Is Dandruff Worse During Menopause?
In this article you will learn that menopause can exacerbate dandruff due to declining estrogen levels affecting the skin, including the scalp. The microbe Malassezia globosa, which feeds on scalp oils and produces skin-irritating compounds, is the primary cause of dandruff. Menopause causes skin to become thinner, drier, and less effective as a barrier, making it more susceptible to dandruff. Using an anti-dandruff shampoo like Head & Shoulders can help manage these symptoms during menopause.
During menopause we see significant changes in our skin. And due to the declining estrogen levels that cause other skincare concerns, this could also cause dandruff.
The reason for this is that our scalp is skin, too. That means it’s affected by the hormonal change that you’d see on your face or skin on the rest of your body.
It also helps to understand what causes dandruff in the first place.
WHAT CAUSES DANDRUFF?
The single-celled microbe, Malassezia globosa, is the main culprit.
It exists on everyone’s scalp and 50% of people have a negative reaction to its presence on their skin, which causes dandruff.
Basically, the oils on your scalp are fuel for the dandruff-causing microbe. Malassezia digests them and produces oleic acid and other skin-disrupting compounds.
This is where the dandruff starts.
WHAT DOES MENOPAUSE DO TO OUR SKIN?
The hormonal changes in our bodies cause our skin to produce less collagen. The hydrophilic (water-attracting) compounds inside of our skin cells also decrease, and our skin has less blood flow.
These changes mean that menopause makes skin:
thinner
drier
less effective at being a protective barrier
more sensitive to discomfort
and slower to heal
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR DANDRUFF?
You could experience a bigger dandruff problem during the menopause.
Our skin becomes more vulnerable to Malassezia, because it’s thinner and less effective at keeping out harmful substances. This also means that these substances and the Malassezia bother the skin more than usual.
Both menopause and dandruff cause dry skin on their own. When these two factors combine, your skin becomes especially dry.
Finally, menopause slows down the skin’s ability to heal from damage. This makes our skin less able to defend itself against the environment and makes it more likely that you’ll suffer from a dandruff flare-up during menopause.
WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT DANDRUFF DURING MENOPAUSE?
Whether you’ve been going through the menopause for some time, or if it’s only a recent new chapter in your life, don’t despair because we have a simple solution for you: the right anti-dandruff shampoo.
You don’t need to abandon your dreams of having smooth, silky flake-free* hair – even during the menopause.
Head & Shoulders Silky Smooth shampoo helps protect your skin from harmful substances, so that it can restore its healthy balance.
In fact, regular use of Head & Shoulders not only takes care of flakes, it’s also clinically proven to decrease skin stress, increase moisturization, and help strengthen skin to become a better barrier. This helps you to achieve heathier skin and hair during the changes of menopause.
*visible flakes, with regular use
FAQ
Yes, dandruff can become more common during menopause due to hormonal changes that make the skin thinner, drier, and more susceptible to irritation.
The primary cause of dandruff is the microbe Malassezia globosa, which feeds on scalp oils and can cause irritation, especially when the skin is more vulnerable due to menopause-related changes.
Using an anti-dandruff shampoo like Head & Shoulders can help manage dandruff symptoms during menopause by reducing flakes and improving scalp health.
