A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
   
Dandruff


Those white flakes adorning your favorite black jacket are not seasonal embellishments that were a courtesy of Mother Nature. It appears that dandruff is the culprit of these “snowflakes!” Dandruff is a chronic and persistent scalp disorder that is often a cause of embarrassment. It is not contagious or serious in nature, but dandruff can be very bothersome and may even lead to social withdrawal.

Causes and Risk Factors

Recent studies have identified a scalp-specific yeast-like fungus called malassezia globosa as a possible dandruff-causing agent. This fungus thrives on the scalps of most healthy adults without causing any problems. However, in some cases this fungus grows out of control, feeds on the oils secreted by the sebaceous glands on the scalp, and causes irritation that leads to an unnatural increase in cell turnover. As a result, the scalp contains a large number of dead skin cells that eventually fall off. Since these cells are rapidly discarded and are clumped together by the oil secreted from the hair and scalp, they appear white, flakey, and very visible.
The reasons for the prolific growth of this fungus are unknown. However, some factors such as increased sebum (oil) production, hormonal imbalance, stress, illness, reaction or side effect of certain medications, neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease, imbalanced diet, shampooing excessively or infrequently, and excessive use of fancy hair styling products may contribute to scalp flaking or aggravation of an existing condition.

The following are some of the risk factors of dandruff:

Skin Dr.
Naturally improve skin strength, health and functioning

Learn More
Age: Dandruff can develop in anyone at any age, but it is usually observed among individuals in the age group of 12 to 60 years old.
Gender: More men than women appear to be suffering from dandruff, which makes some researchers believe that the male hormones may have a pivotal role in the occurrence of dandruff. Additionally, the sebaceous glands (oil producing glands) in men are larger than those in women.

Oily skin, scalp, and hair: Malassezia globosa survives by feeding on the sebum that is produced on the scalp. So if you have oily skin, including oily scalp and hair, you are more likely to suffer from dandruff than individuals who have dry or normal skin.

Medical conditions: Those suffering from neurological problems such as Parkinson’s disease, heart problems, stress, and immunological disorders are particularly susceptible to developing dandruff.

Previous
1   2


“GoCures does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.” See additional information
2007 GoCuresLtd, All Rights Reserved