Dandruff: How to fix the flakes

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EDUCATION

Dandruff: How to fix the flakes

Carmen Pope

man checking hair in mirror
Although dandruff is harmless, many people seek treatment because they feel embarrassed [Image: iStock.com – Maridav]

Tane asks for something to treat his itchy scalp. He wonders if he might have head lice, but you notice small flakes of whitish-yellowish skin behind his ears and on the dark top he is wearing. You take a closer look and see more flakes where his hair parts.

Dandruff is characterised by an onset around or after puberty, flakes of skin on the scalp or shoulders, and symptoms that come and go Dandruff i
References
  1. Mayo Clinic. Dandruff. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dandruff/symptoms-causes/syc-20353850
  1. Fookes C (Tech Ed). Dandruff. Healthcare Handbook 2022–2023. Auckland, NZ: The Health Media Ltd; 2021.
  1. Healthline. What Causes Dandruff and How to Remove It. 12 October 2021. https://www.healthline.com/health/dandruff-itchy-scalp
  1. Pray WS, Pray GE. Is It Dandruff or Seborrheic Dermatitis? 21 June 2013. https://www.uspharmacist.com/article/is-it-dandruff-or-seborrheic-dermatitis
  1. Bernstein S. How Is Scalp Psoriasis Different From Dandruff? 14 April 2021. https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/psoriasis/scalp-psoriasis-vs-dandruff
  1. American Academy of Dermatology Association. How to treat dandruff. https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/hair-scalp-care/scalp/treat-dandruff