Is there a link between genetics and dandruff?

White bits in your hair and an inflamed scalp are symptoms of the condition known as dandruff, in which the scalp begins to itch and flake. Numerous factors, such as dry skin and adverse reactions to hair products, can contribute to mild dandruff. But, here’s a fact. Dandruff is not caused due to genetic reasons. There is no link between genetics and dandruff.

Let’s now see the internal causes of dandruff.

What causes dandruff?

What we do know is that there are a number of factors that raise the likelihood of it happening. Its likelihood can be raised by changes in the activity of the sebaceous (oil) glands in the skin, like the rise in sebum production around puberty. 

More men than women may also experience dandruff due to higher sebum levels. The weather can also have an effect; for instance, many people discover that their dandruff worsens during the winter. Pollution and harsh chemicals can also have an effect.

How does fungus affect dandruff?

However, the prevalence of a fungus known as Malassezia is one of the main causes.

Malassezia and scalp health has been linked in numerous studies, with dandruff scalps consistently exhibiting a marked increase in Malassezia abundance.

Like any living thing, Malassezia needs food to survive, and sebum’s saturated fatty acids are one of its favorite sources of nourishment. Therefore, a greasy scalp provides the ideal environment for the growth of Malassezia.

Malassezia disrupts the normal renewal of skin cells when they grow too quickly. White flakes made of clumped-together scalp skin cells are visible. Therefore, current dandruff treatments concentrate on anti-fungal components that aim to eradicate Malassezia.

Bacterial cause for dandruff

The study found that compared to healthy scalps, dandruff-prone scalps had ten times as much Malassezia. However, the study also discovered fresh information on a number of bacterial species outside of its analysis of the fungi community.

Sally, a research scientist at Unilever says, “We discovered that one species, in particular, Staphylococcus capitis, was 100 times more abundant on dandruff-affected scalps.” 

This concludes that the main cause of dandruff is both – Bacteria and fungi.

What is dandruff related to? Is dandruff genetic?

Your skin’s deep glands produce the oils on your scalp, which are vital for maintaining the moisture in your hair and scalp.

Hormones regulate the function of these glands. It’s the reason why many people begin to notice oil during puberty when their hormones start to take over, both on the scalp and other areas of the skin.

You don’t necessarily have dandruff just because you produce scalp oils, even if you have a tendency to overproduce them due to genetics. You also need to be sensitive to oleic acid in order to have dandruff. No matter how much oil you produce, if you’re not, you’ll never have dandruff. One characteristic we can inherit from our parents is sensitivity to the sun. Therefore, dandruff is not actually inherited, but rather some factors that cause it. 

Final Thoughts

It’s not genetics that causes dandruff, rather, it is the hormonal fluctuations, bacterial colonization, and fungal colonization that cause it.

To know how you can treat dandruff in a natural way, explore here.