Believe it or not, roughly half of the global population will suffer from dandruff at some point in their lives. Dandruff is a skin condition that causes the scalp to become quite itchy and create small white or yellow flakes.
While dandruff isn’t a life-threatening condition, many of those who have it will attest to the fact that it causes a good deal of discomfort, irritation, and even embarrassment.
Due to the relative popularity of the condition, the question naturally arises as to what actually causes a person to have it? Keep reading and will lay out the top five causes of dandruff.
Oily and Irritated Skin
Seborrheic dermatitis, otherwise known as irritated and oily skin, is actually the most common cause of dandruff. The condition not only causes dandruff, but it can also present itself as red marks on the skin and scaly patches. The ailment can also surface on other parts of the body such as the face and chest.
Thankfully, Seborrhoea dermatitis can be corrected using an anti-fungal cream and medicated shampoo. In more severe cases, a prescribed cream may be necessary. So it’s important to contact a licensed physician.
Dry Skin
While this is not the most common cause of dandruff, it is perhaps the most widely known. A person with dry skin is usually not adequately moisturising their scalp with oils, conditioners, or various other health and beauty products.
However, if dandruff is caused by dry skin, usually a few good scalp massages and some hair products will help stop the flaking and itching.
A Specialised Fungus
Malassezia is a yeast-like fungus that grows on everyone’s scalp. However, nearly half of the world population has a negative reaction to the fungus, and that reaction presents itself as dandruff and/or a host of other skin conditions.
In treating dandruff due to a body’s allergic reaction to the fungus, a person may have to combine anti-dandruff shampoos with other prescribed resources.
Sensitivity to Certain Hair Care Products
Some people just have more sensitive skin than others, and that’s okay. Those with more sensitive skin aren’t able to use every hair care product on the market because certain ingredients don’t agree with their scalp.
So for individuals who find their scalp becomes irritated while using specific hair dyes, conditioners, and gels, they may be interested in knowing that dandruff is another reaction.
Also, for those that tend to be a bit more sensitive to certain ingredients, opting for natural products is a great idea.
Lack of Shampooing
While maintaining the hair and scalp’s natural oils is important for growth and health, it’s equally important that a person still regularly use shampoo. Shampooing the scalp will help rid the hair of dead skin sell build-up, dirt, and other unwanted byproducts.
Again, anti-dandruff shampoo can provide an easy fix if a lack of shampooing is the problem.
Can a Person Adequately Combat the Causes of Dandruff?
Simply put, yes. Although in more severe cases, a trip to the dermatologist is a must. As we already pointed out, over-the-counter anti-dandruff shampoos are great a tool to use in combating dandruff and its causes.
Be sure to check out our natural anti-dandruff shampoos.