Dandruff: Here's the lesser known reason it happens

Having white, flaky dandruff dotting your hair is not something any of us want. Dandruff can happen in spite of using the best ingredient while washing your hair, and even if you take steps to protect your hair when you sleep.

But why does dandruff actually happen? And is it harmful to your health?

A reported by USA Today clarifies the real reason why dandruff actually happens, and it's not what you might expect.

The misconception about dandruff

People tend to associate dandruff with dry scalp. But as per the report, these are two very different conditions: dandruff is not the same as having a dry scalp.

The medical term for dandruff is seborrheic dermatitis. It presents as dry, white flakes which we call dandruff. It can also appear as scaly patches on the skin.

And this condition doesn't only happen on the scalp. Seborrheic dermatitis can appear in the areas of your body that produce a lot of oil. These include the scalp, sides of your nose, eyebrows, ears, and even the chest and the eyelids.

The actual reason you have dandruff

Seborrheic dermatitis (or dandruff) is generally caused by an inflammatory reaction to a yeast. Called, Malassezia furfur, this yeast is present on everyone’s skin. While some people do not have any reaction to this yeast ever, other people might.

Seborrheic dermatitis flares up due to a variety of triggers. One of the most common reason for having dandruff is not shampooing your hair often. This lets the yeast buildup on your scalp, causing the skin to react.

As board-certified dermatologist Dr. Chris Adigun tells USA Today,

Your body gets to the point where it just can’t tolerate [the yeast]. It becomes inflamed and angry. It’s kind of like a friend that you get a little too much of, and you get annoyed at them and snap at them.

The dermatologist recommends a good anti-fungal shampoo for people who suffer from dandruff.

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Sources used:

USA Today: 'The main cause of dandruff is probably not what you think. Here’s what it is.'