Convenient, affordable dandruff treatment online. 

Dandruff is a condition that causes the skin of the scalp to flake. Signs and symptoms of dandruff include:¹

• Skin flakes on your scalp, hair, eyebrows, facial hair and/or shoulders.

• Itchy scalp.

Dandruff looks like white, yellow or gray flakes of skin. The scalp can also appear red, oily and scaly.² The accompanying itching is the body’s response to inflammation.³

Dandruff can appear differently and have different causes depending on the individual. Types of dandruff include:⁴

• Dry skin dandruff. Flaking scalp dryness caused by lack of hydration, dry weather or hair products that strip moisture.

• Oily dandruff. An overproduction of sebum (oil) causes a greasy scalp and large yellowish flakes.

• Fungal dandruff. The yeast-like fungus, malassezia, is part of the skin’s natural microbiome and thrives on sebum (oil). Excess oil can cause an overgrowth of the fungus and trigger an inflammatory response that increases scalp flaking.

• Skin condition dandruff. Certain conditions, like psoriasis and eczema, cause skin flaking .

• Seborrheic dermatitis. A skin condition that causes oily, flaky, itchy patches of skin.⁵

Dandruff can have many causes. Common causes of dandruff include:⁶

• Irritated, oily skin.

• Dry skin.

• Malassezia, a yeast-like fungus that lives on the scalp of most people.

• Skin conditions (psoriasis, eczema, etc.).

Dandruff primarily occurs on the scalp, but it can be found on other parts of the body. The skin condition seborrheic dermatitis and the fungus malassezia thrive on sebum and can be found anywhere on the body where oil is produced like the face, sides of the nose, eyebrows, ears, eyelids and chest.⁷

There isn’t evidence to support that dandruff can cause hair loss directly. However, the health of hair and the health of the scalp are interconnected. The causes of dandruff (fungus, skin conditions, etc.) cause oxidative stress to the scalp which can result in hair loss.

There is also clinical evidence that shows using antidandruff shampoo can improve hair health and prevent hair loss.⁸

The signs of dandruff – itchy, dry skin with flaking – are symptoms of multiple conditions. The best way to identify the cause of your symptoms or condition is to seek professional diagnosis. However, there are some identifying symptoms that can help you tell dandruff apart from other common conditions.

Dandruff vs. Dry Scalp

Dry scalp can be a result of many things including dry weather, moisture-stripping hair products and aging. Often with dry scalp, you will experience dry skin on other parts of the body simultaneously. Dandruff is generally limited to the scalp and other areas of the head.

Dry scalp can be a contributor to the itching and flaking of dandruff.⁹

Dandruff vs. Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition that causes skin cells to grow too rapidly and pile up into dry, scaly patches of skin. Psoriasis can be a cause of the itching and flaking associated with dandruff. While psoriasis is a genetic condition, it can have environmental triggers like dry weather, infections, injuries and medications.¹⁰

Seborrheic Dermatitis vs. Dandruff

Seborrheic dermatitis is a common skin condition that causes a scaly rash and flaking on oily parts of the body. It can also cause a raised, red rash in some people accompanied by inflammation and swelling. Seborrheic dermatitis can be the cause of dandruff flakes and be treated similarly, but they are not the same condition.

While dandruff occurs primarily on the scalp, seborrheic dermatitis can appear on other oily parts of the body like ears, eyebrows, beard, nose and chest.¹¹

Lice vs. Dandruff

Dandruff is caused by inflammation of the skin by various triggers. Lice is an infestation of tiny, wingless insects that feed on human blood. Both dandruff and lice share the symptom of itchiness.

Adult lice can be about the size of a sesame seed and visible to the human eye but still small enough to be mistaken for dandruff or dirt. Lice nits, or eggs, look similar to dandruff flakes, but cannot be easily brushed out of the hair. It’s easiest to spot lice nits around the hairline or near the ears.

Lice infest hairy parts of the body like the scalp, pubic hair and body hair. Lice are highly contagious and can be spread through direct contact or through infected items like combs, pillows and furniture.¹²

No, dandruff is not contagious.¹³

Dandruff is unlikely to go away on its own, but it is usually manageable with minimal treatment. The mildest cases of dandruff can be treated by washing hair regularly. If a regular shampoo doesn’t alleviate the symptoms, a dandruff shampoo is effective for most cases.

