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1.
Select Treatment
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2.
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3.
Collect Medication from Local Pharmacy
We will notify you when your medication is ready for collection
Betamethasone Scalp Application from £20
Betnovate Scalp Application from £20
Elocon Scalp Lotion from £20
Ketoconazole Shampoo from £30.42
Advice for Dandruff
Dandruff (also known as seborrheic dermatitis) is a common chronic skin condition that causes the scalp to shed white or grey flakes of dead skin that work their way into the hair and onto the shoulders. This top layer of skin consists of dead cells, which protect the more fragile cells below. It is normal for these to be shed or rubbed off because the body is constantly producing new cells that simply move up to replace older ones. However, in dandruff, larger "scales" are shed at an increased rate. Once the flakes fall, they can become noticeable, particularly if they fall on to the shoulders, and this can cause sufferers some embarrassment and self-consciousness.
Dandruff is primarily an aesthetic problem, which many people find unattractive or embarrassing. There is nothing medically serious about it. It will not lead to baldness, and it is not contagious. Itching may accompany dandruff. Usually hair follicles (roots of the hair shafts) do not become infected
Dandruff occurs as frequently in men as in women. It tends to increase in adolescence and young adulthood and decrease thereafter. Those who have acne or oily skin also tend to have more problems with dandruff. Dandruff normally starts between the ages of 10 and 20 and is pretty common in people over the age of 30, affecting over 40%.
Dandruff usually improves during the summer months, unless the weather is exceptionally hot and humid. Exposure to natural sunlight and a reduction in stress may help to control it.
Dandruff is a chronic, yet harmless, condition that affects the scalp and causes white flakes to shed into the hair and onto the shoulders. Although it doesn’t cause the sufferer any pain, it can be unpleasant and make people feel embarrassed.
At Pharmacinta, you’ll find effective treatments to keep your dandruff under control and help your scalp to feel healthier.
Dandruff signs and symptoms may include:
- Skin flakes on your scalp, hair, eyebrows, beard or mustache, and shoulders
- Itchy scalp
- Scaly, crusty scalp in infants with cradle cap
Additional symptoms can include:
- Erythema, which is red patches on the skin of the scalp, and sometimes on the face
- Eyebrow dandruff
- Hair loss
- Dry flakes on the skin of the face
Many factors can contribute to the development of dandruff, so pinpointing the exact cause of your itchy, flaky scalp can be difficult. Dandruff may have several causes, including:
- Irritated, oily skin
- Dry skin
- A yeastlike fungus (malassezia) that feeds on oils on the scalps of most adults
- Sensitivity to hair care products (contact dermatitis)
- Other skin conditions, such as psoriasis and eczema
- Secretions from your sebaceous glands
- Not shampooing enough, which may cause skin cells to accumulate and create flakes and itching
- Over shampooing and overdrying the scalp.
- Over brushing the hair on the head, creating too much friction with the sensitive skin on the scalp
- Different personal care products may cause contact dermatitis, which makes your scalp red and itchy
- Too much exposure to sunlight
- Excessive pressure on the scalp from hats
- What you eat routinely
- Exposure to dust or dirt
Because dandruff can often be a chronic condition, it’s sometimes about controlling and managing it rather than curing it. Our medicated shampoos result in reducing the appearance of dandruff, as well as the itching or discomfort that sometimes comes alongside it. Our prescription treatments contain corticosteroids that reduce inflammation and target it right at the source.
Whether you opt for prescription shampoo or a non-medicinal one, washing your hair regularly will help to remove the flakes and reduce oiliness on the scalp. This will also help to prevent a buildup of oil and flakes on the scalp and minimise the appearance of dandruff. If that doesn't help, try a medicated dandruff shampoo.
Some people can tolerate using a medicated shampoo two to three times a week, with regular shampooing on other days if needed. People with drier hair would benefit from less frequent shampooing and a moisturizing conditioner for the hair or scalp.
If one type of shampoo works for a time and then seems to lose its effectiveness, try alternating between two types of dandruff shampoos. Once your dandruff is under control, try using the medicated shampoo less frequently for maintenance and prevention.
At Pharmacinta, we provide both Ketoconazole shampoos, which helps to kill dandruff-causing fungi that live on your scalp and Betamethasone Scalp Application that is a steroid solution to treat underlying scalp inflammation, resulting in dandruff.
