Dandruff – Common Causes and Risk Factors

Dandruff is a chronic problem of scalp. Itching and flaking of skin are the prevalent symptoms for dandruff. In most of the cases, it has been observed that neither dandruff is contagious nor it is painful, but it is a big botheration and is to be considered as one of the main triggers for hair fall problem.

However, dandruff is treatable and it is possible to prevent dandruff provided we know the general causes for dandruff infection. Therefore knowing the causes is a great natural cure remedy for dandruff control and caring for natural lustrous hair.

Dry skin is one of the main triggers for dandruff problem in our hair. In wintry season, combination of dry air, abrupt difference in room temperature and outside weather and lack of moisture in hair and scalp cause flaky dandruff. Those who have dry skin may suffer from dandruff around the year due to inactivity of natural oil glands on scalp.

Those who have eczema on scalp may develop the problem of dandruff as a side effect of this problem.

Those who do not shampoo at regular interval and indifferent about clean and dirt-free hair, they often suffer from oil and dead cell accumulation on hair roots which ultimately turns into formation of dandruff.

Those who suffer from chronic problem of psoriasis may suffer from the problem of scaly dandruff on the scalp. In this situation dandruff flakes looks like thick scaly flakes.

We commonly assume dandruff as an associated problem of dry scalp. But oily scalp is not spared either. Those who have oily scalp may equally suffer from flaky dandruff due to oil accumulation on the hair roots. This problem of oily skin dandruff is medically termed as seborrheic dermatitis.

Malassezia is a common and apparently skin-friendly fungus. Sometimes its growth gets multiplied and excess growth of this fungus may inflict dandruff problem on affected scalp. However, the reason for Malassezia fungus overgrowth is not clear yet, although it is assumed that ceratin hormonal change and stress have some contributing role in the Malassezia overgrowth issue.

Skin allergy, sensitivity to certain hair care products, and after effect of using certain styling gel etc, may irritate scalp and this irritation may induce the problem of dandruff in it.

Although dandruff may attack any person irrespective of their age and race, male are more vulnerable to dandruff. Otherwise, aging, oily scalp, poor dirt, least concern about healthy hair care, and certain illness issues may initiate dandruff problem on scalp.