Sure, dandruff can be embarrassing to see a dusting of white flakes when you wear your favorite black shirt. However, you shouldn’t feel ashamed. Remember around 50 percent of the population will experience dandruff at some point in their life. Of course, just because you know it’s common doesn’t make it any less embarrassing to have dandruff.

Luckily, the itching and flaking often respond well to over-the-counter shampoos and treatments. In general, you should give these treatments about a month to see if it has any effect. If you don’t notice your dandruff improving, change to a different treatment and go from there. Keep trying different brands and types until you find something that works for you. If nothing is helping, you should contact your doctor to see if there might be some other issue such as psoriasis, eczema, allergies, or a fungal infection. Pinpointing the issue can help you and your doctor find the right treatment.