Dandruff decoded: Find out the truth about dandruff in our handy guide
Dandruff: Nip the common hair woe in the bud with our full guide.
Many women (and men) experience dandruff at some point in their lives. Whether its genetics, your hair care routine or brought on as a side effect of other skin conditions, dandruff is one of those hair woes nobody like to have.
So if dandruff has become the bane of your life, or you just want to be ready for when it rears its ugly head, you’ve come to the right place. Below we’ve pulled together all the need-to-know details about dandruff so you can recognise, treat and manage your mane.
Dandruff 101: All you need to know about dandruff
What is dandruff?
Dandruff is one of the most common skin conditions that often causes yellow or grey flakes to appear on the scalp and in the hair, and can cause the scalp to feel itchy.
These flakes can become more noticeable when they fall from your scalp onto your shoulders and clothing, which can lead to embarrassment. But it’s important to state that dandruff isn’t contagious or even harmful, just a nuisance.
What causes dandruff?
Dandruff is caused when your scalp begins to over produce sebum and of an overgrowth of a yeast-like fungus called malessezia. This yeast feeds on the sebum and dead skin cells on your scalp, thus causing the skin renewal process to speed up.
It is the combination of these elements that lead to the visible flakes or clumps that appear on your scalp and hair. Many may believe that dandruff is caused by not washing hair regularly enough, though this is not the case; dandruff may sometimes just be more obvious on unwashed tresses.
It is also worth noting that although stress, a weakened immune system, and other existing skin conditions can make you more predisposed to dandruff, these are not causes.
Signs & symptoms of dandruff
One of the first signs that you have dandruff (even before flakes begin to appear) is the scalp feeling itchy. This can sometimes be deceiving and lead you to think you only have a dry scalp.
Telling the difference between a dry scalp and dandruff, however, can be a little tricky. Those who suffer from dandruff will notice yellow or grey like flakes, as opposed to white flakes which appear on dry scalps.
How to manage dandruff
By keeping hair clean you can help eliminate the appearance of flakes. The first step we would suggest is to replace your current wash and care system to a medicated shampoo designed to help treat and get rid of dandruff.
However, if dandruff is still an issue, we would also recommend visiting your local GP to seek guidance.
Now you are clued up with dandruff, head on over to our Hair Care page for further hair advice. With everything from establishing your hair porosity to finding the best hair mask for split ends, we have it all covered, plus so much more!
