Dandruff—it’s that one hair condition that is constant, whether you are a child or an adult. Whether it’s the embarrassing itchiness in your scalp or the raining down of white flakes on your favourite clothes, there’s nothing pleasant about it. As a matter of fact, it’s rather uncomfortable.
Let’s just say that while dandruff in itself is harmless, it is rather destructive in many other ways. Often described as a fungal inflammation of the scalp that causes excessive oiliness and flakiness, there are several causes of dandruff that can trigger it. And it can vary from person to person, and scalp to scalp. Want to know what might be causing your dandruff? We give you a lowdown on the 10 possible reasons for dandruff.
Cause 1: Irritation Caused By Harsh Products
Ever used a shampoo that contains harsh chemicals? Well, that can be one of the main causes of dandruff. Irritating ingredients can often strip the scalp of its natural oils and lead to a dry and dehydrated scalp. This results in excessive sebum production in the scalp, which can lead to dandruff.
Cause 2: Not Washing Hair Often
Another cause of dandruff could be a buildup of hair products and oil on the scalp. Not washing your hair often can result in this oil attracting dirt, which can lead to dandruff.
Cause 3: Fungal Infections
Another reason why dandruff occurs in the hair can be due to a fungal yeast infection. The yeast fungus, Malassezia, is present in our scalp, and when it gets triggered by factors like heat and moisture, it can get aggravated and lead to dandruff.
Cause 4: Stress
Stress is the biggest bane of everyone’s life and can result in many woes, not only for your hair and skin but for your mind and body too. Stress often causes a hormonal imbalance, which leads to excessive oil production or excessive dryness (depending on the hormone), which then triggers dandruff.
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Cause 5: Diet
A poor diet is one of the major causes of dandruff. Foods that are high in fat content or are highly processed, can impact your skin and scalp health, which can result in dandruff.
Cause 6: The Weather
The heat can aggravate a dandruff-causing microbe malassezia to grow on the scalp. That coupled with sweat (which is a given during hotter months), creates an environment that encourages the bacteria to grow even more. This could be another cause of dandruff.
Cause 7: Excessive Oiliness
When your scalp produces extra oil, it creates a comfortable and homely environment for the fungus to thrive in. This often leads to itching, redness, patchy skin, and of course, flakes. This could be a major reason for dandruff.
Also read, Best Shampoo For You Based On Your Scalp Type
Cause 8: An Allergic Reaction
More often than not, we tend to use your hair care products that don’t agree with our hair and scalp. This can often lead to contact dermatitis, eczema, or psoriasis. Basically, an irritation that can flare up soreness and flakes. If you’re looking to find out the reason for dandruff, then it’s best to investigate the products you’re using and observe how they’re impacting your scalp.
Cause 9: Dry Skin
One of the most common causes of dandruff is dry skin! When the weather is cold outside, the skin (and your scalp) get dehydrated, which then causes flaking to occur. This flakiness is also known as dandruff.
Cause 10: Overuse Of Heat Tools
Everyone loves to style their hair, but did you know that repeated use of heated tools like a hair dryer or a hair iron can dry out the scalp? This can be one of the causes of dandruff. While using a heat protectant protects your hair from damage, it doesn’t prevent the scalp from getting overheated. Therefore it’s best to avoid heat styling whenever possible.
Dandruff is a recurring phenomenon that a lot of people face. While the causes of dandruff may vary, the situation and solutions are pretty much similar. Understanding the reasons for dandruff is the only way one can combat it completely. While it isn’t contagious or life-threatening, this scalp condition can be rather uncomfortable. Therefore it is important to identify it and then find a solution.
The Best Anti-Dandruff Haircare Range To Try
The St. Botanica Anti-dandruff Pre-biotic Scalp Serum is one of the best products to use when you get dandruff. It instantly soothes the itchiness and also works directly on the scalp to clear it of flakes.
The St. Botanica Anti-dandruff Pre-biotic Shampoo also makes the hair and scalp feel fresh, soothed, and clean with every wash. It is a must-have product for fighting dandruff.
Condition your hair and scalp with the St. Botanica Anti-dandruff Pre-biotic Conditioner. It instantly calms itchiness and makes the hair silky smooth.
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