Have you noticed your head has been a little... itchy lately?
Dandruff is a common condition that causes the skin on the scalp to flake. Although the condition could feel a bit embarrassing and may be difficult to treat, it’s treatable, non contagious and non serious.
While stress, product build up and environmental factors can cause a flaky scalp, there's also another lesser known cause of dandruff — a microbe called Malassezia globosa. It's present on everyone's scalps, but as it breaks down sebum, it produces acid as a by-product, which can cause flare ups in some people. This is why people with oily scalp tend to be more prone to dandruff, since more oil means more work for the Malassezia globosa, and therefore more irritating acid.
Although both have pretty similar symptoms such as the loose flakes and itchy scalp, dandruff and dry scalp usually have different causes, which means treatment can be different. Dandruff is related to seborrheic dermatitis, while dry scalp is simply your skin losing too much water when your body is dehydrated. Some harsher hair products can also strip the scalp of its natural oils. Living in a cold and dry climate can also exacerbate dry scalp and dandruff.
is a good first port of call, to cleanse your scalp and deter the acid from occurring. Mélanie Froliger, Clinical Study Manager, Hair Expert for Pierre Fabre Laboratories tells GLAMOUR: “For hair/scalp with dandruff: use an anti-dandruff and soothing shampoo for the scalp 2 to 3 times a week in two stages.
Trichologist Dr Marie Drago Time agrees, adding: “Zinc Pyrithione used to be the most used anti-dandruff ingredient, as it was a cheap and effective antifungal. It’s just been banned by the EU, which means loads of brands are reformulating. Maybe it is the perfect time to look for new solutions to this old problem.”Take the same care of your scalp like you would the skin of your face. Ultimately the scalp is an extension of the forehead, so skincare shouldn’t stop at the hairline.