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Suggest Treatment For Dandruff And Itchy Scalp

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Posted on Thu, 8 Oct 2015
Question: I am having dandruff flakes getting formed all over my head. and it causes itching severely over night and also while eating any spicy food. Also I recently changed my shampoo to Himalaya anti hairfall from head and shoulders anti hairfall. Is this the cause?
doctor
Answered by Dr. VINAY KUMAR (28 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Dandruff is manageable: Useful Tips

Detailed Answer:
My Dear XXXXXXX

Welcome to this site!

I am Dr XXXXXXX XXXXXXX a XXXXXXX Consultant Dermatologist dealing with such problems since over 25 years.

I have noted your history and I feel that there is a lot you can do to manage the problem.

As you must be aware, Dandruff is a combination of excessive skin secretions and a yeast infection which is supposed to be present even in normal and healthy individuals.

The treatment is aimed at reducing the amount of secretions as well as excessive growth of a yeast like microorganism.

The following measures are likely to give you prompt and durable relief:

1One should wash scalp regularly with a shampoo containing scale removing preparations like Salicylic acid and a n anti fungal like Ketoconazole. In the market, several preparations containing Ketoconazole and Zinc Pyrithione are available and work very well .

2 The shampoos should be allowed to stay in contact with the skin for 8-10 minutes once lather has been formed.

3 Initially the frequency of application required may be alternate days but as the problem settles, it may be reduced to once a week for the maintenance phase.

4 Anti allergics work to control itching which may be quite bothersome in some patients

5 At times, where itching is intense, I suggest use of Mometasone solution for local application to scalp for prompt response but the use must be limited only for a duration of 7-10 days.

6 Regular hair hygiene and avoidance of triggers (as you have mentioned) is also to be given importance.

7 Some patients have such flaky and pinkish skin lesions elsewhere on the body too, which I presume you don't have . If there are any such lesions, I will advise you accordingly once I hear from you.

I want to assure you that though Dandruff is quite bothersome, still it is responsive to treatment and might bother a person time and again although the frequency of recurrences and their intensity is controllable.

Shampoos are unlikely to be a cause for your present condition.

Hope you will take good care of yourself using the information supplied and have a healthy life.

Best wishes from our team!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. VINAY KUMAR (2 days later)
Hi Dr. XXXXXXX


i absolutely agree on your points mentioned. But i am worries why all off sudden it has come all over my head. Also in the past I had same problem. On using shampoos suggested I had heavy hairfall and still i am suffering from hairfall. Please advise what all can be done.

-XXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. VINAY KUMAR (8 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Dandruff and Hair Fall may not be part of the same problem

Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX

Welcome again!

Dandruff is a condition which is thought to be related to the presence of sebaceous glands. These glands are particularly numerous on scalp. That explains why it is the scalp which is most severely affected. Many patients present with dandruff like scaling on the eyebrows, beard and moustache area because these areas too are having a high density of such glands.

For the initial phase, it would be good to use a preparation containing Mometasone for scalp application. This will relieve your symptoms almost from day one of use. After about a week's regular use, one should reduce the quantity and frequency of application and step up the treatment with preparations having Salicylic Acid/ Zinc Pyrithione.

Hair fall may be due to reasons other than dandruff. In your case, first the dandruff should be attended to as this might improve falling hairs problem. If it does not, then other causes will need to be explored and attended to. Hairs would generally grow back at your age, that is 23, even if the thinning has been going on for long. I would prefer that you get better without any undue intervention and expenditure.

I am sure this information helps.
If you have no more doubts/questions, I would request you to close the thread and rate it.

Our best wishes, always!

Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
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Answered by
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Dr. VINAY KUMAR

Dermatologist

Practicing since :1980

Answered : 480 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Dandruff And Itchy Scalp

Brief Answer: Dandruff is manageable: Useful Tips Detailed Answer: My Dear XXXXXXX Welcome to this site! I am Dr XXXXXXX XXXXXXX a XXXXXXX Consultant Dermatologist dealing with such problems since over 25 years. I have noted your history and I feel that there is a lot you can do to manage the problem. As you must be aware, Dandruff is a combination of excessive skin secretions and a yeast infection which is supposed to be present even in normal and healthy individuals. The treatment is aimed at reducing the amount of secretions as well as excessive growth of a yeast like microorganism. The following measures are likely to give you prompt and durable relief: 1One should wash scalp regularly with a shampoo containing scale removing preparations like Salicylic acid and a n anti fungal like Ketoconazole. In the market, several preparations containing Ketoconazole and Zinc Pyrithione are available and work very well . 2 The shampoos should be allowed to stay in contact with the skin for 8-10 minutes once lather has been formed. 3 Initially the frequency of application required may be alternate days but as the problem settles, it may be reduced to once a week for the maintenance phase. 4 Anti allergics work to control itching which may be quite bothersome in some patients 5 At times, where itching is intense, I suggest use of Mometasone solution for local application to scalp for prompt response but the use must be limited only for a duration of 7-10 days. 6 Regular hair hygiene and avoidance of triggers (as you have mentioned) is also to be given importance. 7 Some patients have such flaky and pinkish skin lesions elsewhere on the body too, which I presume you don't have . If there are any such lesions, I will advise you accordingly once I hear from you. I want to assure you that though Dandruff is quite bothersome, still it is responsive to treatment and might bother a person time and again although the frequency of recurrences and their intensity is controllable. Shampoos are unlikely to be a cause for your present condition. Hope you will take good care of yourself using the information supplied and have a healthy life. Best wishes from our team!