But when your scalp has excess oil, it provides fertile ground for this fungus to explode. This leads to red patchy skin, severe itching, and dead skin in the form of flakes. This is what we know as dandruff. If your hair and scalp is excessively oily and greasy, it is usually accompanied by oily scalp dandruff.
Greasy dandruff or seborrhoeic dermatitis occurs when oily and yellow flakes or scales form on your scalp and stick to your head and hair. Dry dandruff occurs when dry, white and loose flakes or scales form on your scalp and fall from your head and hair.
Oily dandruff flakes are large, yellowish and plaque-like. They have greasy, yellowish deposits that stick to the head and the hair. However, dry dandruff flakes are small and white and they fall off the head and out of the hair. They develop on a very dry scalp that tends to be itchy.
Applying too much oil can make hair greasy and attract dust. It may also clog hair follicles, leading to dandruff or an itchy scalp. Use a moderate amount for optimal results.
The bottom line
Dandruff triggers include dry weather, stress, and hair products. But by far the most common trigger for dandruff is Malassezia overgrowth on the scalp. Most of the time, you can prevent dandruff with regular use of medicated shampoos and by avoiding triggers.
Selenium sulfide shampoos (Head & Shoulders Intensive, Selsun Blue, others). These contain an antifungal agent. Use these products as directed and rinse well after shampooing, as they can discolor the hair and scalp. Ketoconazole shampoos (Nizoral Anti-Dandruff).
Using too much oil on your scalp can lead to an increase in oil build up, which is one of the causes of dandruff. It can trap dirt and microbes that can cause inflammation and increase itching. You might just end up making your condition worse.
But when your scalp has excess oil, it provides fertile ground for this fungus to explode. This leads to red patchy skin, severe itching, and dead skin in the form of flakes. This is what we know as dandruff. If your hair and scalp is excessively oily and greasy, it is usually accompanied by oily scalp dandruff.
If you have fine or naturally straight hair, or an oily scalp, wash your hair often. For example, you may need to shampoo daily and use your dandruff shampoo twice a week. If you have coarse or naturally curly or coily hair, wash your hair when needed, and use your dandruff shampoo about once a week, if tolerated.
If your hair naturally produces a lot of oil, then you might find you need to wash your hair every day. However, this isn't the case for most people, who should only need to wash their hair every 2 – 3 days - depending on the different factors listed below.
Head & Shoulders is highly effective at controlling dandruff flaking, as has been proven in hundreds of clinical studies.
Sometimes, what seems to be dandruff might indicate another underlying skin condition, such as seborrheic dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, or fungal infection. A person should seek medical treatment for dandruff if symptoms are severe or do not resolve with over-the-counter (OTC) shampoos and ointments.
While dandruff does not cause hair loss directly, the symptoms it causes can indirectly contribute to it. Here's how. Constant Itching: Dandruff makes you continually scrape your scalp. Constant scratching can weaken your hair follicles, making the hair easy to break.
Moisturizing your scalp can help keep your hair looking full, smooth, and shiny—and even help fend off unwanted concerns like dandruff. So if you want great-looking hair, it's probably a good idea to include a scalp moisturizer in your regular haircare routine.
While dandruff typically results in large, oily flakes that are white or yellow, a dry scalp produces smaller, dry flakes that signal a lack of moisture.
You would likely benefit from washing your hair more often, for example, if you have dandruff or greasy hair. You might want to wash your hair less frequently if it lacks shine or breaks easily.
Dandruff is very often related to scalp infection with yeast (fungal) organisms, which is why anti-dandruff shampoos, such as Nizoral, contain anti-fungal agents. When dandruff is persistent, it is usually a sign of yeast-overgrowth elsewhere in the body, particularly the gastrointestinal tract.
The simple answer to this is - No, dandruff is not a fungus by itself. However, dandruff is caused by the presence of a naturally occurring fungus. It's important to understand the role this fungus plays in your body's ecosystem before you try to use a dandruff remedy on your head.
So that's that – as tempting as it might be to scrape your scalp until it's raw, just don't do it. If your dandruff's not that bad, treat it at home with a specialist shampoo (of which there are many). If it's so severe you want to scrape it all off for clicks, get yourself to a doctor post-haste.
Dandruff may have several causes, including: Irritated, oily skin. Dry skin. A yeastlike fungus (malassezia) that feeds on oils on the scalps of most adults.
Does Hot Water Cause Dandruff? Hot water itself doesn't cause dandruff, but it can strip the scalp of its natural oils, leading to dryness and potentially worsening dandruff symptoms. It's advisable to use lukewarm water when washing your hair to prevent excessive drying of the scalp.