Dandruff is one of the common complaints that we come across in our daily practice. It leads to dry and flaky skin and makes your scalp itchy. We are sure that every person suffers from this condition at some point in their life. The symptoms are usually itchy, flaky scalp and dry flakes that often fall on your shoulders, face and back.
Causes Of Dandruff
Though causes of dandruff are not yet confirmed but there are theories and factors that experts have spoken extensively related to the possible causes. Let us understand them in details:
Microbial Theory + AJY
Microbial theory is the most widely accepted theory. It states that dandruff is caused due to a microbe, Malassezia Globosa, which is a naturally occurring microbe in everyone’s scalp. The organism is known to feed on sebum (natural scalp oils) which helps the hair and scalp skin to stay well-moisturised.
Once the sebum breaks down, a by-product named oleic acid is produced which most people are sensitive to. This sensitivity leads to irritated and inflamed scalp. The inflammation in turn signals the brain to let the skin cells shed at a faster rate. This shedding is what we call a dandruff.