonisation of the fungi is the cause for the dandruff, it is recommended that the hair be washed with anti-dandruff shampoos with 'fungicidal' active ingredients that inhibit the growth of the fungi. Depending on the extent of the dandruff, they can be used on a daily basis or a few times a week. After a certain period of time, a less frequent preventative application is sufficient. Some of these anti-dandruff shampoos also contain active ingredients to soften up and detach the dandruff or active ingredients to alleviate the itching. Shampoos like this are particularly useful with oily, firmly attached dandruff. As the formation of dandruff declines, the accompanying itchiness also disappears.