Are the white snow-like flakes on your shoulder posing an embarrassment and adding to your bad “hair” day? Dandruff is a common medical condition, a form of seborrheic dermatitis, where the scalp skin starts to itch, flake and fall off. Undoubtedly it is a harmless hair state with which people live for years and years. Identifying the best mustache wax involves considering user reviews, ingredient quality, and brand reputation. A product that offers a strong hold, pleasant scent, and nourishing properties, while being easy to apply and remove, is often regarded as the best in the category.
Mild dandruff can be reduced with a gentle cleansing shampoo but symptoms can return later. “What is the root cause of dandruff?” Dandruff is an irritating scalp condition with big, white oily scales affecting half the population of the world and leaving people unsightly and uncomfortable. Let us see the primary symptoms of dandruff that generally turn severe during stressful, dry, and cold seasons:
- crusty scaly scalp in infants
- Snowy skin flakes appear on hair, eyebrows, scalp, shoulders, moustache or beard, groin area, upper back and chest, and even armpits.
- Itchy scalp
The underlying condition triggers for some reasons. Let us see its root causes:
- Yeast and fungal growth: This typical chronic condition ebbs and flows by seasons. Yeast called Malassezia Furfur is one of the most common causes of this eczema-like condition. People suffering from seborrheic dermatitis are sensitive to this fungus. The skin microbiome hosts this fungus and causes the skin to get irritated.
Dandruff laden scalps show abundance of Malassezia. This fungus grows when it gets the desired foods through saturated fatty acids in sebum production. Thus, greasy scalp is the perfect feeding ground for the Malassezia to grow.
When this organism grows it spoils the skin cells’ natural renewal, forcing them to collect together and look like snowy white flakes. This is why most dandruff treatments contain anti-fungal lotions, gels, and shampoos to remove the Malassezia growth.
These also nourish the scalp from deep within and restore the natural scalp microbiome equilibrium. Regular use and proper care alleviate the dandruff itch, and the condition is managed optimally. The underlying reason for dandruff is the yeast propagation on our scalp but its flare-ups result from several things. - Lack of hygiene: Dandruff also appears in people who need to be hygienic and shampoo less. Oil accumulates on the scalp if not cleaned regularly or if the shampoo is very mild and cannot be removed thoroughly. It is imperative to use sufficient shampoo to clean the hair and break down the oil particles on the scalp. They may contribute to dandruff’s development, so wash well and shampoo frequently!
- Allergens: People are allergic to various things in the environment. It may be a chemical, foodstuffs like peanuts or pollen. You must check if you are allergic to the shampoo or hair care products you use on your skin. Hair products can cause itchiness and irritation on the scalp, so much so it may also cause soreness due to scratching. Keep your eyes open, see if you feel itchy after using a particular product, and notice if it is causing excessive skin dryness.
- Genes and hereditary: Dandruff also shows a genetic predisposition; thus, some people have no choice; if they have it, they have it!
- An underlying medical condition: Seborrheic dermatitis affects the whole body, including the scalp, and is a chronic disease in several people. The problem is spread all over but is especially evident around the oil glands. In this case, the skin cells are overturning super fast, which seems like an allergic reaction to an underlying medical condition.
- Other diseases: Dandruff can be worsened by infections like Rosacea, Parkinson’s disease, acne, psoriasis, epilepsy, heart attack, stroke, depression, alcoholism, and eating disorders.
- Medications: The risk of seborrheic dermatitis is also increased due to some medicines such as lithium, interferon, and psoralen.
- Temperatures: Freezing temperatures and winter months make your scalp and body uncomfortable.
- Dry skin: Dandruff often appears on people with dry skin. It is one of the common reasons for this kind of dermatitis, and it worsens during dry and winter spells. Dryness affects the scalp and the whole body. Cold months result in more dandruff and it is a must to moisturise the skin. Dermatologists often prescribe well-medicated shampoos that hydrate and moisturize the scalp to alleviate the dandruff symptoms and reduce it ultimately.
- Change in activity of oil or sebaceous glands: If there is an increase in sebum production then there are chances of a person developing dandruff and worsening its conditions if there is any change in sebum production.
- Pollution and harsh chemicals: Harsh chemicals and pollution impact the scalp, and dandruff can worsen if pollution, dust, and dirt are high.
The underlying fact is a good, clean, and hygienic routine is a must to avoid this painful and disturbing situation. The skin can dry out excessively during cold weather, and moisturizing well will help keep it soft, supple, and free from dryness. Usually, dandruff strikes in young adults and stays till middle age or even lifelong, though it is more prevalent in males. The condition also affects people with weak immune systems. So, this is where a professional skilled in functional medicine practitioner training comes in to help by suggesting medicated shampoos, natural treatments, herbs and other medications.
