Dandruff and Facial Scaling
Some people who have dandruff also have red, scaly, flaky skin on their face, especially around the nose, eyebrows and ears. This condition is called seborrheic dermatitis. This is not a curable condition but it is controllable. When babies get it, its called “cradle cap” and they usually outgrow it by age 1 or 2. Adults often get it in their 20’s, 30’s or 40’s, and it gets more common and worse with age. It can be controlled and kept at bay with a few simple steps. First of all, purchase ketoconazole shampoo, I prefer Nizoral brand. The prescription version is stronger and works better, but if you don’t want to make an appointment yet with your dermatologist then purchase the over the counter strength. Use this shampoo on your scalp and also on your face as a face wash, two-three times per week. This will help prevent the flakiness. Don’t wait until it comes back, use this as a preventative measure. If you do get some flaking on your face despite using this (or because you forgot to use it for a week or more), then purchase a 1% hydrocortisone cream (over the counter) and use it twice a day on the flaky areas until they look normal.
If your skin or scalp condition does not respond, you may have something else going on or just a severe version of seborrhea. In that case I would recommend you make an appointment with your dermatologist.
Tags: dandruff, facial scaling, flaking, ketoconazole, ketoconzaole shampoo, nizoral