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How common are a dry scalp and dandruff?
You may be surprised by how common a dry scalp and dandruff really are. These conditions affect about 50% of the population at some point in time, and are the most common scalp conditions known today.* The good news is that they are easy to control with the use of an effective anti-dandruff shampoo, such as head & shoulders.

What's the difference between dandruff and a dry scalp?
The main difference is flakes from dandruff are medium to large in size. They're usually white and oily looking, and are believed to be caused by Malassezia, a naturally occurring fungus found on the scalp. By comparison, a dry scalp is characterised by smaller flakes and excessive itching, occurring when your scalp lacks its natural oils and moisture.

How can I treat a dry scalp and dandruff?
Dry scalp and dandruff can be treated with products containing at least one of the following types of active ingredients:

Anti-fungal ingredients reduce the amount of fungus on the scalp, therefore treating the leading cause of dandruff. Common ingredients to treat dandruff include Zinc Pyrithione (ZPT), Selenium Sulphide and Ketoconazole.

Anti-proliferate agents slow down the production of skin cells without necessarily acting directly against the fungus. One such ingredient is coal tar, which primarily treats the symptoms of dandruff.

Keratolytic agents break down the intercellular bond (keratin) that holds skin cells together on the uppermost layer of the scalp. Therefore, when the top layer of cells are shed, they are separate rather than in clumps. These agents include sulphur and salicylic acid, which, again, primarily treat the symptoms and not the cause of dandruff.

Why don't anti-dandruff shampoos get rid of dandruff forever? Why do flakes come back?
Malassezia, believed to be the leading cause of dandruff, is a naturally occurring fungus on the skin and is very difficult, if not impossible, to completely eliminate. However, consistent use of head & shoulders shampoo can help prevent and control the fungus and its flaky by-products.

Does using a separate conditioner cause more flakes?
No. However, when consumers use a beauty conditioner after using an anti-dandruff shampoo, some anti-dandruff agents (such as Zinc Pyrithione [ZPT]) deposited previously might be washed away during rinsing. This could diminish the total anti-dandruff efficacy.