How do I Treat Severe Dandruff?
Though everyone may have a slightly different view of what severe dandruff may be, it should be sufficient to say that severe dandruff is a condition that is minimally responsive to traditional courses of treatment. Those courses of treatment vary from using dandruff shampoo available over the counter to changes in diet. Even stress reduction techniques can be tried. If none of these work, then the case is severe enough to seek the help of a dermatologist.
Most of the time, a dermatologist may simply recommend trying various other over-the-counter treatments, such as a particular dandruff shampoo, before moving on to treating severe dandruff through more drastic measures. If typical dandruff remedies do not work, then a doctor may recommend an anti-fungus shampoo. This is most commonly Nizoral A-D™ or some generic version. This used to be a prescription shampoo, but is now available without a prescription.
The reason to use anti-fungal shampoo to treat severe dandruff is due to the fact that some believe fungus plays a contributing role, if not a major role, in the condition. Therefore, anti-fungal products are used in order to control any fungus that may be present. The favorable results seem to reinforce the belief that fungus may have something to do with presence of dandruff.
In some cases, when severe dandruff is particularly bad, a steroid cream, such as hydrocortisone, may be used. These steroid creams will only treat symptoms such as scaling, itching and flaking. It will do little to nothing to treat the underlying problem. As such, those using those creams could get used to the symptoms being eliminated, even though the problem remains. Further, using steroids can only be done a limited time. Such creams can thin the skin, creating additional medical problems.
For those adults who do have severe dandruff, the reality of the situation is often that the condition is chronic. This condition can be controlled, but it cannot be cured. Thus, even with the advancements that have been made in controlling dandruff, some control measures will likely be necessary the rest of a person's life. This, of course, bars any advancements yet to be realized in curing dandruff.
In most cases, there is no one answer for treating severe dandruff. Several hair care products may be beneficial and are often rotated in an effort to make sure the dandruff does not become resistant to a single product. While the itching is persistent, the good news is with simple treatment every few days, it can usually be suppressed enough to make the individual comfortable.
Written by Ken Black
