Dandruff Treatment - Procedure, Cost And Side Effects

Dandruff is a common problem in the human scalp where tiny pieces of dry skin flakes come out of the scalp causing itching and significant discomfort. If you have dark hair or wear clothes of dark and bright shades, dandruff becomes readily visible on the shoulders and hair as well. Many people believe that dandruff is triggered by a lack of hygiene, but it is not true. Even though poor hygiene contributes to causing dandruff, you cannot ensure that you will not have dandruff by improving your hygiene. The most effective means of controlling dandruff is by using anti-dandruff shampoo and conditioner. You must consult with a board-certified dermatologist and seek assistance for this.

Dandruff problems not only affect the scalp but also ears, eyebrows, nose, beard and in severe cases, hair-bearing part of the chest. Sometimes, it also affects the babies and infants which are known as cradle cap. Your doctor would give you shampoos and conditioners containing selenium sulfide, zinc pyrithione, and coal-tar based ingredients. With repeated usage, the prescription ketoconazole shampoos offer no benefit, and you are required to opt for more severe dandruff products. If your present set of shampoos and lotions are not able to mitigate dandruff problems, you must convey this to him. If left untreated, dandruff problems can cause serious issues including itching, pain, swelling and redness.

You may also have to apply steroid creams along with a combination of over-the-counter shampoos for the best results. If the dandruff problem is so severe that it is interrupting with your lifestyle, then your dermatologist may recommend oral steroids such as prednisone. But the oral medications are not generally considered the mainstay of dandruff treatment and therefore, should not be used for the long term. If you have mild dandruff, you may have to wash your hair every day or every alternate day with prescription shampoos. But if there are massive dandruff problems, then it is necessary to apply fluocinonide or betamethasone solution once or twice a day.

As mentioned earlier, even though there are no side effects of dandruff treatment as a whole, certain products can cause burn, itchiness, swelling and a host of other reactions in the scalp and the surrounding regions. It is important to treat these effects, stop the ongoing treatment and try some other products without the active ingredients causing side effects. Your dermatologist would ask you whether you have any allergies or side effects towards particular elements. Make sure you tell your doctor if you know of any such compositions.

Since dandruff is a chronic problem, you should not expect that the problems would mitigate overnight. And another thing you should note that dandruff is not curable although, you may manage it. This is because the exact cause of the dandruff is not known and almost everyone is affected by this problem. However, depending on the severity of your dandruff problems, it may take about one month to years together to stave off dandruff issues. It is, therefore, important to seek treatment as early as possible.

Also, it is not possible to pinpoint the exact cost of treating dandruff problems in India. But everyone can afford it since it is very cheap. You will have to pay the consultation fees to the dermatologist and buy the products that he has prescribed from any drug store. Since it is not a medical emergency, you can rest assured that you will not have to incur huge costs owing to the treatment.

If you can maintain the care for your dandruff problems, it will gradually reduce to a point when you may feel that the issues are no more there. But you shouldn’t stop using the prescribed products as dandruff may come back with full force all over again.

There are many home-based dandruff treatment solutions which are used all over India. These include the use of vinegar, lemon juice, coconut oil, neem oil and various others. Some people use anti-dandruff shampoos and conditioners and get practical results from it. But if you cannot get rid of dandruff problems through all these methods, then you should consult with a dermatologist.