Dandruff treatment in Gurgaon
Flaking, itching and a greasy, red scalp are usually dandruff or its more inflamed form, seborrhoeic dermatitis. Both respond well to the right treatment used the right way, and Dr. Tanya Kochhar makes sure it is not psoriasis or a fungal infection first.
How is dandruff treated in Gurgaon?
Dandruff is treated with a medicated shampoo left on the scalp for 3 to 5 minutes, plus short courses of anti-inflammatory lotions for flares. Most people improve within 2 to 4 weeks. At Le Dermaire, Dr. Tanya Kochhar first rules out psoriasis or fungal infection. Dandruff is controlled rather than cured, with weekly maintenance keeping flakes away.
Dandruff treatment, in short
What most people can expect. A severe, spreading or unusual scalp rash is assessed differently.
What dandruff actually is
Dandruff is the mild end of a spectrum called seborrhoeic dermatitis. A yeast called Malassezia lives on every scalp and feeds on skin oil. In people who are sensitive to it, the by-products irritate the skin, which turns over faster and sheds as visible flakes. When the reaction is stronger, the scalp becomes red, greasy and itchy, and the rash can spread beyond it.
It is not a sign of poor hygiene and it is not contagious. It tends to be worse in oily skin, in heat and humidity, with sweat under helmets and caps, and during stress or poor sleep, which is why many people notice it come and go with the seasons and with work pressure.
Dandruff in a young child is uncommon. Scaly patches with hair breakage in children are more often a fungal scalp infection (tinea capitis), which needs oral antifungal treatment rather than shampoo alone, and should be examined.
Where it shows, and what can look similar
Seborrhoeic dermatitis favours oily areas. Several other conditions can cause scalp flaking, and each is treated differently.
Face, brows and beard
Greasy, pink scaling in the eyebrows, the folds beside the nose, the beard and the forehead hairline. It often flares at the same time as the scalp.
Ears and chest
Flaking in and behind the ears, and a scaly rash over the centre of the chest or upper back in some adults.
Scalp psoriasis
Thicker, well-defined, silvery plaques that often extend past the hairline, sometimes with nail or skin involvement elsewhere. It needs a different plan, on the psoriasis page.
Tinea capitis
A fungal infection of the scalp, mainly in children, with scaly patches, broken hairs and sometimes swollen glands. Shampoo alone will not clear it.
Contact dermatitis
Itching and redness from hair dye, fragrance or preservatives in hair products. Often mistaken for dandruff, and often made worse by trying more products.
Dry, over-washed scalp
Fine, powdery flakes without greasiness, common with very hot water or harsh shampoos. Sometimes the fix is using less, not more.
How dandruff is treated
A simple, clear routine you can keep up, rather than a cupboard full of products.
Diagnosis
Dr. Tanya examines the scalp, face and ears, and uses trichoscopy where the picture is unclear, to separate seborrhoeic dermatitis from psoriasis, fungal infection and contact allergy.
A product review
Bring the shampoos, oils and hair products you use. Heavy oiling, fragranced products or a dye allergy are sometimes part of the problem.
Clear phase
A medicated shampoo two to three times a week, with a short course of an anti-inflammatory lotion if the scalp is red and itchy, and a gentle cream for the face.
Maintenance
Once the scalp is clear, the medicated shampoo drops to once a week or so, alternating with a mild shampoo, and is stepped up again at the first sign of a flare.
Medicated shampoos, and how to use them
The main anti-dandruff agents are ketoconazole and ciclopirox, which act against Malassezia, selenium sulphide, which slows scaling and has antifungal action, and zinc pyrithione, a milder everyday option. Coal tar and salicylic acid help loosen thick scale. The right one depends on how severe the scalp is, how often you wash and how your hair tolerates it; rotating two agents sometimes works better than relying on one.
Contact time matters more than brand. Wet the hair, massage the shampoo into the scalp itself, not just the lengths, and leave it for 3 to 5 minutes before rinsing. A quick lather and rinse washes the active ingredient away before it can work. Follow with a conditioner on the lengths only if the medicated shampoo feels drying.
When the scalp is inflamed, a short course of a topical steroid or a non-steroid anti-inflammatory lotion calms redness and itch within days. These are used for limited periods under supervision. For the face, gentle antifungal or anti-inflammatory creams are chosen, since strong steroids on facial skin cause thinning and rebound redness.
Dandruff treatment cost in Gurgaon
For most people treatment is a consultation and a prescription for shampoos and topicals, with a review if needed. There is no procedure to buy.
Why the same shampoo fails for some people
Most people who say anti-dandruff shampoo does not work are either using it for a few seconds before rinsing, using it too rarely, or treating a condition that is not dandruff at all. A correct diagnosis and a clear routine usually save money compared with trying one product after another.
Does dandruff cause hair fall?
Dandruff does not cause baldness, and it does not damage the follicles that make hair. However, a very inflamed, itchy scalp can increase shedding for a while, and scratching can break hairs. When the inflammation is controlled, this extra shedding usually settles.
