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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffFor most teens and adults, dandruff symptoms are easy to spot: white, oily looking flakes of dead skin that dot your hair and shoulders and an itchy, scaling scalp.
A type of dandruff called cradle cap also can affect babies. This disorder, which causes a scaling, crusty scalp, is most common in newborns, but it can occur anytime during infancy. Although it can be alarming for parents, cradle cap isn't dangerous and usually clears up on its own by the time a baby is a year old.
When to see a doctor
Most cases of dandruff don't require a doctor's care. But if you're still scratching your head after several weeks of experimenting with over-the-counter (OTC) dandruff shampoos or if your scalp becomes red or swollen, see your doctor or dermatologist. You may have seborrheic dermatitis or another condition that resembles dandruff. Most often, your doctor can diagnose the problem simply by looking at your hair and scalp.
- Weston WL, et al. Overview of dermatitis. http://www.uptodate.com. Accessed Oct. 15, 2008.
- Seborrheic dermatitis: What it is and how to treat it. American Academy of Family Physicians. http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/skin/disorders/ 157.html. Accessed Oct. 16, 2008.
- Gupta AK, et al. Skin diseases associated with Malassezia species. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2004;51:785.
- Satchell AC, et al. Treatment of dandruff with 5% tea tree oil shampoo. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2002;47:852.
- DeAngelis YM, et al. Three etiologic facets of dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis: malassezia fungi, sebaceous lipids, and individual sensitivity. Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings. 2005;10:295.
