Wednesday, January 28, 2009

What Causes Dandruff In Us?

By Jille Kelly

Dandruff is a problem that plagues many people all over the world. It is a common hair condition that generally arises from itchy or oily scalp. There are other medical conditions that can directly or indirectly lead to the same problem. However, due to the many possible causes, it is often difficult to diagnose the source of the condition.

As a result the treatments can be varied and wide, while requiring some to go through a few methods before finding one that completely eradicates their problem. Before one knows what to try, some consultation is necessary to determine the type of dandruff that is being experienced.

As mentioned, the most common cause is having itchy scalp. This can indirectly be a result of having dry or oily scalp. When the skin is in a dry condition, the result is that it is easily irritable and the urge to scratch is hard to ignore.

The situation turns into a nightmare with oily scalp. When the oil builds up around the hair follicles, this causes dust particles to be trapped in between. Bacteria will thrive in such an environment and when irritated, it leads to infection of the scalp and flaking of the skin.

Trying too hard to keep the scalp clean can also lead to the unexpected case of flaky skin. Excessive washing will irritate the scalp and lead either to dryness or oiliness. This depends on the type of shampoo used. Moderation should be practiced.

You might not even be safe from the weather that you live in. With hot weather comes a lot of perspiration. This is a major contributing factor to those with oily scalp experiencing common dandruff issues.

There is also an yeast-like fungus that can lead to this embarrassing hair problem. Malassezia is actually present in most individual's hair. But if it is not controlled, they will thrive in the oily hair follicles. This leads to layers of dead skin cells and another form of dandruff.

Those who suffer from other health conditions may also be unfortunate enough to end up with dandruff. In many situations, prevention will be a big help to avoiding having to endure this embarrassing problem. For those who have not been so lucky, a trip to the dermatologist will be necessary in order to cure their condition. - 16083

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