Dandruff Putting the Hex on Telltale Specks

Putting the Hex on Telltale Specks

Having dandruff is not something to be ashamed of,'' asserts Guy S. Webster, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of dermatology at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. And if your child is dandruffprone, you might have to remind him that the doctor says not to worry.

When telltale specks of dusty white appear on the shirt collar and shoulders of school-age children, they may come in for quite a ribbing from the other kids. So it's good if parents can offer an explanation and reassurance along with some helpful treatments.

Dandruff is simply an overenthusiastic turnover of skin cells on the scalp. Everybody's scalp sheds, but if a child has dandruff, the skin sheds too quickly and too much. The child may complain that his scalp feels itchy, and you're likely to find some white flakes.

Though dandruff is not as common in children as it is in adults, kids do get it. If you see a scalp problem that looks like dandruff, go ahead and try some home treatment to see if it clears up, recommends Karen Wiss, M.D., assistant professor of medicine and pediatrics and director of pediatric dermatology at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester. But she cautions, ''If the dandruff doesn't respond within two weeks, your child's symptoms may be related to other conditions that need a doctor's diagnosis and treatment.''

Here are the dandruff-fighting home treatments our experts suggest.

Buy a good dandruff shampoo. ''A good dandruff-fighting shampoo is important because it reduces the scaling on the scalp and allows medication to penetrate where it is needed,'' says Alvin L. Adler, M.D., a dermatologist and attending physician and clinical instructor in dermatology at the New York Hospital--Cornell Medical Center and Beth Israel Medical Center, both in New York City. To ensure that you are buying an effective product, spend a moment in the drugstore reading some labels. Look for a dandruff shampoo that lists tar or salicylic acid among the ingredients, says Dr. Adler.

Shampoo often. Your child should start out using the shampoo at least twice a week, says Dr. Adler. Many doctors suggest that if the dandruff doesn't go away, the child should shampoo twice a week with dandruff shampoo and also shampoo frequently with the regular kind. And if the child still has dandruff, use the dandruff shampoo even more frequently than twice a week.

For the child who is reluctant, make a game of lathering up. And make the bath-and-shampoo part of your child's schedule, so it becomes routine.

If the dandruff doesn't resolve with shampoo alone, a topical steroid medication may be needed, Dr. Adler says. Check with your pediatrician or a dermatologist.

Use nongreasy hair fixatives. If you have an older child who has just started to use styling products, make sure that you buy nonoily gels or mousses. ''Greasy or oily conditioners and styling products will just make dandruff worse,'' Dr. Adler says.

Keep an eye out for recurring flare-ups. ''Dandruff is easy to control but not to cure,'' says Dr. Adler. After your child's dandruff is under control, you can switch back to regular shampoo, but be alert for signs of itchiness or flaking. ''Count on it--there will be another flare-up,'' Dr. Adler reminds parents. Keep dandruff shampoo in the cabinet and get your child to use it at the first signs that dandruff is back.

Look out for stress. ''No one knows why some people get dandruff and others don't, but stress can provoke it,'' says Dr. Adler. If your child gets frequent dandruff flare-ups, check out the possibility that she may be under too much pressure. You can help her reduce stress by talking about school and everyday problems and allowing more free time without planned activities.