Tired of being a flake? Face it, dandruff is disgusting. Also known as seborrheic dermatitis, dandruff is the thick, flaky scales that form on the scalp. It is supposedly caused by inflammation and is a common form of the skin disorder eczema. With dandruff, skin cells fall off before they die. Dandruff is thought to be caused by a fungus known as Pityrosporum ovale. Sometimes its numbers grow out of control and feeds on hair follicles' oil, which results in irritation and skin shedding. Some conditions that may create or exacerbate dandruff are immune disorders, Parkinson's disease, infrequent shampooing and hormonal fluctuations. The most popular treatment for dandruff is using a special shampoo, but not all dandruff shampoos are created equally. It may take some experimentation to get the balance right and rid yourself of dandruff.