In this short video, you're going to learn key things about how to treat dandruff, which is a common skin condition that causes your scalp to be dry and flaky. I'll talk you through some common anti-dandruff shampoos and finally cover when you might want to see a doctor if treatments at home aren't working.

Let's very briefly take a look at some examples of dandruff. Here, you can see some photos of dandruff, and you'll notice that it causes white or gray flakes of skin to appear on the scalp as well as in the hair. The flakes are often more noticeable on darker hair, and if they fall from your scalp onto your shoulders, you may also see them there. Your scalp may also feel dry and itchy.

Now, we don't know exactly what causes dandruff, but you might notice it more when the weather's cold because this can make your skin dry. You may also notice it more if you're stressed or if you don't wash your hair regularly.

So now that we've seen a few photos of dandruff and you know a little bit more about it, how can you treat it? Thankfully, most of the time, you don't need to see a doctor for dandruff because you can usually treat it at home using an anti-dandruff shampoo. This can be purchased from the pharmacist over the counter. When you're buying one of these shampoos, ask your local pharmacist for their recommendation. But as a general rule of thumb, look out for a shampoo that contains one of the following ingredients:

First of all, zinc pyrithione. Products like DermaZinc or Head & Shoulders contain this ingredient, which is an antibacterial and antifungal agent.

Next is salicylic acid. Shampoos like Jason Dandruff Relief Treatment Shampoo and Baker P&S contain this ingredient, which helps eliminate scaling.

Another ingredient is selenium sulfide. Shampoos like Head & Shoulders Intensive or Selsun Blue contain an antifungal agent. You should use these products as directed and rinse them well after shampooing because they can discolor the hair and scalp.

Ketoconazole is another ingredient to look out for. Shampoos like Nizoral are designed to kill dandruff-causing fungi that can live on your scalp.

Coal tar is another common ingredient. Coal tar shampoos like Neutrogena T-Gel and Scalp 18 slow down how quickly skin cells on your scalp die and flake off. If you've got light-colored hair, this type of shampoo may cause discoloration, and it can also make the scalp more sensitive to sunlight.

A pharmacist can advise you on how to use these shampoos, but also make sure that you read the information leaflet carefully because some products need to be left on for a few minutes, whereas others need to be rinsed off quickly. You should use the shampoo for at least a month to see if your dandruff gets better. You may need to try more than one type of shampoo to find out which one will work for you. If one type of shampoo tends to work for a time and then seems to lose its effectiveness, you can try alternating between two different types of dandruff shampoos. Once your dandruff is under control, try using the medicated shampoo less frequently for maintenance and prevention.

It's also important to mention that if you develop itching or stinging from any product, stop using it. Also, if you develop an allergic reaction such as a rash, hives, or even difficulty breathing, you need to seek immediate medical attention.

So now we know about the shampoos that can be used to treat dandruff. Let's talk about when you might need to see a doctor, which is typically very rare. If you've used the shampoo consistently over a period of a month or so and you're still finding that you've got dandruff symptoms, or if your scalp is extremely itchy, red, or swollen, or if you've got flaky, itchy patches on your face or other parts of your body, you should speak to your doctor. They may wish to check your scalp for skin conditions that could be causing your dandruff, like psoriasis, for example. They may also prescribe a short course of steroid cream or, if the dandruff has been caused by a fungal infection, an antifungal shampoo. But again, many of these can be purchased over the counter.

That brings us to the end of this video. I hope you found it helpful and informative. If you did, please remember to like the video and leave me a comment with any top tips that you've got for treating or preventing dandruff. If you've not done so already, please remember to subscribe to the channel for weekly medical education videos.

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