The name "seborrheic dermatitis" may not ring a bell to most people. But almost everyone is suffering from its mild form -- dandruff.

Dandruff is the itching and scaling of the scalp that usually appears two to four days after each shampoo. Although it looks distressing and cosmetically unappealing, dermatologists say dandruff is neither contagious nor a serious medical problem.

The mild flaking is the result of dead skin being pushed out by the new skin underneath. This is described by Dr. Fredric Haberman of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York in "Your Skin: A Dermatologist's Guide to A Lifetime of Beauty and Health."

"Your miracle skin is continually renewing and replacing itself. This makes it one of the most remarkable organs of the body, as most others, once formed, remain unchanged. The outer portion, or epidermis, about as thick as a piece of paper, consists of about 15 to 20 layers of closely connected cells, which near the surface overlap like roof shingles. Those in the basal, or bottommost, layer are forever dividing and pushing their way toward the surface - the hardened 'protective shell' called the stratum corneum. As the plump newborn cells make their ascent, they gradually flatten out, lose moisture, cast off their inner mainspring (nucleus) and eventually die. Normally an upward mobile cell takes about two weeks to reach its destination and another one or two to be shed or sloughed away," Haberman explained.

"Most dandruff, therefore, is nothing more than this normal phenomenon and a reasonably clean and healthy scalp can be maintained by shampooing several times a week with ordinary shampoo (or soap in a soft water area). If there is much dirt in the air, or if there is excessive sweating, more frequent shampooing is in order," added the editors of "The Medicine Show" published by the Consumers Union of America.

If flaking persists despite these measures and the symptoms become severe, you have what dermatologists call seborrheic dermatitis. Here, the scaling is not only found in the scalp, but may appear in the eyebrows, around the nose, behind the ears, in the underarm area, and even in the anal-genital areas, Untreated, this is not only a social problem but can lead to secondary bacterial infection.

"The cause of seborrheic dermatitis is not known, but it appears to relate to a constitutional predisposition and is commonly exacerbated by physical or emotional stress. There is an increased incidence of this disorder in those with Parkinson's disease and other neurologic disorders," said Dr. Robert E. Walther, associate clinical professor of dermatology in "The Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons Complete Home Medical Guide."

Simple dandruff can be treated at-home but more extensive cases require a dermatologist's help. For most people, the flare-ups can be controlled by washing the hair frequently with a mild shampoo. If this doesn't work, you can buy an over-the-counter (OTC) dandruff product. Among the most effective are those that contain zinc pyrithione, selenium sulfide, coal-tar extract and sulfur-salicylic combinations.

Ketoconazole works well against the pityrosporum ovale, a fungus which has been implicated as one of the possible causes of dandruff. The idea that dandruff is a fungal disease was actually proposed way back in 1874 but it was only in 1904 that the infecting organism was identified. Since then, this particular yeast has been observed in increasing numbers in people with dandruff. The same subjects got well after being treated with ketoconazole.

However, the performance of anti-dandruff shampoos varies in different people; so selecting an ideal product may have to be done on a trial-and error basis.

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