Other Skin Conditions: Moles, Birthmarks, Dryness, Etc. / Question
Published: May 2, 2002
Dear TeenHealthFX,
I have been having a lot of dandruff lately. I know its time to wash my hair because my head gets unbearably itchy and I scratch like heck. Plus, my dandruff comes back the same day I wash my hair. I have been checked for signs of lice before with a negative result. Is there something wrong with me?
Signed: Dandruff Driving Me Crazy
Dear Dandruff Driving Me Crazy,
FX wants to assure you that your situation, while frustrating, is common. Dandruff is characterized by small, loose flakes of dead skin on the scalp or trapped in the hair. Dandruff is a natural process and cannot be eliminated or cured, but can be managed.
Dandruff may be caused by several different factors, but the exact underlying cause of dandruff is unknown, or at least not agreed upon by the medical establishment.
Possible causes may be:
- sensitivity to or an over growth of a fungus present on the scalp.
- overactive oil glands on the scalp which cause an increase in the natural skin shedding process
- clogged oil glands on the scalp that can lead to over-dry skin
- poor diet, poor hygiene, and infrequent shampooing and improper rinsing
Dandruff can disappear suddenly without treatment, or may take multiple weeks of treatment to improve. Use of an over the counter anti-dandruff shampoo containing coal tar, pyrithione zinc, salicylic acid or selenium sulfide may help your symptoms. TeenHealthFX also recommends seeing a physician for accurate diagnosis and treatment if your symptoms persist of worsen.
Signed: TeenHealthFX
Among male drivers between 15 and 20 years of age who were involved in fatal crashes in 2005, 38% were speeding at the time of the crash and 24% had been drinking.
