The above information was shared by Dr. Pham Thi Uyen Nhi - Head of the General Planning Department, Ho Chi Minh City Dermatology Hospital - at the scientific conference "Optimizing dandruff control for patients at pharmacies" held today (April 17).
According to Dr. Pham Thi Uyen Nhi, dandruff and oilitis are quite common diseases worldwide with an incidence rate of about 1-5% of the population. Notably, this rate is higher in young and middle-aged people, ranging from 14.3% to 50%.
These figures show that dandruff is not a small problem. Especially in young people, work pressure and prolonged stress can cause dandruff to appear or become more serious," Dr. Uyen Nhi said.
In addition, about 36-70% of immunocompromised people are also at higher risk of dandruff. These subjects include people who have been using antibiotics for a long time, people who are often stressed, or have unscientific lifestyles.
In Vietnam, the number of patients coming for check-ups for dandruff at Ho Chi Minh City Dermatology Hospital has increased year by year. Specifically, in 2021 there were about 13,000 visits, in 2022 it increased to 24,000 visits, in 2023 it was 27,000 visits and in 2025 it recorded more than 28,000 visits. This shows that dandruff is becoming a more common health problem in the community.
Not only causing itching, dandruff also affects the patient's psychology. Many people feel insecure when communicating, especially when dandruff falls on dark clothes or appears accompanied by red skin and hair loss.
Chestnuts seem simple but have a great impact on the quality of life. Patients may be reluctant to communicate, lose confidence, especially in the working environment," Dr. Uyen Nhi emphasized.
According to experts, most patients do not go to the hospital immediately but go to the pharmacy first. Therefore, pharmacists play an important role in advising and guiding patients to get the right treatment.
Regarding the pathogenesis, oilitis is related to three main factors including increased sebum secretion, the development of Malassezia fungus and inflammatory reactions. Scratching a lot can damage the scalp, making the disease worse.
Pelvicle treatment should be based on the pathogenesis, including antifungal, anti-inflammatory, sebum secretion control and skin protection barrier recovery. According to studies, treatment shampoo is the most commonly used method, accounting for about 58% in pelvicle control, some active ingredients will be effective in reducing fungus and improving symptoms," Dr. Uyen Nhi shared.
Studies in Vietnam also show that after 4-8 weeks of using the appropriate product, symptoms of red skin, itching, dandruff and sebum secretion all improve significantly. More than 50% of users rate the effectiveness as good and very good.
Dr. Pham Thi Uyen Nhi recommends that people should not be subjective when prolonged dandruff appears. Choosing suitable products, using them correctly and maintaining periodic treatment is an important factor to control the disease for a long time.
