Dandruff, Cradle Cap, and Other Scalp Conditions

Also called: Seborrhea, Seborrheic Dermatitis

Your scalp is the skin on the top of your head. Unless you have hair loss, hair grows on your scalp. Different skin problems can affect your scalp.

Dandruff is a flaking of the skin. The flakes are yellow or white. Dandruff may make your scalp feel itchy. It usually starts after puberty, and is more common in men. Dandruff is usually a symptom of seborrheic dermatitis, or seborrhea. It is a skin condition that can also cause redness and irritation of the skin.

Most of the time, using a dandruff shampoo can help control your dandruff. If that does not work, contact your health care provider.

There is a type of seborrheic dermatitis that babies can get. It is called cradle cap. It usually lasts a few months, and then goes away on its own. Besides the scalp, it can sometimes affect other parts of the body, such as the eyelids, armpits, groin, and ears. Normally, washing your baby's hair every day with a mild shampoo and gently rubbing their scalp with your fingers or a soft brush can help. For severe cases, your health care provider may give you a prescription shampoo or cream to use.

Other problems that can affect the scalp include

Scalp ringworm, a fungal infection that causes itchy, red patches on your head. It can also leave bald spots. It usually affects children.
Scalp psoriasis, which causes itchy or sore patches of thick, red skin with silvery scales. About half of the people with psoriasis have it on their scalp.

Symptoms of Dandruff, Cradle Cap, and Other Scalp Conditions

The following features are indicative of Dandruff, Cradle Cap, and Other Scalp Conditions:

oily-looking flakes of dead skin
itchy or scaly scalp
crusty scalp
patchy scaling or thick crusts on the scalp
Skin flakes mild redness

It is possible that Dandruff, Cradle Cap, and Other Scalp Conditions shows no physical symptoms and still is present in a patient.

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Common Causes of Dandruff, Cradle Cap, and Other Scalp Conditions

The following are the most common causes of Dandruff, Cradle Cap, and Other Scalp Conditions:

seborrheic dermatitis
improper and irregular shampooing
Malassezia fungal infection over the scalp
dry skin
sensitivity to hair care products

Risk Factors for Dandruff, Cradle Cap, and Other Scalp Conditions

The following factors may increase the likelihood of Dandruff, Cradle Cap, and Other Scalp Conditions:

young adulthood and middle
being male
oily hair and scalp
neurological diseases
Parkinson's disease
seborrheic dermatitis

Prevention of Dandruff, Cradle Cap, and Other Scalp Conditions

Yes, it may be possible to prevent Dandruff, Cradle Cap, and Other Scalp Conditions. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:

use shampoo daily
avoid stress
spend a little time in outdoors in sunlight

Occurrence of Dandruff, Cradle Cap, and Other Scalp Conditions

Number of Cases

The following are the number of Dandruff, Cradle Cap, and Other Scalp Conditions cases seen each year worldwide:

Very common > 10 Million cases

Common Age Group

Dandruff, Cradle Cap, and Other Scalp Conditions most commonly occurs in the following age group:

Aged between 15-60 years

Common Gender

Dandruff, Cradle Cap, and Other Scalp Conditions can occur in any gender.

Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Dandruff, Cradle Cap, and Other Scalp Conditions

The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Dandruff, Cradle Cap, and Other Scalp Conditions:

Scalp Screening: Physicians can diagnose the disease simply by looking at your hair scalp

Doctor for Diagnosis of Dandruff, Cradle Cap, and Other Scalp Conditions

Patients should visit the following specialists if they have symptoms of Dandruff, Cradle Cap, and Other Scalp Conditions:

Dermatologist

Complications of Dandruff, Cradle Cap, and Other Scalp Conditions if untreated

Yes, Dandruff, Cradle Cap, and Other Scalp Conditions causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Dandruff, Cradle Cap, and Other Scalp Conditions is left untreated:

secondary bacterial infection
redness
exudate
local irritation

Procedures for Treatment of Dandruff, Cradle Cap, and Other Scalp Conditions

The following procedures are used to treat Dandruff, Cradle Cap, and Other Scalp Conditions:

Hair transplantation surgery: To grow hairs on bald scalp

Self-care for Dandruff, Cradle Cap, and Other Scalp Conditions

The following self-care actions or lifestyle changes may help in the treatment or management of Dandruff, Cradle Cap, and Other Scalp Conditions:

Learn to manage stress: Helps preventing symptoms from worsening
Shampoo often: Daily shampooing may help prevent dandruff

Alternative Medicine for Treatment of Dandruff, Cradle Cap, and Other Scalp Conditions

The following alternate medicine and therapies are known to help in the treatment or management of Dandruff, Cradle Cap, and Other Scalp Conditions:

Apply tea tree oil: Helps in preventing dandruff

Time for Treatment of Dandruff, Cradle Cap, and Other Scalp Conditions

While time-period of treatment for each patient may vary, below is the typical time-period for Dandruff, Cradle Cap, and Other Scalp Conditions to resolve if treated properly under an expert supervision:

In 1 - 3 months

Last updated date

This page was last updated on 2/04/2019.

This page provides information for Dandruff, Cradle Cap, and Other Scalp Conditions.