Normally your scalp shouldn’t itch!

The most common cause of an itchy scalp is seborrheic dermatitis, also called dandruff.  Dandruff may or may not be accompanied by scaly skin and a red rash.

You can have seborrheic dermatitis any time of year, but I see a lot more seborrhea when the weather turns cold.  It’s early fall and I’m just starting to notice more patients with active scalp seborrhea.  The holiday season really gets seborrhea going so now is the time to start working to prevent a big flair up.

Patients with seborrheic dermatitis usually think that they have ‘dry scalp’ and start changing shampoos or shampoo less often.  This doesn’t work because seborrhea is not due to dry scalp, it’s actually a rash, and the more often you shampoo the better your dandruff is controlled.

Treatment for seborrhea of the scalp is aimed at delivering medicated ingredients to the involved scalp skin by using medicated shampoos. These products leave a layer of medicine on the skin after you rinse off the lather.  It’s important to know how to properly use medicated shampoos in order to get the best results.  In my next post I’ll teach you how to pick  really effective medicated dandruff shampoos and I’ll give you the detailed instructions that I give my patients with scalp seborrheic dermatitis.

My Seborrheic Dermatitis Series:

Dermatologist’s Tips for Dry Flaky Skin on Your Face and Scalp; Tis the Season for Seborrheic Dermatitis

Remedies for the Dry Itchy Scalp of Seborrheic Dermatitis-Part 2

Remedies for Really Stubborn Scalp Seborrheic Dermatitis

Itchy Crusty Scaly Ears; More on Seborrheic Dermatitis

Dermatologist’s Tips for Treating Facial Seborrheic Dermatitis: It Looks Like Dry Skin, But It’s a Rash!

Dr. Cynthia Bailey’s Tips for Facial Seborrheic Dermatitis Control

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