Dandruff and hair loss are also both very common, so many people have both at once without one causing the other. If hair fall continues after the scalp is clear, or the parting is widening, the hair loss is assessed separately, since pattern hair loss or telogen effluvium need their own treatment.
Seek review if the rash spreads widely, weeps, becomes painful, or appears suddenly and severely, as seborrhoeic dermatitis that is unusually extensive can occasionally be a sign of another medical condition.
Habits that help, and ones to avoid
Helps
- Washing often enough to keep oil down, including after sweaty workouts or wearing a helmet.
- Leaving medicated shampoo on the scalp for the full contact time.
- Drying the scalp properly rather than tying up wet hair.
- Restarting maintenance shampoo early, as soon as flakes return.
Avoid
- Leaving heavy oils on the scalp overnight; the yeast feeds on oil.
- Scratching with nails or combs, which inflames and breaks the skin.
- Using a strong steroid lotion for weeks without review.
- Switching products every few days before any one has had a chance.
Scalp flaking assessed by a skin specialist
Flakes are a symptom that several conditions share. A dermatologist who also practises as a trichologist can tell seborrhoeic dermatitis from scalp psoriasis, fungal infection and contact allergy, sometimes only with trichoscopy, and can keep facial seborrhoeic dermatitis under control without the thinning and rebound that strong creams cause.
Dr. Tanya Kochhar holds an MBBS from Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, an MD in Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy from MGM Medical College, a DNB, and a post-doctoral fellowship in Aesthetic Dermatology (FRGUHS). She is registered with the National Medical Commission and the Delhi Medical Council.
Dandruff and seborrhoeic dermatitis FAQs
Can dandruff be cured permanently?
Dandruff and seborrhoeic dermatitis are long-term tendencies, so they are controlled rather than cured. The scalp can be cleared within a few weeks, and a simple maintenance routine, often a medicated shampoo once a week, keeps it clear for most people. Flares tend to follow heat, sweating, stress or stopping maintenance, and are treated early.
Which anti-dandruff shampoo works best?
There is no single right shampoo for everyone. Ketoconazole and ciclopirox target the yeast behind dandruff, selenium sulphide slows flaking, and zinc pyrithione suits milder cases. The choice depends on severity, hair type and how often you wash. Using the shampoo properly, left on for 3 to 5 minutes, matters as much as which one you use.
How much does dandruff treatment cost in Gurgaon?
At Le Dermaire, dandruff is usually treated with a consultation and a prescription for medicated shampoos and topicals, with a review only if needed. The consultation fee is Rs 1,800 and covers the examination and your plan. Any test or follow-up is explained first, and there are no charges that are not quoted to you.
Does dandruff cause hair fall?
Dandruff does not cause permanent hair loss or baldness. A very inflamed, itchy scalp can temporarily increase shedding, and scratching can break hairs, but this usually settles once the scalp is treated. If hair fall continues after the flaking has cleared, the cause is likely to be something else and is assessed separately.
How do I know if it is dandruff or scalp psoriasis?
Dandruff and seborrhoeic dermatitis usually cause softer, greasy, yellowish flakes spread over the scalp. Psoriasis tends to form thicker, sharply defined silvery plaques that often run past the hairline, sometimes with patches on the elbows, knees or nails. The two can overlap, and an examination, with trichoscopy if needed, tells them apart.
Should I oil my scalp if I have dandruff?
Heavy oiling generally does not help dandruff and can make it worse, because the yeast involved feeds on oil. If you like oiling the lengths of your hair, keep it off the scalp and wash it out within a few hours. Oil loosens flakes temporarily, which can look like improvement, but the flaking returns.
Why does my child have dandruff?
True dandruff is uncommon before puberty. Scaly patches, especially with broken hairs, patchy hair loss or swollen glands at the back of the neck, are more often a fungal scalp infection called tinea capitis. It needs oral antifungal medicine, so a child with a flaky scalp should be examined rather than treated with shampoo alone.
Where is the clinic in Gurgaon?
Le Dermaire is at 10P, 3rd Floor, Sector 28, Chakkarpur, Golf Course Road, Gurugram, opposite Phase 1. It is open Monday to Saturday from 3:30 PM to 9:00 PM and on Sunday from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
Dandruff treatment on Golf Course Road, Gurugram
One consultation is often all it takes to get a routine that works. The clinic is on Golf Course Road in Sector 28, easy to reach from Cyber City, Sohna Road and South City, with appointments until 9 PM.
Golf Course Road, opposite DLF Phase 1,
Sector 28, Chakkarpur, Gurugram
Often considered alongside
Hair & Scalp
All hair and scalp care at the clinic, including trichoscopy and scalp procedures.
Explore 02Psoriasis Treatment
Scalp and body psoriasis, a different condition that needs its own long-term plan.
Explore 03Fungal Infection Treatment
Ringworm, groin and foot infections, and scalp ringworm in children, treated fully.
ExploreGet a scalp routine that works
Leave with a confirmed diagnosis, a named shampoo and a clear schedule for clearing the scalp and keeping it clear.