In some instances, you may need to determine if a hair product is causing scalp irritation or if you have an underlying condition causing dandruff. The cause must be addressed to reduce dandruff symptoms.¹⁴

Prevention of dandruff is not always possible. However, your hair care routine could help prevent dandruff triggers or flare-ups. A few practices that could help prevent dandruff include:¹⁵

• Regular cleansing with an antidandruff shampoo.

• Avoiding harsh chemicals in hair care products like shampoos or styling products.

• Managing stress with relaxation techniques, exercise or yoga.

Dandruff symptoms can be managed with treatment and prevention techniques. However, there is no permanent cure. There is always a chance that symptoms could return.¹⁶

1. Mayo Clinic

2. Cleveland Clinic

3. Cleveland Clinic

4. Health.com

5. Mayo Clinic

6. Mayo Clinic

7. Mayo Clinic

8. National Library of Medicine

9. Cleveland Clinic

10. Cleveland Clinic

11. American Academy of Dermatology

12. Mayo Clinic

13. Mayo Clinic

14. American Academy of Dermatology

15. Health.com

16. Mayo Clinic

In mild cases of dandruff, using a gentle shampoo on a regular basis may be enough to alleviate symptoms. If that doesn’t work, medicated shampoos are highly effective. There are many over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription shampoos available, including:¹⁷

• Pyrithione zinc shampoos (DermaZinc®, Head & Shoulders®). Pyrithione zinc is antibacterial and antifungal.

• Tar-based shampoos (Neutrogena T/Gel®, Scalp 18). Coal tar slows how quickly skin cells on your scalp die to reduce flaking.

• Shampoos containing salicylic acid (Jason® Dandruff Relief Treatment Shampoo, P&S®). These products help eliminate scaling.

• Selenium sulfide shampoos (Head & Shoulders Intensive®, Selsun Blue®). These contain an antifungal agent.

• Ketoconazole shampoos (Nizoral® Anti-Dandruff). This shampoo is intended to kill dandruff-causing fungi that live on your scalp. Comes in OTC and prescription strengths.

• Fluocinolone shampoos (Capex®, Derma-Smoothe®). These products contain a corticosteroid to help control itching, flaking and irritation. Available by prescription only.¹⁸

• Ciclopirox shampoos (Ciclodan®). These are antifungals that can treat causes of dandruff like fungal infections or seborrheic dermatitis.¹⁹

Dandruff on the scalp and head is primarily treated with shampoos, foams or lotions. On other parts of the body, dandruff is treated with gels, creams and ointments. The active ingredients across these forms of treatment will vary depending on the identified cause of dandruff and can include antifungals, corticosteroids and more.²⁰

Yes, dandruff can be treated at home. The primary treatment for dandruff is an antidandruff shampoo. These come in both OTC options and prescription strength options.

OTC dandruff shampoos include:

• Pyrithione zinc shampoos like DermaZinc® and Head & Shoulders®.

• Tar-based shampoos like Neutrogena T/Gel® and Scalp 18).

• Shampoos containing salicylic acid like Jason® Dandruff Relief Treatment Shampoo and P&S®.

• Selenium sulfide shampoos like Head & Shoulders Intensive® and Selsun Blue®.

• Ketoconazole 1% shampoos like Nizoral® Anti-Dandruff.

Prescription-strength dandruff shampoos include:

• Ketoconazole 2% shampoos.²¹

• Fluocinolone shampoos like Capex® and Derma-Smoothe®.

• Ciclopirox 1% shampoo like Ciclodan®.

Many alternative treatments like tea tree oil and apple cider vinegar are marketed as effective dandruff treatments. However, there isn’t sufficient clinical evidence to support these dandruff home remedies.²²

Dandruff is unlikely to go away if left untreated. The condition is not serious, but symptoms like itchiness and flaking will continue. Scratching the scalp or affected area could lead to bleeding and infections.²³

You can get a prescription for dandruff shampoo online with RedBox Rx. It just takes a quick online assessment and one of our licensed providers will determine if medication is right for you.

17. Mayo Clinic

18. Mayo Clinic

19. Drugs.com

20. National Library of Medicine

21. Medscape

22. Mayo Clinic

23. Cleveland Clinic

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