The Different Types of Dandruff You Can Find on Your Scalp
Dandruff is one of the most embarrassing hair-related issues one can suffer from. It is also one of the most common conditions that cause the skin on your scalp to flake and the reason why many people actively search for dandruff treatment. Have you ever had those days where you just couldn’t wear your black outfit due to white flakes of dandruff prominently showing? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Dandruff affects 50% of adults worldwide!
If you are suffering from dandruff, you can tell if you spot white flakes on your scalp made up of dead skin. It can also spread through your hair, and you can spot it clinging to your strands. Some symptoms can be an itchy scalp, greasy or dry scales, or you may find yellow or reddish raised bumps on your scalp in more extreme cases. Anti-dandruff shampoo may help in mild cases but not so much for extreme conditions.
Dandruff may be caused by issues such as:
Age
Many people often suffer from dandruff at around 20 years of age; it also becomes less prevalent for people over 50 years of age.
Gender
Testosterone and stimulate activity in the sebaceous glands can increase oil production, which can cause an inflammatory response leading to dandruff. This is why men are more affected by dandruff than women.
Hygiene Habits
People who are at risk for dandruff and who wash their hair infrequently can worsen the condition. When you take breaks for washing your hair, the oil on your scalp can build and lead to dandruff.
Now that we know all about dandruff and its various causes, it is time to talk about the different types of dandruff.
The symptoms of this issue can range from yellow patches on your scalp to itching and greasy hair. Your body can sometimes produce excess sebum, which is the natural oil produced by sebaceous glands. Although an average amount of sebum is actually good and can help moisturise your hair, the problem arises when the amount increases. This leads to sebum mixing with dirt and dead skin cells to form dandruff.
There are many reasons that could lead to a dry scalp. It can flare up during extremely cold weather or irregular shampooing. It is also known that people with curly hair may suffer from dry scalp issues as well. Dandruff can flare up because of dry scalp, and you may get a feeling of tightness on your scalp along with white and dry flakes in your hair.
We all know that using too many products for your hair can be harmful, but do you know why? Using too many products to style your hair can cause them to accumulate on your scalp, which can combine with dirt and dead skin cells to form dandruff. This could also eventually lead to hair loss. The products include gels, serums, mousses, or hair sprays.
Seborrheic Dermatitis is a chronic skin condition that can cause inflammation. It is not just restricted to your scalp but can also affect other parts of your body such as your face, neck, behind the ears, and eyebrows. Factors such as stress and hormonal imbalances could also trigger this condition. The symptoms of this are redness, irritation, scaly patches, white or yellow dandruff flakes.
You may have heard of psoriasis before - it is a chronic skin condition where your immune system attacks healthy skin tissues. This causes new skin cells to rapidly produce before the old dead skin cells can flake off. Symptoms for this are redness, mild itching, silver scary patches and thick white huge flakes on your scalp.
Malassezia globosa fungus is a fungal infection that rapidly spreads when your scalp produces excess oil or has a pH imbalance. This type of dandruff is highly contagious and can spread when people share items such as towels, hats, or combs. Malassezia produces oleic acid, which increases the turnover of skin cells causes dandruff.
An embarrassing condition and potential to deter you from wearing black clothing items! Dandruff is more common than one might think, but the reasons behind this issue can vary. Depending on the issue, mild problems such as an oily or dry scalp can be treated with dandruff shampoos. If the type of dandruff you are suffering from is the more severe kind, it is recommended to visit a specialist.
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