Dandruff & Stress

Dandruff, or seborrheic dermatitis, can indeed increase with stress -- regardless of whether the stress is caused by a negative event, such as losing a job, or a positive one like getting married. The good news is that dandruff responds readily to treatment, and with a little attention, it's easy to keep it under control, regardless of your stress level.

Dandruff is a scaling of the scalp that results in visible flakes of skin, especially along the hairline. Sometimes dandruff is confused with dry skin (flaking caused by peeling sunburn on the scalp), or psoriasis, a chronic skin disease that causes fairly prominent scaling. If you suspect your problem may be something other than ordinary dandruff, check with your doctor before you try to treat it.

Surprisingly, even though dandruff is extremely common, we really don't know what causes it. Nor has a cure been found. We're also unsure of how exactly stress can make dandruff worse. But don't fret; current treatments are extremely effective.

I'd recommend using a dandruff shampoo containing the active ingredient pyrithione zinc (such as Head and Shoulders, Denorex, or Pert Plus Dandruff Shampoo). Other such shampoos (for example, Selsun Blue) contain the active ingredient selenium sulfide, which is equally effective but can be more irritating to the skin.

Apply the shampoo twice a week and be sure to leave it in your hair for 3 to 5 minutes before rinsing to allow the active ingredients time to work. I recommend using an egg timer, because most people underestimate the waiting time.

Don't stop using the shampoo when the dandruff clears up. You'll need to continue using it twice a week to suppress the flaking.

Dandruff occasionally requires a prescription treatment, so if you find your case does not respond to the shampoos after a few weeks, visit your primary-care doctor or dermatologist.

Finally, don't feel embarrassed -- almost everyone experiences dandruff to some degree. If stress is a big problem in your life, talk to your physician about counseling or other activities to take the edge off, like exercise or meditation. Maybe these pursuits will help your scalp, too.