Which age group and gender is most affected by dandruff?

Seborrheic Dermatitis (SD) and dandruff are both symptoms of the same disease that affects the seborrheic areas of the body. Dandruff is limited to the scalp and is characterised by itchy, flaking skin with no visible inflammation. SD can affect the scalp as well as other seborrheic areas, causing itchy, flaking, or scaling skin, as well as inflammation and pruritus. SD and dandruff are estimated to affect 50 per cent of the adult population. Sebaceous secretions, skin surface fungal colonisation, individual susceptibility, and interactions between these factors all contribute to the pathogenesis of SD and dandruff.

The Malassezia globosa microbe, which lives naturally on the scalp, is the primary cause of dandruff. Around 50% of people worldwide are sensitive to the oleic acid that this microbe converts from your scalp oils. The scalp produces an excess of skin cells as a result of increasing cell turnover to shed the irritant. This results in visible flakes that are recognised as dandruff.

When Does Dandruff Start Appearing?

Because hormones regulate oil production, hormonal changes can increase the number of oils and thus oleic acid on the scalp, causing dandruff. This means that dandruff is more likely to occur during adolescence when hormones are raging. Having dandruff hair in your teens does not guarantee that you will have it for the rest of your life, but it may indicate a recurring problem. Similarly, if you don’t get dandruff as a teenager, you might get it for the first time later in life. 

Dandruff Mechanism

The dandruff scale is a cluster of corneocytes that have retained a high degree of cohesion with each other and detach from the stratum corneum’s surface as a result. A corneocyte is a protein complex composed of tiny keratin threads arranged in an organised matrix. Scale size and abundance vary from one location to the next and over time. Dandruff is frequently composed of parakeratotic cells. Their numbers are proportional to the severity of clinical manifestations, which may be influenced by seborrhea.

The Epidemiology

Dandruff is caused by a naturally occurring microbe on the scalp, and both men and women suffer from it. You may not see as many flakes, but this is likely due to having longer hair, which makes them less visible than in men with shorter hair. However, the damage to your scalp and hair remains, so it’s critical to treat dandruff as soon as it appears. Even if you don’t see any flakes, you may still experience other symptoms such as itching and dryness.

SD is a commonly diagnosed disorder all over the world. Its prevalence is highest during three age groups: the first three months of life, puberty, and adulthood, with a peak between the ages of 40 and 60. In babies up to three months old, SD affects the face and the scalp. The prevalence can reach 42%. SD affects the scalp and other seborrheic areas on the face, upper chest, axillae, and inguinal folds in adolescents and adults. The prevalence is estimated to be 1-3% of the general adult population. Men are affected more frequently than women (3.0% vs. 2.6%) across all age groups, implying that SD is linked to sex hormones like androgens. There were no discernible differences in SD incidence between ethnic groups.

In comparison to SD, dandruff is much more common, affecting approximately 50% of the global adult population.Men experience it more frequently than women do. Dandruff hair appears during puberty, peaks in incidence and severity around the age of 20, and becomes less common in people over 50. In a study conducted in the United States and China, dandruff prevalence was 81-95% in African Americans, 66-82% in Caucasians, and 30-42% in Chinese.

The Bottom Line

Dandruff treatment should become a regular part of your routine, rather than an occasional treat. This is because dandruff is a recurring condition caused by your skin sensitivity. Clinical studies have repeatedly shown that adopting a healthy lifestyle is the best way to keep your scalp healthy. One can also take the help of ayurveda and get cured of dandruff. In the upcoming blogs, we will also discuss healthy lifestyle changes that will help to cure dandruff. So, stay connected with us.