Dandruff is a pesky problem that can attack almost everyone! From adults to children, everyone can be a victim of this scalp disorder. If unbearable itching is one side of the issue, the embarrassing white scales falling all over your shoulder is another! Before you slather your scalp with harsh chemical products, we recommend you try these safe Home Remedies for Dandruff!

Along with that, we shall also guide you on why your scalp is prone to dandruff and what triggers this problem, along with types and stages. Gaining an understanding of this can lower the chances of flaking in the future. So, if you are keen on attaining a squeaky clean, flake-free scalp, read along with us!

What is Dandruff?

Dandruff is a scalp condition in which scaly patches appear on the upper layer of skin. It is caused by a type of fungus called Malassezia and involves noticeable symptoms like white flakes, itching and inflammation (1). Along with the scalp, if this problem impacts other areas of the body like eyebrows, chest or eyelids, it is called Seborrheic Dermatitis.

What Causes of Dandruff?

It is a misconception to state that dandruff is caused due to poor hygiene. Instead, it is caused to numerous factors like lifestyle, diet, products and medical conditions. Here are the main culprits behind this flakey problem:

Microbial Factors:

1. Yeast Infections: One of the main reasons for dandruff is a type of fungus called Malassezia. They thrive on the sebum of our scalps and break it down to Oleic acids. If you have a sensitivity to this by-product ie., Oleic acid, the cell growth doubles up to remove the irritant. This leads to dead flakes on the scalp, called Dandruff (2)

2. Bacterial Invasions: Recent studies show that bacteria like Propionibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis are the greatest contributors to dandruff than fungus. The imbalance in the levels of the organism causes white flakes on the scalp (3).