Dandruff
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Symptoms
- White or grey flakes of skin on the scalp and in the hair (this might be more noticeable in darker hair or if they fall from your scalp to your shoulders)
- Itchy scalp
- Dry scalp
Symptoms of dandruff include:
Dandruff doesn’t only develop on the scalp. You can get dandruff on other parts of your body like your eyebrows, eyelashes or your chest – basically anywhere that you can get body hair.
Naturally, your skin constantly produces new skin cells while shedding old cells to stay healthy. If you have dandruff, this process might be sped up and can lead to patches of skin on the scalp that flake into the hair.
What causes dandruff?
It’s important to know that dandruff isn’t caused by poor hygiene, but it might be more obvious if you don’t regularly wash your hair.
The cause of dandruff isn’t known and many factors can lead to it. Several potential causes can include:
- Secretions from the sebaceous glands on your scalp (your sebaceous glands secrete oil)
- Fungus growing on your scalp - a yeast called malassezia globosa– this can cause excess skin growth and irritate your scalp
- Not shampooing your hair enough, which can cause skin cells to gather
- Shampooing too much or over drying your scalp
You could also have dandruff if you have:
-Seborrheic dermatitis – this is a common skin condition that can lead to an overgrowth of yeast on your scalp. It can make your scalp, face and other areas of the body scaly, itchy and red. In babies, it’s called cradle cap
- Tinea capitis – a fungal infection which is also called ringworm
- Eczema – a common skin condition that can make skin dry, red, itchy and flaky
- Allergic contact dermatitis – a reaction to products like hair dye, hairspray, mousse or hair gel
- Psoriasis – a skin condition that can cause red, crusty, flaky patches of skin that are covered in silvery scales
If you have dandruff, you might notice that it can get worse when you’re feeling stressed or during cold weather. Don’t worry if you aren’t sure what’s causing your dandruff. Following the advice in the ‘How do I get rid of dandruff' section of the page can help, and if it doesn’t help within a month, make sure to speak to your GP.
Seborrheic dermatitis & cradle cap
Seborrheic dermatitis, a common cause of dandruff and a type of eczema affects oil-producing glands on the skin like the face, scalp, chest, and back. It is characterised by inflammation, redness, itching, and flaking. Darker skin tones may develop petaloid seborrheic dermatitis, a ring-shaped rash around the hairline. When babies have seborrheic dermatitis, it’s called cradle cap which normally clears up on its own by the time the baby is between 8 and 12 months old.
Psoriasis
Scalp psoriasis is a type of plaque psoriasis that can occur on parts or the entire scalp. Symptoms may include red, flaky, crusty, and sore patches covered with silvery scales. While the exact cause is not fully understood, it can lead to temporary hair loss in severe cases. If you experience symptoms of psoriasis, consult your GP for advice. For advice and treatment options, you may wish to access Boots Online Doctor Psoriasis Treatment Service.2
Headlice vs dandruff
Sometimes dandruff can look like other conditions. Head lice are parasitic insects that live and lay eggs on the scalp. They can be passed from person to person. Head lice are itchy and lay tear-shaped white or yellow eggs that can look like dandruff, but these eggs are harder to shake off or brush out of your hair than flakes of skin. While both can be itchy, the itchiness with lice is often more severe. Head lice can be treated effectively at home.
How do I get rid of dandruff?
You can use anti-dandruff shampoos to help you manage and treat dandruff. These can be bought from pharmacies or supermarkets.
It’s important to make sure that you read the instructions that come with your shampoo before using it. This is to check that it’s suitable for you and take note of how often you should use it.
If you have fine or naturally straight hair, or you have an oily scalp, you should wash your hair often. This could be using dandruff shampoo twice a week.
If you have coarse or naturally curly or coiled hair, you should use dandruff shampoo once a week to avoid drying out your hair. If needed for hair care, you can shampoo and condition your hair with your usual products after.
