What Are The Common Causes Of Dandruff?

causes of dandruff

Dandruff is a condition of the scalp that leads to flakes of skin. In fact, dandruff is a common problem marked by the feeling of itching. Although dandruff is not contagious and is rarely serious, in several cases, it could be embarrassing and not easy to cure.

The good news is that dandruff could be controlled. Those mild cases of this condition might need nothing more than just every shampooing with a gentle cleanser. For those more stubborn cases, people can use medicated shampoos.

The symptoms of dandruff could be easy to spot: oily looking, white flakes of dead skin that dot both of your hair and your shoulders, and a possibly scalp, itchy scalp. The condition might worsen during the winter and fall, when indoor heating could contribute to dry skin and enhance during summer.

In fact, a dry scalp does not lead to dandruff. Some people think that their dandruff is the result of dry scalp. Then, they try to deal with this condition by not washing their hair with daily shampoo or wash it less often, believing that washing can worsen the condition. This is really a myth and not true. Dandruff, in reality, differs from a dry scalp in that it often gets better when you shampoo more regularly with the right shampoos.

It is said that a large number of people with dandruff find their condition improves when they get older. Dandruff tends to be more common in men than in women, and in people with oily skin. There are studies showing that diets that are too sugary, salty, or spicy and accompanied by the overconsumption of alcohol might exacerbate the condition of dandruff. And, fact is, dandruff does not contribute to hair fall.

So, what are the common causes of dandruff? Check out this list to discover the most common causes of this scalp problem. Take a look from VKool.com!

6 Causes Of Dandruff – Top Most Common Triggers

1. Dry Skin

causes of dandruff

When it comes to causes of dandruff, dry skin is the most common. Flakes from dry skin are smaller and less oily than those due to other causes. You will have symptoms of dry skin on many other parts of the body like your arms and legs.

Check out: how to get rid of dry skin

2. Oily, Irritated Skin 

causes of dandruff

Also known as seborrheic dermatitis, this is a skin problem in which a person’s skin becomes flaky or inflamed. Seborrheic dermatitis is considered as a severe case of dandruff. As it impacts the scalp, the majority of people refer to it as dandruff. With babies, it is referred to as the cradle cap condition.

Seborrheic dermatitis could lead to greasier, larger flakes than most other kinds of dandruff. It impacts not only the scalp but the skin in many other parts of the human body, which are rich in oily glands, like the eyebrows, the backs of ears, the groin area, breastbone, the side of your noses, and sometimes the armpits.

3. Not Shampooing Regularly Enough 

causes of dandruff

When you do not regularly wash your hair, oils and dead skin cells from the scalp could build up, leading to dandruff.

4. Many Other Skin Conditions 

causes of dandruff

Those people with skin problems like eczema – a chronic inflammatory skin disease – psoriasis – a skin condition featured by a quick buildup of dry, rough, dead skin cells which create thick scales – might appear to suffer from dandruff.

5. Malassezia (A Yeast-Like Fungus) 

causes of dandruff

Malassezia exists on the adults’ scalp, yet for some, it might irritate the scalp. This could irritate the scalp and lead to more dead skin cells to build up. The addition skin cells die and fall off, thereby making it appear flaky and white in the hair or on the clothes. The reason behind the irritation of scalp due to malassezia is not defined exactly.

Recommend reading: tips to boost hair growth

6. Sensitivity To Certain Hair Care Products 

causes of dandruff

Sometimes, sensitivities to some kind of ingredients in those commercial hair care products could lead to an itchy, red, scaly scalp. Shampooing too regularly or resorting too many kind of styling products also lead to scalp irritation, resulting in dandruff.

In addition to the causes of dandruff above, there are many other factors that make your dandruff condition worse, including:

  • Being male: as more males have dandruff, it is thought that male hormones might play a basic role. Also, males have larger and bigger oil-producing glands on their own scalps, contributing to dandruff.
  • Age: dandruff often starts in young adulthood and keeps continuing through the middle age. However, that does not mean that the older adults do not suffer from dandruff. For many individuals, the issue could be lifelong.
  • Poor diet: once your diet lacks of some certain types of foods, dandruff condition will appear. Those foods include foods high in B vitamins, zinc, or certain kinds of fats.
  • Certain ailments: the reasons might not clear, but adults with neurological ailments, like Parkinson’s disease, tend to be more prone to suffer from seborrheic dermatitis as well as dandruff. On the other hand, people having HIV infection and people recovering from any stressful conditions, especially stroke and heart attack, and people with compromised immune systems might be more likely to develop dandruff.

There you have discovered some of the most common causes of dandruff.  If you suffer from this condition, you should remember that when applying antidandruff shampoos, you had better lather up at least twice and wait for 5 minutes or so, so that it can penetrate your own skin cells.

In case your anti-dandruff shampoo leads to too much of smelling, you had better rinse your hair with lemon juice to remove the smell and buildup.

If you have any idea about this hair care topic, share your thoughts with us by dropping words below this post. We will feedback soon.

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