RESEARCH commissioned by Key Pharmaceuticals has revealed the high social and emotional cost of dandruff, a common condition affecting around half the Australian population.
The survey of over 1,000 people who had experienced dandruff within the previous six months found that it not only undermines self confidence, the itching can also make it difficult to sleep, while embarrassment can lead to social withdrawal and poor mental health.
At the heart of its emotional toll was the stigma and shame associated with dandruff, due to the perception it was a hygiene problem rather than a skin condition.
Despite the significant impact on some people's lives, there was a reluctance to raise the issue with a doctor or pharmacist because it was not perceived as a "serious" condition - just over half (53%) had spoken to a health professional about it.
Community pharmacist Trent Playford told Pharmacy Daily that the stigma and shame identified in the research surprised him, and he has changed his approach to customers with the condition.
"As a pharmacist we know biologically what causes dandruff, but to see that mental anguish that people are going through has really changed the way that I look at - and the way that I treat - these patients now," Playford said.
"Previously, it was almost very transactional - I would see people standing in the hair care aisle, and they'd be picking something that was familiar to them, something they recognised from adverts, and not necessarily what was going to be the best for their scalp health.
"Now I try and get out and actually talk to these patients to see if we can assist them in finding the most appropriate product."
Playford believes educating the patient is important, explaining that it is a fungal overgrowth that has nothing to do with hygiene, that it is a chronic condition, and without ongoing management and treatment it will return.
He pointed out that there are a variety of different pharmacy-grade products that can effectively treat dandruff, and while pharmacist-only products have an antifungal component to them, supermarket products help remove flakes but do not treat the underlying cause.
Among the people surveyed, however, only around one in four used pharmacy treatments.
Playford's final message to other pharmacists was to break the stigma by starting a conversation and normalising the condition. KB
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