For most people, the signs and symptoms of Dandruff are very clear sometimes elaborate enough to embarrass the patient in public. White, oily looking flakes of dead skin that dot your hair and shoulders and an Itchy, scaling scalp. But it’s not quite that simple — many conditions cause excessive skin scaling, including:
Dry Skin. Simple dry skin — the kind you get in winter when the air is cold and rooms are overheated — is by far the most common cause of Itchy, flaking skin. But flakes from dry skin are generally smaller and less oily than those caused by Dandruff.
Seborrhoeic Dermatitis. This condition, a
frequent cause of Dandruff, is marked by Red,
Greasy skin covered with flaky White or Yellow
scales. Seborrhoeic Dermatitis affects not only
your scalp but also other areas rich in oil
glands, such as your eyebrows, the sides of
your nose and the backs of your ears, your
breastbone, your groin area, and sometimes
your armpits.
Cradle Cap (Seborrhoeic Dermatitis of the Scalp). This disorder, which causes a scaling, crusty scalp, is most common in newborns, but it can occur anytime during infancy. Although it can be alarming for parents, Cradle Cap isn’t dangerous and usually clears up on its own by the time a baby is a year old.
Psoriasis. This skin disorder causes
accumulation of dead skin cells that form thick
silvery scales. Psoriasis commonly occurs on
your knees, elbows and trunk, but it can also
affect your scalp.
Contact dermatitis. Sometimes sensitivities to certain hair-care products or hair dyes can cause a Red, Itchy, scaling scalp.