Find out how dandruff is caused with our quick guide to all the elements which combine to cause flaking.
Watch the video below with science YouTuber Veritasium to learn why you have dandruff and what might be causing it.
Dandruff is caused by a naturally occurring microbe, Malassezia globosa, which is present on everyone’s scalp.
This microbe causes dandruff by producing irritants which trigger a response in dandruff sufferers, leading to flaking.
Here’s how it works
- Oleic acid is produced as Malassezia globosa breaks down natural oils known as sebum on your scalp and inyour hair
- Your scalp becomes irritated if you’re sensitive to oleic acid – around 50% of the population are – leading toitching, dryness and redness
- Your skin cells work overtime, reproducing quicker than before, increasing their turnover rate in an attempt to ‘shed’ the irritant
- The excess skin cells gather on the surface of the scalpand appear as white flakes in your hair and on your scalp
This process is behind the development of all our anti-dandruff shampoos.
Not only do they clean deeply to get rid of excess oils, they also work to help tackle the root cause of dandruff to prevent it comingback.
So use it regularly and you can help get rid of flakes as well as prevent them from coming back.
Choose your anti-dandruff shampoo.
What causes dandruff flare-ups?
There’s only one cause of dandruff, but it has been shown that it can appear worse at some times compared to others.
That’s because there are a number of different factors which can exacerbate a problem or make it seem worse. These include:
These don’t cause the problem, but can make it seem worse at certain times of the year or when doing particular activities like sports.
More about external factors and dandruff