What is Eyebrow Dandruff and How To Get Rid of It

Dandruff is a very common condition that primarily develops on the scalp and causes dry skin to start to flake. However, it can also occur in other areas of the body, including the eyebrows. While it can be an annoying thing to deal with, luckily it is also pretty easy to treat.

Eyebrow dandruff can happen to anyone, at any age, from babies to elderly adults. It will usually happen after puberty in areas with skin that contains a lot of oil producing glands, which is why dandruff is most common on the head or eyebrows.

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What Causes Eyebrow Dandruff?

Dandruff is caused by a yeast type organism and is known to show up on the scalp, eyebrows, breastbones, the backs of ears, and on either side of the nose because these areas all have a greater concentration of oil glands. People that are prone to oily skin will have a higher likelihood of extra flake and scales.

There are a few factors that will play into developing dandruff such as genetics, living in a cold or dry climate, stress, and overall health. In addition to these factors, diseases such as Parkinson’s, HIV, epilepsy, alcoholism, eating disorders, and depression are also possible instigators for increased dandruff. Other examples of what typically causes eyebrow dandruff include:

Seborrheic Dermatitis

The common inflammatory form of dandruff is known as seborrheic dermatitis. For babies this condition is known as cradle cap. It will cause greasy and irritated skin to produce white flakes along the eyebrows and on other areas as well.

A fungus called Malassezia can be found in oily skin secretions and can cause chronic seborrheic dermatitis, dandruff, and eczema. This fungus will multiply due to a poor immune system reaction and is known to cause itching, inflammation, redness, and irritation.

Contact Dermatitis

Contact dermatitis is a reaction by the skin that occurs as the result of an allergen or irritant. The skin may be reacting to an ingredient in a product like shampoo, conditioner, makeup, or detergent used on a hat or scarf.

Contact dermatitis will result in an itchy and irritating rash in the area affected. This skin may flake off, causing dandruff as a result. If you have eyebrow dandruff starting to appear after using a new product, stop using it immediately and talk to a dermatologist to undergo testing for any allergies.

Dry Skin

Often, people will mistake very dry skin for dandruff. People that live in harsh conditions or very low temperatures may end up with severely dry skin that flakes similarly to dandruff. This will most likely go away fairly quickly once the person begins to moisturize their face more regularly.

Eczema

The chronic skin condition known as eczema will cause inflammation and irritated patches of skin. It is possible for this condition to cause symptoms near the eyebrows that may appear as dandruff.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is the result of an immune system response that causes the skin to create new cells faster than it can shed the old ones. This will typically result in itchy scales or patch of skin. Psoriasis may occur in many places on the body, including the eyebrows.

What Are The Treatments For Eyebrow Dandruff?

The best treatment for eyebrow dandruff depends on what exactly is causing it, although moisturizing regularly can go a long way to help. These are some of the ways you can treat eyebrow dandruff:

A Good Skincare Routine

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Over the Counter Treatments

There are plenty of over the counter products such as dandruff shampoo that can help to treat dandruff in all areas, including the eyebrows. The most effective ingredients are selenium sulfide and ketoconazole, as they help to both treat the dandruff and the underlying cause, such as excessive oil or fungal overgrowth. It’s important to make sure that the shampoo you select is not overly drying. If you dry out the skin around your eyebrows then it may result in more flakiness, which is the very thing you’re trying to be rid of.

Some of the other potentially helpful ingredients found in over the counter products include:

Tar soap
Salicylic acid
Sulfur
Sulfacetamide

For best results using dandruff shampoo on your eyebrows, gently lather the shampoo into your eyebrows and allow it to sit for a few minutes before rinsing it out. Try to avoid getting the lather in your eyes as it will most likely irritate them.

Home Remedies

There are a few home remedies that can help to treat mild cases of eyebrow dandruff. However, it’s possible that these products may result in a skin reaction, so always be sure to test the product on a small area of skin before applying it to your face. Natural oils such as coconut, avocado, or jojoba oil will help to bring moisture to your face. Tea tree oil is another ingredient that has both antioxidant and antifungal properties. Its effectiveness in treating dandruff has been documented with research.

One such study showed that people using tea tree oil shampoo (5% strength) showed a reduction in their dandruff symptoms. You can mix this 5% tea tree oil with lotion or an aloe gel, then simply rub it into the affected area every other day. As your symptoms improve, you can reduce the frequency until it’s about once a week or so just to keep the symptoms at bay.

Another potential remedy is to use apple cider vinegar. After your typical evening cleansing routine, and all makeup is removed and your skin has been patted dry, apply a single drop of apple cider vinegar to a dampened cotton ball. You may want to use an eye dropper for precision and be sure to squeeze excess water from the cotton ball to prevent dripping. Then, simply swipe the cotton ball in a single motion across your eyebrows. Use this treatment once or twice a week and be careful not to get the vinegar in your eyes.

Medical Treatments

In severe enough cases, it may be necessary to see a dermatologist in order to receive prescription strength drug treatments. If over the counter anti dandruff options are not working, you may need prescription strength levels of ketoconazole and selenium sulfide. These are essentially the same as the over the counter versions, just significantly stronger and higher concentrations.

Treating Contact Dermatitis

If your eyebrow dandruff was the result of contact dermatitis, then avoiding the product that created the irritation should help to resolve it. In the meantime, keep the skin around your eyebrows moisturized in order to help reduce the irritation and flakiness. Using an anti itch cream or taking an antihistamine like Benadryl can help to reduce the itching. Applying a cool and wet compress for 15-30 minutes at a time will help alleviate irritation and itching as well.

You may need to call a doctor if:

You suddenly develop a painful rash
The symptoms you experience interfere with daily activities
The symptoms haven’t starting resolving in three weeks
You notice pus coming from the irritated skin areas
The affected skin area looks infected
You have a fever

How To Prevent Eyebrow Dandruff

While it may not be possible to prevent every instance of eyebrow dandruff, you can reduce the risk factors that create it. Some of the best ways to lower your chances of having eyebrow dandruff are:

Wearing protective clothing in harsh weather, especially cold and low temperatures
Hydrating your skin using a facial moisturizer
Using sunscreen in order to protect your skin from the sun’s ultraviolet rays
Keeping track of potential allergens and avoiding using them
Not picking at or touching the affected area
Tracking and avoiding potential irritants
Wash your face frequently
Decrease stress levels

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The Takeaway

Eyebrow dandruff is the same as regular dandruff just on the eyebrows instead of the scalp. Having excessively dry skin will result in flaking and create dandruff. Keeping your skin well hydrated and moisturized is the best way to combat dandruff from forming.

Having dandruff is a fairly common experience, especially for people living in cold or dry climates. While it may be a little embarrassing, it’s most likely not indicative of a serious health condition and is simply some skin being too oily and dry.

Maintaining a daily skincare routine with the right products can go a long way in keeping your skin hydrated and prevent flakiness from ever becoming an issue. However, if it is already here, there are plenty of over-the-counter treatments and a few home remedies you can try that should be effective in treating it.

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