Many different factors can cause hair loss and thinning hair, a problem that millions of men and women have to deal with. Hair is an essential part of a person and is often the first impression that people have of us. Many of the factors that provoke hair loss are treatable once the cause is identified. With proper care and treatment, hair loss and thinning can be stopped.
What is Dandruff and What Are the Symptoms?
Dandruff is a common condition that is not dangerous or contagious. The condition causes the skin on the scalp to flake and is also often accompanied by itching. Dandruff is a type of seborrheic dermatitis and can affect people of all ages, including babies, a condition commonly known as cradle cap.
As the skin on the scalp flakes off it often leaves noticeable white flakes in the hair and on the shoulders. While a common condition that is not dangerous, dandruff can be embarrassing and hard to treat. While different factors may cause dandruff, it is not a hygiene issue, although regular washing and brushing can help remove old skin flakes.
The symptoms include white flakes of skin on the scalp hair, eyebrows, beard or mustache, and shoulders, and the condition may also cause the scalp to be itchy.
What Causes Dandruff?
Dandruff may be caused by a variety of factors, including medical conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. Malassezia, a fungus found on most people's scalps may also cause dandruff for some people. Malassezia can sometimes irritate the scalp and cause extra skin cells to grow, and when these skin cells die off, they can cause dandruff.
Other skin conditions such as irritated, oily skin, or excessively dry skin can also trigger dandruff. While not a hygiene issue, not shampooing often enough or sensitivity to hair care products can also cause dandruff.
In addition to skin conditions and sensitivity to hair care products, stress has been found to be a contributing factor that contributes to dandruff.
Mild cases of dandruff can often be treated by washing the hair and scalp with a gentle daily shampoo. When a gentle shampoo does not solve the issue, there are a variety of medicated shampoos that are available over the counter that may provide relief. Even after treatment and successfully treating the condition, it is not uncommon for symptoms to reappear over time.
More severe cases, or conditions that don't improve with regular use of over-the-counter dandruff shampoo, require the help of a professional hair care specialist. A specialist will be able to identify the exact cause of the issue and offer remedies that will help to control dandruff and prevent future problems as well.
Can Dandruff Cause Hair Loss?
Sometimes people with dandruff will also begin to develop hair loss. In most instances, dandruff does not directly cause hair loss, but the associated symptoms may lead to hair loss.
People with dandruff often have dry, irritated skin on their scalp. This irritation can cause itching and scratching the head and scalp can lead to hair thinning and loss. Additional research suggests that dandruff can increase hair loss in people with androgenic alopecia, also known as male and female-pattern baldness.
Studies show that scalp irritation and scratching can damage the scalps hair follicles. Hair that grows from a damaged follicle has significantly more cuticle and protein damage than hair produced from a healthy follicle.
Scratching also damages the hair itself, causing split ends and making strands more susceptible to breakage. While dandruff itself may not directly cause hair loss, and your hair may grow at the same rate, because of the scalp irritation and itching the hair that grows is often less healthy and more prone to damage.
At Mane Image, we understand how important your hair is to your appearance and confidence. Our hair care specialists will identify the cause of your dandruff, or any other scalp condition, and develop a custom solution that will meet your specific needs. To learn more about what is causing your dandruff, and to prevent future hair loss, contact us today to schedule your free consultation.