Dandruff shampoos are classified according to the medication they contain.
- Pyrithione zinc shampoos (DermaZinc, Head & Shoulders) - These contain the antibacterial and antifungal agent zinc pyrithione.
- Tar-based shampoos (Neutrogena T/Gel) - Coal tar slows how quickly skin cells on your scalp die and flake off.
- Shampoos containing salicylic acid - These products help eliminate scaling.
- Selenium sulfide shampoos (Head & Shoulders Intensive &Selsun Blue) - These contain an antifungal agent.
Some natural remedies that can be tried before turning to medicated solutions:
- Baking soda - Gently rub it into your scalp in the shower and rinse after a few minutes.
- Apple cider vinegar - Mix 1/4 cup with a 1/4 cup of water. Apply to your hair for 15 minutes to 1 hour, and then rinse out. Do this twice a week.
- Coconut oil - Rub 3–5 teaspoons into your scalp and leave for 1 hour. Then shampoo your hair and wash out.
- Lemon juice - Rub 2 teaspoons into your scalp and rinse out. Then rub one more teaspoon mixed with 1 cup water. Do this every day.
- Aloe vera - Rub into your scalp before you wash your hair.
- Olive oil - Rub 10 drops into your scalp. Cover your head with a shower cap and leave overnight. Shampoo and wash your hair in the morning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dandruff happens because of the unique environment of the scalp. First of all, you have your hair and your skin, which are both constantly growing and shedding. Now add to that your sebum (your skin's natural oil). When you have dandruff, your skin's top layer may shed more quickly. And when the skin sheds too quickly, it gets clumped up with sebum and creates those flakes you recognize as dandruff.
No, you can't spread or catch dandruff. Also, rest assured that dandruff doesn't reflect poorly on your hygiene.
It's thought that male hormones, namely testosterone, play a big role in the production of sebum – and more sebum can mean more clumping of flakes. Also, the oil-producing glands on men's scalps tend to be larger than women's.
Yellow flakes can be a sign of oily skin affected by sebhorreic dermatitis, a common but more intense form of dandruff. Along with flakes, skin may also be red and irritated.
Some dandruff shampoos include active ingredients like pyrithione zinc (PTZ) to deal with dandruff and its symptoms. Other dandruff shampoos feature active ingredients like selenium sulfides or coal tar, which help to both reduce dandruff and its symptoms and slow down the shedding of dead skin cells that leads to flakes. Active ingredients like sulfur and salicylic acid can help to reduce clumping of dry, flaky skin on the scalp.
If you've been using antidandruff shampoo regularly for a few weeks and see no results, you might not have dandruff after all! There may be another skin condition that is causing the skin on your scalp to flake. The red, swollen skin caused by eczema can lead to flaking on the scalp. And scalp psoriasis has symptoms similar to dandruff, too. Psoriasis is much less common than dandruff, and the dry, flaky patches tend to be silvery or grey on the surface with red, inflamed skin beneath the surface.
You may have a dry scalp that is being irritated by over-shampooing or by use of styling products. And this irritation may be the cause of flaking that looks like dandruff. A dry scalp is different from dandruff and may require different treatment.
Betnovate Scalp Application is used to treat a number of inflammatory skin conditions such as dermatitis, psoriasis, seborrhoeic capitis, and inflammation associated with severe dandruff. It helps to reduce the inflammation and symptoms caused by these conditions.
Betnovate Scalp Application is a prescription-only medicine. This means you cannot buy it over the counter and it must be prescribed by a doctor or other healthcare professional.
Betnovate Scalp contains the active ingredient betamethasone valerate 0.1%, which is classed as a potent corticosteroid.
Elocon Scalp Lotion is specifically formulated to be used on the scalp to treat various scalp conditions. It can be prescribed for scalp psoriasis treatment in the UK. Elocon is also available as a cream or ointment but these products should not be used on the scalp.
The active ingredient in Elocon Scalp Lotion is mometasone furoate 0.1%, which is a potent steroid
Elocon does not cause hair loss but one of the potential side effects can actually be excessive hair growth. However, this is not a treatment for hair loss.
Elocon Scalp Lotion is a prescription-only medicine that cannot be bought over the counter.
