Skinby/Skin library/Rashes and redness
Seborrheic dermatitis
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In short
Dandruff is usually a symptom of seborrheic dermatitis, or seborrhea. It is a skin condition that can also cause redness and irritation of the skin.
What it is1
Seborrheic dermatitis is a long-lasting condition that mostly affects oily areas such as the scalp, face and upper chest. It causes poorly defined red patches with greasy or yellowish scales.
Navarro Triviño FJ
Worth knowing5
Itching is the most common symptom.
Navarro Triviño FJIt is chronic and recurrent, which means it tends to come back after it clears.
Navarro Triviño FJDandruff is not caused by poor hygiene, although it may be more obvious if you do not wash your hair regularly.
NHS websiteIt may be caused by different things, including a type of yeast that naturally lives on your skin, and skin conditions such as eczema.
NHS websiteStress and cold weather may also make dandruff worse.
NHS website
What helps4
Use an anti-dandruff shampoo to treat dandruff.
NHS websiteLook for a shampoo that contains 1, or more, of these ingredients: ketoconazole; coal tar; salicylic acid.
NHS websiteUse the shampoo for up to 4 weeks to see if your dandruff gets better.
NHS websiteMost of the time, using a dandruff shampoo can help control your dandruff.
MedlinePlus
See a provider if1
See a health care provider if you still have dandruff symptoms after using anti-dandruff shampoo for at least 4 weeks; your dandruff is bad or your scalp is very itchy; your scalp is red or swollen; you have flaky, itchy patches on your face or other parts of your body.
NHS website
Sources
- MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine: Seborrheic dermatitis
- Navarro Triviño FJ, Velasco Amador JP, Rivera Ruiz I. Seborrheic Dermatitis Revisited: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Emerging Therapies-A Narrative Review. Biomedicines 2025 (CC BY 4.0)
- NHS website: Seborrheic dermatitis (adapted; Open Government Licence v3.0), as at 13 October 2026
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
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