Dandruff Causes & Symptoms – How Knowing Them May Solve Your Problem
Many people are of the thought that dandruff is caused when the scalp goes dry. Well, they are true, but to a little extent. There’s a list of reasons that can be linked with dandruff. Even basic hygiene issues would add up to cause dandruff.
But the fundamental idea of dandruff formation remains the same, i.e., due to dandruff reasons (which can be any), the skin goes dry and the scalp starts shedding skin. As the skin layers regenerate, cells are pushed outward, where they die and peel off. Most people cannot see these skin flakes because they are too tiny.
Certain diseases, however, produce abnormally high cell turnover, particularly in the scalp. It is theorized that skin cells mature and shed in 2-7 days in people with dandruff, compared to roughly a month in people without dandruff. As a result, dead skin cells are shed in big, greasy clumps, resulting in white or grey flakes on the scalp, skin, and clothing.
This blog contains a complete list of dandruff causes.
What Causes Dandruff?
The causes can be segmented into three-
- Oily skin (sebum or sebaceous secretions)
- The metabolic by-product of skin micro-organisms
- Susceptibility to allergy
These are the fundamental reasons why dandruff is caused. The points mentioned below discuss the same.
1. Seborrheic Dermatitis
Seborrheic dermatitis is a common case of multiple skin illness that mostly affects children and young adults, and it typically manifests differently in these two age groups. Seborrheic Dermatitis is most likely caused by an overgrowth of Malassezia yeast (a naturally occurring material in the skin), which causes inflammation and changes in the skin. The disorder is commonly referred to as “cradle cap” in infants and usually resolves on its own. In adults, the illness might improve or worsen over time without treatment. Seborrheic dermatitis is not dangerous to the body or the hair. It is common but not contagious and manifests as red, dry, flaky, itchy skin on the scalp and other parts of the body.
It occurs on the skin part that is most oily (in this case, on the scalp). This may affect adults and infants. In infants, it forms yellow scales on the head, which on scratching causes inflammation. It may be triggered by some infections, genes, inflammatory reactions, cold climates, use of alcohol lotions, or stress.
2. Contact Dermatitis
It is a type of skin rash that crops up on the skin when touched or is prone to infections. The scalp in this condition turns red, itchy, dry, scaly, and inflamed. It may be caused by a reaction to hair dyes or overuse of heat on hair (e.g., straighteners) and medications that are applied to the skin.
3. Dry Skin
In this condition, the scalp may be more itchy and scaly. So, when the skin is dry, the basic suggestion is to use oil on the scalp. Excess oil, on the other hand, promotes dandruff, while a lack of moisture causes a dry scalp. Skin cells can accumulate on your scalp if you have too much oil on them. Your scalp may be red, oily, or scaly.
The scales flake off easily, and dandruff emerges. Dandruff appears as larger, flaky bits of dry skin flaking off your scalp. Furthermore, dry skin can be the result of an underlying condition like psoriasis, tinea capitis, actinic keratosis, etc.
3. Bad Shampooing Habits
Shampoo’s purpose is to eliminate excess oil, dirt, and product buildup. Most of these things may be removed with a simple rinse, and excess buildup should be washed away with shampoo every second or third day. Otherwise, you will dry out the hair and scalp by removing the oils that keep everything nourished and healthy. Your skin is flaking and your hair is wilting at this point.
If you don’t shampoo frequently enough, the filth and hair products will choke off the good skin cells and hair follicles. You’ll have flaky skin and oily hair before you know it.
4. Sex
Androgen hormones, such as testosterone, enhance sebaceous gland activity. More oil increases the likelihood of an inflammatory reaction and dandruff. Dandruff affects men more frequently than women.
5. Weakened Immune System
People with weakened immune systems, such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, alcoholic pancreatitis, and others, are more likely to get dandruff.
6. Neurological and Psychiatric Conditions
Among the illnesses that increase one’s risk of dandruff include Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, traumatic brain injury, and spinal cord injury. Those suffering from Parkinson’s disease, for example, have a weakened autonomic nervous system, which aids in the control of things like oil gland secretions, which can contribute to an overproduction of dandruff.
7. Skin Disorders
If an individual has any type of skin disorder like eczema, rosacea, psoriasis, acne, etc., it can trigger dandruff and itchy symptoms.
Symptoms of Dandruff
- Skin flakes that range in size from little and white to huge, oily, and yellow.
- Itchy flaking on the scalp or brows, as well as around the hairline, ears, or nose, or in the center of the chest or back
Wrapping Up
Dandruff is common, but the reason can be different for every individual. It becomes important to identify the root cause of the condition when the treatment needed is permanent. Even stress can be a cause, metabolic conditions can be a cause, etc. What’s needed is the identification of the same.
We hope that the above information was useful. To get the complete details on dandruff, do visit our blog site.
