Dandruff is caused by a naturally-occurring microbe on the scalp called Malassezia globosa.
The microbe produces oleic acid – something 50% of the world’s population is sensitive to.
If you’re in that group, your body responds by showing the symptoms of dandruff:
- dry scalp
- itchy scalp
- dandruff
Dandruff can occur in anyone, at any age and is not the result of poor hygiene.
It’s a completely treatable condition and can be managed with the right shampoo.
Watch the video below with science YouTuber Veritasium to learn why you have dandruff and what might be causing it.
How to treat dandruff
The good news is dandruff is very easy to treat – all you need is to replace your regular shampoo with a proven anti-dandruff shampoo.
The best ones tackle:
• the symptoms of dandruff – dryness, redness, flakes and irritation, to relieve scalp
• the root cause – dandruff, so it doesn’t come back
Our Classic Clean Shampoo is specially formulated with a unique form of the active ingredient, Zinc Pyrithione (ZPT) – which has been clinically proven to fight the root cause of dandruff, and not just its symptoms.
Could your flakes be something else
Flakes are the most visible sign of dandruff – but they may also be a sign of something else.
For example Seborrheic Dermatitis has almost identical symptoms like flaking, dryness and itching.
It does tend to be more severe and can affect parts of the body other than the scalp so that’s a good way to check.
Scalp Psoriasis too is easily confused with dandruff. However, there are some key differences here too such as flakes that appear more silvery and scaly, a greater severity, and skin redness which may extend beyond the hairline.
A convenient way to see if dandruff treatment helps your condition is to use Head & Shoulders exclusively for 3 weeks, making sure you shampoo at least 3 times per week.
If it’s dandruff, you should see your symptoms improve. If they don’t, contact your doctor or dermatologist who’ll help you identify the right cause and treatment.
For lasting dandruff control and prevention, use Head & Shoulders shampoo regularly.
To treat seborrheic dermatitis, try Head & Shoulders Clinical Strength seborrheic dermatitis shampoo.
More about the causes of dandruff