If you’re unsure of how to use the shampoo, you can speak to a pharmacist. It’s important to use the shampoo as directed for a month to see if the dandruff gets better. You might need to try different shampoos to find one that works well for you.
To help manage dandruff, your shampoo should contain one of these ingredients:
- Zinc pyrithione – this has antibacterial, antimicrobial and antifungal properties to help stop the growth of yeast
- Salicylic acid – this can help with flaky skin, but it can be drying and make your scalp itch more
- Selenium sulphide (or sulfide) – this can slow how quickly dead skin cells are building up and it also has antifungal properties to help manage fungus on the scalp
- Ketoconazole – this can help with the fungus that can cause dandruff
- Coal tar – this can help with slowing down the build-up of dead skin, but it can discolour your hair if it’s blonde, grey or coloured
You should speak to your GP if:
- You still have your dandruff symptoms after using an anti-dandruff shampoo for a month
- Your dandruff is bad
- Your scalp is very itchy (scratching your head can loosen the flakes)
- Your scalp is swollen or red (if your scalp hurts, you might wish to ask someone to take a look for you to see if it’s swollen or red)
- You have flaky, itchy patches on your face or other parts of your body
Your GP can check your scalp for conditions that could be causing your dandruff.
Explore dandruff shampoo
Neutrogena T/Gel Therapeutic Shampoo contains coal tar extract, specially formulated to effectively treat itchy and flaky scalps and provide soothing relief. Suitable for adults and children over 12 years of age and contains solubilised coal tar extract. Coal tar may cause your skin to react to sunlight after use, so you should avoid direct sunlight immediately after use. Always read the label.
Caring for your scalp
It can be easy to overlook scalp care as part of your skincare routine, but as your scalp is just an extension of your face, it can also get dry, irritated and itchy. Caring for your scalp starts with cleansing your scalp and making sure it stays hydrated. Your skin type can determine your scalp type.
Sensitive scalp
If you have sensitive skin, your scalp might be more prone to irritation. You can use gentle shampoos and products made for sensitive skin to help keep your scalp clean.
Oily scalp
Products that are designed for an oily scalp might not stop oil production, some just absorb the oil, which can add more layers of product to your scalp. If you want to use any styling products, try and choose water-based products to help reduce the build-up of oil.
Dry scalp
Having a dry scalp can be because of heating tools, dehydration, or scalp conditions like dandruff or psoriasis. To care for a dry scalp, avoid over-washing to allow natural oils to build up as a moisturiser. Use coconut, argan, or jojoba oils to keep your scalp hydrated.
Scalp sun care
Sun exposure can damage the scalp, especially if using dandruff shampoos with coal tar. Thinning hair, bald spots, or baldness increase the risk of sun damage and sunburn can worsen flaking. Protect your scalp by staying in the shade, wearing sun-protective clothing, using SPF30 sunscreen, and trying powder or spray sunscreen.
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Frequently asked questions
You can use an anti-dandruff shampoo to help manage and control dandruff. We’ve covered this in the ‘How to get rid of dandruff’ section of the page.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a quick fix to get rid of dandruff on the go, but there are hairstyles you can try to minimise the look of dandruff. You can try wearing your hair out of your face without a parting – this can help to reduce the look of dandruff in your hair and on your scalp. If you are struggling with dandruff when you’re out and if dandruff falls to your shoulders, you could try carrying a lint brush or roller with you, so you can use this to dust it off when you’re on the go.
Having dandruff doesn’t mean you have unhealthy hair, but the hair products you use might make existing dandruff worse. Some hair colourings or styling products like gels or mousses can leave a dry, flaky residue or trigger a reaction that looks like dandruff.
1Subject to availability. Eligibility criteria may apply. Charges may apply.
2Access to prescription-only treatment is subject to an online consultation with a clinician to assess suitability. Subject to availability. Charges apply.
12Please note, free home postal delivery is only available to patients registered with a GP in England. However, the option to collect in-store is available for all customers registered with a participating GP anywhere in the UK. For patients registered with a participating GP surgery only. NHS Prescriptions charges may apply.
