Dandruff Complications
In rare cases, there may be an allergic reaction to ketoconazole. If you experience irritation, itching or a burning sensation you should stop using the shampoo immediately, and ask your pharmacist or doctor to recommend an alternative.
Itching of the scalp can break the skin and lead to infection. If this occurs you should see your GP for advice.
Related and similar conditions
Dandruff may also be caused by excessive dryness or by psoriasis. A few people have both conditions, which makes diagnosis difficult. Seborrheic dermatitis and psoriasis can be pretty difficult to tell apart.
Psoriasis tends to have a whiter scale, and affected areas bleed fairly easily if plucked, picked or scratched. Patches of psoriasis also tend to be thicker and more persistent.
Rarely, seborrheic dermatitis will become infected, a condition known as impetigo.
Tinea capitis - scalp ringworm - may be mistaken for dandruff in adults. This condition is uncommon after puberty and when it appears on adults, the features are different to those occurring on children.
Tinea capitis will not respond to tradition dandruff treatments or antibotics. Lack of treatment can lead to scarring and permanent hairloss, as well as infection of others.
The incidence of scalp ringworm in children is on the rise in the United Kingdom and several cases of adults - particulary those of Afro-Carribean descent - have been eventually diagonised with this condition after lengthy unnecessary investigations and treatments.
The vast majority of people with seborrheic dermatitis have no associated conditions. Sufferers of Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injuries and other neurological conditions and AIDS can have outbreaks of seborrheic dermatitis.
Dandruff Complications