dandruff

dandruff, excessive flaking of skin from the scalp, apparent as dry or greasy diffuse scaling with variable itching. It is the sign of a skin disease, such as seborrhea or a fungal infection. Treatment requires the use of shampoos containing pyrithione zinc, selenium sulfide, sulfur and salicylic acid, or tar shampoo used daily until the dandruff is under control.

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dandruff

Skin disorder of the scalp, a mild form of dermatitis. It affects most people at some time, when the scalp, which normally sheds its dead outer skin cells continuously, starts to shed them intermittently, causing a scaly buildup before shedding and noticeable flakes of skin when shedding occurs. Dandruff is not contagious and often goes away spontaneously; special shampoos can control it.

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dandruff

loose scales of dry dead skin shed from the scalp

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dandruff [′dan·drəf]

(medicine)

Scales of dry sebum formed on the scalp in seborrhea.