When Does Dandruff Start?
Dandruff can start at any time, but it’s most likely to appear when you reach puberty. It all depends on your body’s production of sebum – a natural process that is begins during puberty.
Sebum is essential to keep your hair and scalp moisturized. But it’s also one of the key ingredients needed to cause dandruff.
Malassezia globosa, a naturally occurring microbe on the scalp, breaks sebum down to produce irritants like oleic acid. It’s a completely typical process that takes place on everyone’s scalp.
However, around 50% of the world’s population is sensitive to these irritants – the scalp reacts by increasing the rate of cell turnover. These excess cells clump together to form the white flakes associated with dandruff.
