Dandruff is caused by excessive shedding of dead scalp skin cells. It happens at any age generally and it is not organism such as lice. Dandruff is also not likely to be the cause of hair loss.
Dandruff is an annoying, itchy and persistent disorder of the scalp skin, potentially causing some social or self esteem problems to those affected by it. It has become more serious and frequent in US over the past 10 years.
The cause of dandruff problem is usually linked to dry scalp with white flakes or oily greasy scalp with scales. It usually occurs after the puberty between 20 to 30 years old affecting more males than females. The dry skin you normally get in winter is perhaps the key cause of itchy flaking skin.
The other frequent cause of dandruff is Seborrheic dermatitis which is signifies by red and greasy scalp covered with flaky yellow or white scales. It affect not just the scalp, but other areas that are rich in oil glands like the sides of the nose, back of the ears, groin, armpits or eyebrows etc.
Dandruff seems to get worse especially when one is stress, anxious or even tension. It is a chronic condition that can be controlled, but requires some patience as well as persistence. Shampoos containing zinc pyrithione can help to reduce the fungus that causes dandruff as well as the Seborrheic dermatitis condition.
Other Dandruff Treatment Tips
1) Washing the hair with alcohol to help rid the dandruff and make the hair feel soft and clean.
2) Tea Tree Oil (aka Melaleuca Oil) is reported to be useful for the dandruff treatment.
3) Selenium sulphide is reported to be most effective in treating dandruff. So look for shampoo that contains this ingredient.
4) If the scalp is infected, do consume oral anti-fungals or antibiotics to help to first rid the infection.
5) Keratolytics is known to remove thick scaly patches while Topical corticosteroids is helpful in reducing inflammation.
6) Shampoos containing Tar is known to be helpful in dandruff treatment.
Do check out anti dandruff shampoo for more related information