Dandruff in the hair affects one in two people. They can occur at any time and concern all types of hair and scalp. Dandruff conditions can be mild, moderate or severe.
Two causes can explain the appearance of dandruff. The first is the colonization of the scalp by a yeast (unicellular fungus). The second cause is when a genetic background is revealed by environmental factors . In the following lines, you will discover where dandruff comes from.
How does dandruff appear in hair?
Dandruff is dead cells that fall off the scalp in groups rather than individually, making them visible to the naked eye .
Normally, the scalp renews itself approximately every 21 days. But in some cases, cell renewal cycles only last 5-7 days. These accelerated cycles are the result of seborrheic dermatitis of the skin, often aggravated by the overgrowth of the fungus Malassezia furfur, a type of yeast . It is also called pityriasis capitis: it is a common condition of the scalp.
When the renewal of the scalp is too rapid, the cells of the epidermis are then not mature enough to be eliminated naturally, they remain clumped together.
This causes white clumps that stand out in large numbers and excessively. This is how dandruff appears on the hair, collar and shoulders , especially when combing your hair.
Dandruff can be accompanied by irritation of the scalp as well as more or less intense itching . Fatigue, stress, pollution or the winter season can promote the proliferation of Malassezia furfur and therefore the appearance of dandruff.
How to recognize the different types of dandruff?
It is important to identify if you are in the presence of dry dandruff or oily dandruff , if you have scales in patches or crusts on the scalp . Their appearance gives clues to the type of disorder in question in order to better treat it.
Dry dandruff
This is the most common type. These films are thin, dry and whitish . They look like a white powder, do not adhere to the scalp and fall on the shoulders.
Dry dandruff mainly affects dry or normal scalps. They are benign and do not cause irritation or itching. The only problem they pose is of an aesthetic nature .
Do you have scales (flaps of skin) that appear as white patches on the scalp ? Are these dry and accompanied by underlying redness ? Do you also feel itchy? These symptoms are characteristic of psoriasis , an inflammatory disease that affects the skin. This pathology has nothing to do with the proliferation of Malassezia furfur yeast. It is linked to a genetic background revealed by environmental factors.
