If you’ve noticed tiny white flakes in your hair or on your shoulders, you might have dandruff. As common and treatable as this condition is, it can still be embarrassing. But how serious is it, and can it cause hair loss? Here’s what you need to know.
What Is Dandruff, and What Causes It?
Dandruff is simply dry skin that flakes off the scalp and causes itching. Most times, it just means your scalp is dry and needs to be moisturized more often, just like when you have dry skin. But other causes can include oily skin, fungus, eczema or psoriasis.[1]
Sometimes, you can get dandruff from using an unfamiliar hair product. It may irritate your skin, which can lead to contact dermatitis. You can also get it if you don’t shampoo your hair frequently enough.
Fortunately, you can typically treat this condition at home by using a gentle shampoo meant to fight dry skin, or even a medicated shampoo. In most cases, the right shampoo will clear up your flakes. If it doesn’t, talk to your doctor to determine the underlying cause, as treating that should eliminate the issue. And if you notice any hair loss, be sure to tell your doctor, as the two issues may be related.
How Are Dandruff and Hair Loss Related?
In general, dandruff doesn’t directly cause hair loss, as most people who temporarily deal with a dry scalp won’t lose hair any faster than normal. But if left untreated, it can indirectly cause hair loss because you might scratch your scalp too hard and too often, injuring and inflaming the hair follicles. This can slow or stop normal hair growth so you eventually notice some loss of hair.[2]
Another way the two relate to each other is that some underlying conditions can cause both issues. For example, if you have psoriasis, eczema, or ringworm on your scalp, you might experience dry, flaky skin followed by hair fall.[3] Typically, once you treat the condition causing the dry skin, the hair loss will slow down or stop.
How to Prevent Hair Loss From Dandruff
If you’re worried that you’re losing hair because of dandruff, the first thing to do is make sure you’re not scratching your scalp too hard. Try to be gentle when you scratch and start using a shampoo that can treat the condition as soon as possible.
If the issue doesn’t go away when you use shampoo and you’re noticing hair loss, it may be time to turn to the experts. Contact us Genesis II to find out how we can help by clicking here.
Photo Credit: saniusman89 Via Pixabay
[1] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dandruff/symptoms-causes/syc-20353850
[2] https://www.healthline.com/health/dandruff-hair-loss
