What Doctor To See For Dandruff?

Have you come to a point where you feel like nothing is working against dandruff? Or do you feel that your skin condition is getting worse?

If you want the short answer, you should see a dermatologist. A dermatologist deals with conditions regarding the skin, nails, and hair. They will diagnose your scalp condition to determine what type of dandruff you have.

However, it is not always necessary to consult a dermatologist. In fact, if you snoop around this website a little more, there are many ways to understand what type of dandruff you have. Once you know that, you can treat it accordingly.

But first, let’s talk about what a dermatologist actually does and when to see one.

What Doctor to See for Dandruff?

What kind of doctor to see for dandruff, you ask? Well, a dermatologist, and here is why!

Dermatologists are medical experts who specialize in diagnosing and treating skin, hair and nail conditions.

This means that they are also able to tell if your dandruff is caused by dry scalp, seborrheic dermatitis, allergies, infection or scalp psoriasis. They will usually do a few consultation sessions with you, in order to understand your condition more.

Can a Dermatologist Diagnose Dandruff?

Dandruff is a common issue amongst adults and also teenagers. It is said that up to 50% of adults are dealing with dandruff [1]. As dandruff is so common, there have been a lot of studies conducted and research papers published. Dandruff also happens to be a big market for product manufacturers.

Dermatologists are therefore also well versed in diagnosing dandruff. They will also be able to explain what the likely causes could be and how it can be treated. Your dermatologist will find out if you suffer from the following:

Dry Scalp

Dry scalp is the mildest condition on the list. Having dry skin means that your skin is naturally dry and appears to be flaky. Skin peels off the top layer of your epidermis.

Seborrheic Dermatitis

Seborrheic dermatitis is also a fairly common skin condition that is mostly found on the scalp, leaving the skin dry, inflamed and flaky. The condition can also extend to other oily areas of the body such as the eyebrows, beard, nose, and ears.

Eczema

Eczema is also a skin condition that is very similar to seborrheic dermatitis. It is also said that their symptoms can overlap and that someone could possibly have both. This can be hard to distinguish on your own.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a more serious skin condition that speeds up the life cycle of the skin. This leaves layers of dead skin on your scalp. Psoriasis can be identified by red and inflammatory marks on the scalp and other parts of your body.

Scalp Infection

You could also be suffering from a fungal infection on your scalp. The infection then leaves your scalp with an inflamed skin layer, which starts to peel off.

Can a Dermatologist Help with Dandruff?

After having identified what your skin condition is, your dermatologist will proceed to inform you about the treatment methods. The treatment methods are different and vary according to your skin condition.

Dermatologists can certainly help you, although I believe that you know your body best and there is a lot that you can do yourself to control dandruff.

My Experience with a Dermatologist for Dandruff

During my initial stages of dealing with dandruff, I was at a loss to find a way to control it. Mind you, that this was sent before I put in any effort of trying to understand more about the condition. I have only myself to blame for this, as I was young and naive. Well, it’s a topic of my past anyway and nowadays I have my dandruff situation well under control.

My dermatologist was nice and helpful. He asked me a lot of questions about my skin, diet, activities, allergies and so forth. He also inspected my scalp a few times, but at the end of the day, it was hard to pinpoint exactly what caused my dandruff.

I was told that it could have either been dry skin or seborrheic dermatitis. I was given some recommended shampoos and creams, which were very expensive. Long story short, they initially helped, but dandruff just came back.

This was around 15 years ago and that was also the first and last visit to a dermatologist for my dandruff. I must say that at least he gave me some knowledge on the possible reasons, and also explained them pretty well to me. Unfortunately, the exact cause was not determined. Maybe my condition was slightly unusual or maybe I just went to the wrong dermatologist. Who knows?

But this inspired me to do some research of my own. Doing my own research and understanding more about the topic actually help me control dandruff.

What Can You Do to Get Rid of dandruff?

You now know what doctor to see for dandruff. If you feel like going the dermatologist route, by all means. Make sure you try to learn as much as you can from them and ask plenty of questions.

Regardless of seeing a dermatologist, I would still recommend you to spend a little time to read more about dandruff and what it’s caused by. Never take whatever anyone says for granted. At the end of the day you, now your body best. You know what you consume, how you react, and what you feel, which tells you a lot of information already. Use that information with a little guidance and you will be able to take control of your dandruff.

If your dandruff goes out of hand and you feel like you are lost, please feel free to contact me or leave a message.

You may also opt for a visit to the dermatologist. If you want to take the route of understanding dandruff a little more you can read my complete guide of how to get it of dandruff. It contains all sorts of information and also suggests treatments that have worked wonders for me.

You can find dermatologists and look at their reviews on this website if you are interested.

Happy reading and all the best!