Those dry, white or grey flakes of skin found on the scalp and in your hair may be harmless, but they can be particularly irritating and unsightly – especially if you’re a lifelong dandruff sufferer. Even if you’ve spent time (and plenty of money) on the best dandruff treatments around, soothing your scalp and removing those troublesome flakes isn’t easy.
Dandruff is persistent and causes more problems than you might suspect, but could it be a cause of hair loss or thinning? In this blog post, we separate the fact from the fiction to answer that very question!
Myth: Dandruff directly causes hair loss
This is simply not true. There is no evidence that dandruff directly causes hair loss. In fact, unlike hair loss, which carries an increased risk the older you get, the development of dandruff decreases as we age.
Fact: Dandruff symptoms CAN affect scalp health
Before you rule out dandruff as a cause of hair loss completely, it is important to acknowledge that certain symptoms caused by dandruff can negatively impact scalp health and impair hair growth.
While dandruff can occur due to several underlying conditions (including ringworm, eczema, contact dermatitis, psoriasis and cradle cap), it is most commonly caused by an overgrowth of a type of yeast already found in small quantities on the scalp called malassezia furfur.
The malassezia yeast triggers seborrheic dermatitis and other skin changes, along with various symptoms, including itchiness, inflammation, scaling and scalp rash. These irritating symptoms can have longer term, more damaging consequences as Verywell Health explains:
“Hair thinning and hair loss can occur with seborrheic dermatitis. This can happen when irritation and inflammation from the increased sebum production cause itchiness, prompting scratching that can damage hair follicles. The damage to the follicles can obstruct natural hair growth and lead to hair loss.”
Myth: Dandruff is something you have to learn to live with
While there is no permanent solution for remedying dandruff, there are several tactics you can use to keep flakes and other symptoms under control. Many people experience dandruff in flare-ups, with stress, poor diet and excessive cleansing of the scalp common triggers.
Finding your triggers and taking preventative steps can reduce flare-ups and keep dandruff at bay. If poor diet is your trigger, you’ll want to read our guide to eating your way to better hair health.
Fact: Hydration is the key to a dandruff-free scalp
Another way to reduce the presence and appearance of dandruff is by adding moisture. Whether you choose to do that using a medicated shampoo or a more natural, antifungal, anti-dandruff treatment (like coconut oil) is up to you.
As well as adding moisture to keep your scalp hydrated, avoiding irritating ingredients that are commonly found in hair products can also help ease symptoms. Fragrance (both natural and artificial), bleach, detergents and formaldehyde can cause the irritation and inflammation that result in worsening symptoms in dandruff sufferers.
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