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Dandruff is a very common condition marked by itching and flaking of scalp. Dandruff is often a form of seborrheic dermatitis, but in rare cases, dandruff can be caused by psoriasis of the scalp. A similar type of seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp is cradle cap, which affects infants.
The cause of dandruff is generally not known, although it can run in families. The severity and occurrence of symptoms of dandruff vary between individuals. Dandruff is a chronic condition. Symptoms of dandruff can come and go.
Dandruff is generally not a serious condition, but there is a potential for complications in some people, such as a secondary bacterial infection or fungal infection. For additional symptoms and more details about complications, refer to symptoms of dandruff.
A diagnosis of dandruff can often be made by taking a thorough health history, including symptoms and performing a physical exam that focuses on the scalp. Many people are able to diagnose themselves by the typical symptoms of dandruff. People who have diagnosed themselves with dandruff and whose symptoms have not improved with dandruff shampoos should seek medical care.
In some cases a biopsy may be needed in order to diagnose the exact cause of symptoms. Because the symptoms of dandruff may be similar to other skin conditions, such as eczema and head lice, a misdiagnosis is possible. For more details about diseases and disorders that can mimic dandruff, refer to misdiagnosis of dandruff.
There is no cure for dandruff, but treatment can control symptoms. Treatment of dandruff includes medicated shampoos that are available over-the-counter. In severe cases prescription medication may be needed. For more information on treatment, refer to treatment of dandruff....more »
Many people are able to diagnose themselves with dandruff by its typical symptoms that include itching and flaking of the scalp. People who have diagnosed themselves with dandruff and whose symptoms have not improved with over-the-counter dandruff shampoos should seek medical care. A medical diagnosis of dandruff begins with taking a thorough health history, ...more misdiagnosis »
The following medical conditions are some of the possible
causes of Dandruff.
There are likely to be other possible causes, so ask your doctor
about your symptoms.
See full list of 20 causes of Dandruff
» Review Causes of Dandruff: Causes | Symptom Checker »
Listed below are some combinations of symptoms associated with Dandruff, as listed in our database. Visit the Symptom Checker, to add and remove symptoms and research your condition.
See full list of 501 Symptom Checkers for Dandruff
Dandruff is a chronic condition that comes and goes and is not curable. However, with a well integrated treatment plan, symptoms of dandruff can be effectively controlled and minimized.
Treatment of dandruff includes prevention of flare-ups by shampooing as directed with an over-the-counter shampoo that contains a special ingredient. These shampoos include formulas that contain ...Dandruff Treatments
Some of the possible treatments listed in sources for treatment of Dandruff may include:
Review further information on Dandruff Treatments.
Alternative treatments or home remedies that have been listed as possibly helpful for Dandruff may include:
Real-life user stories relating to Dandruff:
More Dandruff animations & videos
The following drugs, medications, substances or toxins are some of the possible
causes of Dandruff as a symptom.
Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using,
including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.
See full list of 3
medications causing Dandruff
Some of the comorbid or associated medical symptoms for Dandruff may include these symptoms:
See all associated comorbid symptoms for Dandruff
Research the causes of these more general types of symptom:
Research the causes of these symptoms that are similar to, or related to, the symptom Dandruff:
Rare form of hair loss often misdiagnosed: a rare form of extreme hair loss called "Atrichia with papular lesions" (APL) is often misdiagnosed as alopecia totalis. Researchers estimate that about 1 per 100 diagnoses of alopecia totalis are...read more »
Hair and scalp disorders misdiagnosed in African Americans: A higher than average percentage of misdiagnoses of hair or scalp disorders seem to occur in African Americans. Some of the overlooked hair/scalp...read more »
Read more about Misdiagnosis and Dandruff
Other ways to find a doctor, or use doctor, physician and specialist online research services:
Other medical conditions listed in the Disease Database as possible
causes of Dandruff as a symptom include:
See full list of 20
causes of Dandruff
- (Source - Diseases Database)
A chronic inflammatory disease of the skin of unknown etiology. It is characterized by moderate erythema, dry, moist, or greasy scaling, and yellow crusted patches on various areas, especially the scalp. On the scalp, it generally appears first as small patches of scales, progressing to involve the entire scalp with exfoliation of excessive amounts of dry scales (dandruff).
- (Source - Diseases Database)
A condition in which white scales of dead skin are shed by the scalp
- (Source - WordNet 2.1)
The list of organs typically affected by Dandruff may include, but is not limited to:
The list below shows some of the causes of Dandruff mentioned in various sources:
See full list of 20 causes of Dandruff
This information refers to the general prevalence and incidence of these diseases, not to how likely they are to be the actual cause of Dandruff. Of the 20 causes of Dandruff that we have listed, we have the following prevalence/incidence information:
See the analysis of the prevalence of 20 causes of Dandruff
The following list of conditions have 'Dandruff' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.
Select from the following alphabetical view of conditions which include a symptom of Dandruff or choose View All.
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Medical story forums: If you have a medical story then we want to hear it.
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Depending on the seriousness of the onset of Dandruff, you may want to consult one of the following medical professionals.
Important:In extreme cases, always seek advice from emergency services :
Seborrhoeic dermatitis
- (Source - Diseases Database)
Medical Conditions associated with Dandruff:
Hair symptoms (838 causes), Head symptoms (10192 causes), Face symptoms (8109 causes), Scalp symptoms (639 causes), Skin symptoms (5992 causes), Skin problems (3422 causes)
Symptoms related to Dandruff:
Itchy scalp (19 causes), Scalp symptoms (639 causes), Hair symptoms (838 causes), Scalp rash, White flaky skin, Hair fall, Ketoconazole, Seborrhoeic dermatitis
Doctor-patient articles related to symptoms and diagnosis:
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Copyright © 2011 Health Grades Inc. All rights reserved. Last Update: 7 May, 2013 (0:31)
