This may sound really gross, but I have terrible dandruff. I take a shower, like, every day, and use a dandruff shampoo. I've tried tons of shampoos to help it but they never work; it either stays the same or gets 10 times worse. It barely itches in the places I have it, but when I look at the top of my head I see tons of it. It's really embarrassing going out like that. What should I do to control it, or possibly stop it?
—Dana
You're not alone, Dana. Dandruff is a really common complaint, and one that often shows up on a person for the first time at puberty. Once people pass adolescence and young adulthood, it tends to be less of an issue. For a long time, people weren't totally sure what caused dandruff, but doctors now think that a yeast-like fungus (yeah, we know, sounds gross, right?) creates those flakes on your scalp. The good news is that dandruff is not serious, and it can be controlled; the tricky part is that it can take some trial and error to find the right treatment. Different shampoos have different ingredients, and some people respond better to one than another. There are ones that contain salicylic acid, selenium sulfide or ketoconazole. Give one of those types of shampoos a try for a week (using it daily). Leave the shampoo in your hair for five minutes to let it work its magic. If you notice that the flakes have gone away, then you can cut back to just using it every other day, or even just twice a week. On the other days use a regular shampoo, since dermatologists recommend shampooing daily, particularly if you have an oily scalp. Also, keep your styling products to a minimum to avoid build-up in your hair, eat well and take care of yourself, all of which should help.
If you've tried a few kinds of shampoos and none of them have worked for you, or it's getting worse, it is probably time to visit the dermatologist (ask your regular doc for a recommendation if you don't already have one). You may need prescription-strength shampoo, or you could have another skin condition that calls for a different type of treatment, because sometimes what a person thinks is dandruff turns out to be some other pesky prob, one that can easily be diagnosed with a glance at your head.
Good luck, and here's to a flake-free winter!
—Andrea Pyros
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