What causes dandruff?

What causes those white skin flakes to appear on your shoulders and in your hair? They seem to love your scalp and are not planning to move out of the area any time soon. They need an incentive, and that incentive is usually a good anti dandruff shampoo that can effectively stop the flaking and remove any dandruff from your head. It is interesting to note that although more than half of the world's population has been affected by dandruff at one point in their lives, there is still a lot of mystery surrounding this condition. This article takes a look at some of the more common causes of dandruff.

The first one, psoriasis, causes much confusion. Both dandruff and psoriasis appear to be identical in terms of appearance on the scalp. However a dermatologist will be able to determine which one of the two you are affected by. Psoriasis is the more serious one and causes red patches on the skin of those with the condition. You better let a professional determine what causes the skin flaking on your scalp.

A very common cause of skin flaking is dry skin. Cold dry winter weather can suck the moisture out of your skin and cause dry skin. A shampoo that is too aggressive for your skin can also cause irritation and itching, and that will lead to your skin being damaged by your scratching. Making sure you use products that your skin can handle, and drinking plenty of water, will usually be enough to prevent dry skin. Those with more severe dry skin are advised to look for good moisturisers.

A more common cause is Seborrheic dermatitis which occurs mainly on the scalp. It results in itchy skin, skin flakes, and general irritation on the top of your head. This is not a contagious or a harmful condition but can have an impact on your self-confidence because of the appearance of dandruff. Seborrheic dermatitis can also occur on other parts of the face, especially between folds of skin. You may have heard of "cradle cap", which is what this condition is called when infants are affected by it.

The good news is that if your dandruff is caused by any of the above possibilities there are very effective products available to prevent dandruff or at least keep it under control. Perhaps the bad news is that you will probably be testing several products, and you need patience.