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Dandruff (Seborrheic Dermatitis)

If regular anti-dandruff shampoo isn't controlling the flakes — or the scaling has spread to your eyebrows, face, or chest — a licensed pharmacist at our Orleans pharmacy can assess it and prescribe stronger treatment, from prescription-strength antifungals to short-course corticosteroids. Free with your Ontario health card, no appointment needed.

Dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis are the mild and more pronounced ends of the same common scalp problem. A scalp yeast (Malassezia) plays a big role, which is why medicated antifungal shampoos are the backbone of treatment.

Dandruff vs. seborrheic dermatitis

Dandruff is an itchy scalp with dry white flakes in the hair or on the shoulders. Seborrheic dermatitis is more pronounced — greasy, scaly, inflamed patches that can appear on the scalp, face, eyebrows, eyelids, or mid-chest. Symptoms flare with stress, cold, and dry air (hello, Ottawa winters) and often ease in summer. In infants it appears as cradle cap, which usually clears on its own within months.

Dandruff affects up to 50% of adults over 30, usually starting between ages 10 and 20. Skin cell turnover on an affected scalp can run at twice the normal rate — which is why treatment needs to be ongoing, not one-and-done.

Common signs and symptoms

White or yellowish flakes on the scalp, hair, or shoulders
Itchy scalp — often worse in winter
Greasy, scaly patches on the scalp, eyebrows, sides of the nose, or chest
Redness or dusky discolouration in affected areas (varies by skin tone)

Treatments our Orleans pharmacist can prescribe

For your information only: in Ontario, our pharmacist can assess this condition and, when appropriate, prescribe from the medications listed below. This information is provided for educational purposes — it is not an offer to sell. These are treatments that require a pharmacist assessment, and the right option is chosen for you.

Topical antifungals: Ciclopirox, Ketoconazole, Selenium sulfide, Triclosan, Zinc pyrithione

Topical corticosteroids: Betamethasone valerate, Hydrocortisone

Keratolytic agents: Coal tar, Salicylic acid

Anti-inflammatory: Roflumilast (Zoryve)

Self-care that helps

Ketoconazole shampoo (Nizoral) — antifungal, targets the underlying yeast
Zinc pyrithione shampoo (Head & Shoulders)
Selenium sulfide shampoo (Selsun)
Coal tar or salicylic acid shampoos to lift scale
Leave medicated shampoo on the scalp up to 15 minutes before rinsing, and alternate with your regular shampoo

Browse related over-the-counter options in our Dandruff (Seborrheic Dermatitis) self-care collection, or ask us in store — our pharmacists will point you to what actually helps.

How the assessment works

1. Walk in or callNo appointment or referral needed. Drop by our pharmacy on St-Joseph Blvd in Orleans during opening hours, or call ahead.

2. Private consultationA licensed pharmacist reviews your symptoms, health history and medications in a short, private assessment.

3. Prescription in handIf appropriate, we prescribe and fill your treatment on the spot — you leave with what you need.

Frequently asked questions

My drugstore shampoo stopped working. Now what?

That's common — rotating between different active ingredients (ketoconazole, zinc pyrithione, selenium sulfide) often restores control. If the scalp is inflamed, a prescription antifungal or a short course of topical corticosteroid can break the flare. That's exactly what the pharmacist assessment sorts out.

Is dandruff caused by poor hygiene?

No. It's driven by scalp yeast, oil production, and individual susceptibility — not cleanliness. In fact, harsh over-washing can irritate the scalp further.

Can you treat seborrheic dermatitis on my face too?

Yes — pharmacists can prescribe appropriate low-potency treatments for facial and body seborrheic dermatitis, which needs gentler products than the scalp.

Is the pharmacist assessment covered by OHIP?

Yes. The minor ailment assessment is free with a valid Ontario health card. You only pay for the medication itself if one is prescribed, and that is often covered by your drug plan.

Do I need an appointment at your Orleans pharmacy?

No. Walk-ins are welcome during all pharmacy hours — Monday to Friday 9:00 AM–6:00 PM and Saturday 9:00 AM–3:00 PM. You can also call 613-824-3111 ahead of your visit.

When to see a doctor instead: See a health-care provider if the scalp is very red, crusted, or weeping; treatment hasn't helped after a few weeks; the rash is spreading widely on the face or body; or an infant's cradle cap looks infected or unusually severe.

Flakes winning? Fight back.

Skip the walk-in clinic wait. Our Orleans pharmacists assess and prescribe for dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis — free with your Ontario health card.

Call 613 · 824 · 3111 Hours & directions

Serving Orleans and east Ottawa — Fallingbrook, Avalon, Chapel Hill, Queenswood Heights, Blackburn Hamlet, Navan & Cumberland. 2746 St-Joseph Blvd, Unit 100, Orleans, ON K1C 1G5.