Dandruff

30 minutes

You're in a meeting, and you notice white flakes on the shoulder of your black shirt. You brush them off quickly and hope nobody saw. Or the scalp itches all day, and scratching just makes more flakes fall. You've switched between three anti-dandruff shampoos this year and none of them really lasted. Dandruff is very common, and despite what people assume, it has nothing to do with being unclean. It's also not always "just dandruff". At Dadu Medical Centre, a skin and hair clinic in Delhi with centres in Vasant Vihar and Rajouri Garden, dandruff treatment starts with checking what's really going on with your scalp. Dr. Nivedita Dadu and her team then set you up with a routine that actually keeps the flakes away.

What is Dandruff?

Your scalp sheds dead skin all the time, just like the rest of your body. Usually you never notice. With dandruff, the scalp sheds faster and in bigger clumps, so the flakes become visible in your hair and on your clothes.

You might notice:

small white or yellowish flakes in the hair and on the shoulders
an itchy scalp, especially when it's hot or you've skipped a wash
a scalp that feels dry and tight, or sometimes oily
flakes that come back within days of washing

Dandruff isn't contagious and it isn't a sign of poor hygiene. Most people get it at some point, especially between the teenage years and middle age. Mild dandruff usually settles with the right shampoo and routine. But thick, stubborn or red, itchy patches can point to something else, like seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis or eczema of the scalp. Those need a different approach, which is why it's worth getting it checked if regular shampoos aren't helping.

Causes of Dandruff

There's usually no single reason. A few everyday things tend to work together.

1Yeast on the scalp. A yeast called Malassezia lives on everyone's scalp. In some people, the skin reacts to it and starts shedding faster.
2Oily scalp. More oil means more food for that yeast, so oily scalps often get more flakes.
3Dry scalp. Winter air, hot showers and harsh shampoos can leave the scalp dry and flaky too, though these flakes are usually smaller and finer.
4Not washing often enough. Oil and dead skin build up when hair isn't washed regularly.
5Heavy oiling. Leaving thick oil on the scalp overnight, every night, can make dandruff worse for some people.
6Weather changes. Delhi winters and sticky monsoons both tend to bring on a flare.
7Stress and poor sleep. A stressful stretch often shows up as a flaky, itchy scalp.
8Hair products. Some gels, sprays and dyes irritate the scalp.
9Underlying scalp conditions. Seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis and eczema can all look like very stubborn dandruff.

Prevention Tips

Once dandruff settles, a simple routine keeps it from coming back.

Wash your hair regularly. For most people, every other day or a few times a week works.

Leave anti-dandruff shampoo on for a few minutes. Rinsing it off straight away doesn't give it time to work.

Rotate shampoos if needed. Your doctor may suggest switching between two types.

Go lighter on oil. If you oil your hair, don't leave heavy oil on for long.

Rinse well. Leftover shampoo and conditioner can irritate the scalp.

Don't scratch. It damages the skin and can lead to infection.

Manage stress where you can.

See a doctor if shampoos stop working. Stubborn flakes may need prescription treatment.

Dandruff Treatment at Dadu Medical Centre

DMC Keravive Exfo

a popular scalp treatment that clears flakes, itch and an oily or dry scalp.

DMC Scalp Therapy Purify

a popular therapy for flaky scalp and chronic dandruff.

Mesogrow

for hair shedding that comes with dandruff.

Bio Meso

strengthens weak roots when dandruff and hair fall show up together.

Still have questions?

Book a free consultation at our clinic in Delhi and find out what's really behind your flaky, itchy scalp.

Get in touch

Online consultation with a dermatologist

Why Choose Dadu Medical Centre for Dandruff Treatment?

Most people treat dandruff by trying one shampoo after another from the chemist shelf. That works for mild cases, but when the flakes keep coming back, there's often something more going on. At Dadu Medical Centre, our doctors examine your scalp properly to check whether it's simple dandruff or a condition that looks like it, since those need different treatment. Dr. Nivedita Dadu and her team then give you a clear routine for the flare you have now, plus a maintenance plan for the months after, so you're not starting from scratch every winter. If hair fall is happening alongside the dandruff, that gets looked at too. You can visit either our Vasant Vihar or Rajouri Garden centre.

FAQ

Ans. No. It's mostly about how your scalp reacts to natural yeast and oil. Washing regularly helps, but people who wash every day can still get it.

Ans. No. You can't catch it from someone else or from sharing a comb.

Ans. The scalp is checked first. Treatment usually includes medicated shampoos and scalp lotions, with in-clinic scalp treatments or tablets for stubborn cases.

Ans. Dry scalp flakes are usually small and fine, and the scalp feels tight. Dandruff flakes tend to be larger, sometimes oily, and often itchier.

Ans. Mild dandruff often improves within a couple of weeks of using the right shampoo properly. Stubborn cases take a little longer.

Ans. It can, especially with weather changes or stress. Using the medicated shampoo once or twice a week helps keep it away.

Ans. Dandruff itself doesn't usually cause hair loss, but constant scratching and an inflamed scalp can make hair fall worse.

Ans. Not heavily. Oil can feed the yeast on the scalp, which sometimes makes flaking worse.

Ans. If regular anti-dandruff shampoos aren't working, or you have red, thick or very itchy patches, it's time to get it checked.

Ans. Dandruff treatment is available at both our Vasant Vihar and Rajouri Garden centres in Delhi.

Still have questions?

Book a free consultation at our clinic in Delhi and find out what's really behind your flaky, itchy scalp.

Clear Scalp, No More Brushing Off Flakes

Plenty of these patients had stopped wearing dark clothes because of the flakes, or felt embarrassed scratching their scalp in public. With the right shampoo, a lotion for the itch and a simple routine, the flakes settled within a few weeks and stayed under control. Every scalp is a little different, but the change is usually easy to notice.