Page Header Page Content Page Footer
Enable Javascript
  • Part of the P&G family
  • Pantene
  • Herbal Essences
  • Aussie
  • Olay
  • P&G Beauty
English - English
Please select a location
  • North America
  • USA - English
  • USA - Español
  • Canada - English
  • Canada - Français
  • Latin America
  • Español
  • Português
  • Asia
  •  中文
  • India - English
  • Indonesia - Bahasa Indonesia
  • 日本語
  • Pakistan - English
  • Philippines - English
  • ไทย
  • Tiếng Việt
  • Australia & New Zealand - English
  • Europe
  • English United -
  • Deutsch
  • Français
  • русский
  • Italiano
  • Español
  • Nederlands
  • Polska
  • Português
  • Limba Română
  • Vlaams
  • Middle East
  • الجزائر
  • Français
  • English
  • עברי
  • Türkçe
  • South Africa - English
Contact Us
Head & Shoulders Dandruff Shampoo
GO
  • Shop Products
    • DAILY SCALP &
       HAIR CARE
      • Daily scalp and hair care
    • FOR HIM
    • FOR HER
      • For Her
    • EXPLORE THE RANGE
    • Shop by Type
      • Dandruff Shampoo
      • Dandruff 2-in-1
      • Dandruff Conditioner
      • Where to buy
    • View All Products
  • SCALP CARE
      • DANDRUFF
      • Itchy Scalp
      • SCALP CONCERNS
      • Severe Scalp
      • SCALP CONDITIONS
  • BEAUTIFUL HAIR
      • HAIR TYPES
      • HAIR NEEDS
      • ROUTINE
  • What's New
  • Clinically Proven Solution
    • EXPLORE THE RANGE
  • ABOUT
  • Home |
  • Scalp Care |
  • Dandruff |
  • Symptoms of Dandruff |
  • Symptoms of Dandruff Explained: Flakes
Print This

Symptoms of Dandruff Explained: Flakes

Recommended 4 Times Recommend This

EMAIL THISmail

Share This By E-Mail

Symptoms of Dandruff Explained: Flakes

There are # error(s) on this page.
Email Service Unavailable
   
   
   
   
Send
CANCEL

E-MAIL SENT SUCCESSFULLY

Your email has been successfully sent to the recipent.

Continue

One of the most telling signs of dandruff is visible flakes. Find out why these flakes occur and how to keep your dandruff from coming back.

What is dandruff?

A condition affecting the hair and scalp, dandruff flakes are experienced by almost 50% of people in the world.

How dandruff starts

  1. A naturally occurring microbe on the scalp feeds on natural oils called sebum
  2. This process produces oleic acid
  3. If you are sensitive to oleic acid (and 1 in 2 people are!), your body will react by displaying symptoms of dandruff 

What are flakes?

Everyone’s skin cells go through a natural life cycle where eventually they die, and our bodies shed them. However, dandruff causes an increased shedding of these cells.

Malassezia globosa is a yeast-like microbe, which is found on everyone’s scalp. If you’re sensitive to the oleic acid it produces, then your scalp becomes irritated.

Your body’s natural response to this irritation is to increase the rate at which the skin cells on the scalp are produced. It’s although your body is trying to shed the irritant.

This leads to the visible flakes you see on your head and shoulders, which are often accompanied by other symptoms of dandruff.

The common symptoms of dandruff

You may experience one or more of the following symptoms in addition to flakes:

  • dry scalp 
  • itchy scalp 
  • redness 
  • irritation
  • tight feeling of the scalp

The most effective way to get rid of flakes1 is to use a shampoo that fights the root cause of dandruff.

We recommend our Classic Clean Shampoo for fighting flakes and all the signs of dandruff, including irritation, dryness and itchiness.

For extra care, try our Nourishing Hair & Scalp Care Shampoo, which nurtures hair with naturally derived ingredients and has a rich lather that leaves behind the fresh scent of lavender.

It keeps your hair looking healthy, silky, and up to 100% dandruff free1.

Watch the video below to learn more about the science behind dandruff with YouTuber Veritasium:

Read more about the symptoms of dandruff

1 visible flakes with regular use

Related Products

  • Classic Clean Shampoo
    Quick View

    Classic Clean Shampoo

    Rating Stars Off
    Rating Stars On
    ( 3319 )
    £2.99-£4.99 MSRP
    Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price
  • Classic Clean Conditioner
    Quick View

    Classic Clean Hair Conditioner

    £4.99 MSRP
    Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price
  • Classic Clean 2-in-1
    Quick View

    Classic Clean 2in1 Shampoo

    Rating Stars Off
    Rating Stars On
    ( 445 )
    £2.99-£4.99 MSRP
    Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price

Related Articles

What Are Dandruff Flakes and How to Spot Them

What Causes Dandruff Flakes?

Dandruff Symptoms: The Early Warning Signs

bestsellingnew

DISCOVER
  • Connect With Us
  • Connect with us on Facebook
  • Connect with us on YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Shop Products
  • Shampoo
  • Conditioner
  • 2-in-1
  • Shop All Products
  • About H&S
  • ApartButTogether
  • About
  • Our history
  • Our philosophy
  • Sustainability
  • Our ingredients
  • Open science
  • Safety
  • FAQ
  • Vouchers & Offers
  • Head & Shoulders Vouchers
  • Help & Support
  • Contact Us
  • Collections
  • Apple Fresh
  • Citrus Fresh
  • Classic Clean
  • Cool Menthol
  • Deep Hydration
  • Instant Dry Scalp
  • Itchy Scalp
  • Sensitive Scalp
  • Smooth & Silky
  • Suprême
  • Thick & Strong
  • Related P&G Products:
  • Pantene
  • |
  • Herbal Essences
  • |
  • Aussie
  • |
  • Olay
  • Privacy
  • About Cookies
  • Site Map
  • Terms & Conditions
  • © 2021 Procter & Gamble
Scalp Analysis 
Scalp Analysis 
Sunday Haircare Routine