Will Dandruff Shampoos Help Once and for All?

28. Oktober 2025

2 Min. Lesezeit

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Where does dandruff come from? While skin flakes are an outward symptom, it comes from irritation of the skin and the reproduction of an opportunistic fungus. Getting rid of it can be harder than advertisements make it look!

Wichtigste Erkenntnisse

Where does dandruff come from?
How dandruff happens
Symptoms to look out for

Für wen das ist

Für alle, die Haut, Nägel, Haare über haare, haut erkunden.

Warum es wichtig ist

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Artikelautor

Dr. Tatjana

Kosmetologe

How dandruff happens

The skin has a high lipid content, which is a favorable breeding ground for the fungus Pityrosporum ovale. Under certain conditions, it becomes aggressive and destroys the skin barrier. What can become a trigger?

Skin diseases — seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, eczema, pityriasis versicolor, acne, and others
Endocrine disorders, metabolic changes such as obesity, diabetes mellitus
Gastrointestinal diseases
Specific infections
Decreased immunity
Emotional and mental stress
Physical stress
Increased sweating
Nutritional issues such as alcohol consumption, sweet, spicy, and fatty foods, carbonated drinks, fast food, individual allergenic products
Certain medications (for example, antibiotics, immunosuppressants)
Lack of vitamins, microelements
The influence of climatic conditions including excessive humidity, cold, heat
Incorrectly selected care products such as shampoos, creams, hair dyes
Aggressive self-care including drying with a hot hairdryer, skin burns with chemicals
Environmental air pollution, water composition

Symptoms to look out for

Dandruff shows up as white scales found all over the scalp, and sometimes in patches of the ears, face, back, and chest. It is accompanied by itching, a feeling of dryness or excessive oiliness of the scalp, and, in rare cases, hair loss.

Treatments

A quick purchase of dandruff shampoo at the supermarket probably won't help. To identify the cause and draw up a treatment plan, you will have to consult with a dermatologist, who will individually select an anti-seborrheic agent that has antifungal activity. These substances are divided into two large groups: synthetic in the composition of medicines and substances of natural origin.

Of the synthetic drugs, the leading imidazole derivative is ketoconazole, typically sold as a 1–2 % concentration in shampoos and less often as creams. Pyrithione zinc and octopirox are also widely used, which are included in well-known shampoos — for example, Head & Shoulders.

There is also a group of products containing tar, sulfur, or ichthyol. In extreme cases, strictly according to the doctor's prescription, hormonal creams and sprays are used in combination with salicylic acid.

Extracts of some plants have a sebum-regulating effect — for example, nettle, birch buds, celandine, chamomile, calendula, burdock, and oak bark (as infusions for rinsing).

The duration of treatment depends on the severity of the disease. Typically, short-term treatment is between 2–6 months. Chronic dandruff requires prolonged use of medicated shampoos and return to treatment as the problem develops.

Other considerations

The skin's immune line of defense is strengthened with vitamins (D, A, E, groups B, C), trace elements, foods with these vitamins, and herbal extracts. Microelements such as iron, zinc, copper, and iodine are also important. Doses and frequency of internal and local treatment are prescribed by a doctor.

To improve the condition, it is necessary to follow a diet with restrictions of sweet, fatty, and spicy foods, except alcohol and carbonated drinks. It is recommended to eat lean meat including turkey and beef, dairy products, fruits, and fresh juices. It is also recommended to sleep at least 7–8 hours each night as well as get fresh air and sunshine.

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