Key Pharmaceuticals’ survey of more than 1,000 people in Australia with dandruff found 87 percent say the condition negatively impacts their self-confidence, while 76 percent believe it affects their overall health.
Despite this, the Heads Up, Australia! survey found just one in five people across the nation have spoken to a pharmacist about their symptoms.
Encouragingly, the survey showed pharmacists were able to help when people with dandruff spoke with them.
Of those who had consulted a pharmacist, nine in 10 reported the interaction as helpful, with respondents describing pharmacists as empathetic, non-judgemental and easy to talk to.
Speaking with Australian Pharmacy TV at APP 2026 on the Gold Coast last week, Key Pharmaceuticals CEO Meelian Hoh highlighted the broader implications of the findings, noting dandruff is often dismissed as cosmetic despite its real psychosocial impact.
Community pharmacist Trent Playford reinforced the accessibility of pharmacists, emphasising the profession’s role in early intervention, evidence-based advice and appropriate treatment selection.
The research also found many people in Australia delay seeking professional support, often self-managing symptoms for months, and potentially delaying effective relief.
Together, the findings point to a clear opportunity: positioning pharmacy as a first point of care in dandruff management and normalising conversations around scalp health.
