What Is Dandruff?
Dandruff is a condition that can last a long time and may require ongoing management. It is often considered to be a mild form of seborrheic dermatitis, that comes and goes over time. It often presents itself as white flakes on our shoulder.
Dandruff is caused by an increase in the amount of fungus on the surface of the scalp. The main difference between dandruff and a dry scalp, is that dandruff is an actual medical condition, whereas a dry scalp is simply a hydration issue.
Dandruff Causes
Often associated with dirty scalps and poor personal hygiene, but it can happen to anyone. Here's how:
Overactive sebaceous glands (oil-secreting tissue in any mammals skin) and fungal growth:
Although the cause of dandruff is not entirely understood but it’s often associated with excess oil production and an too much fungus, on the scalp.
The scalp, which contains lots of hair follicles with sebaceous glands that produce loads of sebum (an oily substance) a perfect environment for fungi to flourish in. Then when you put that fungi in with excess oil, microscopic dead skin cells that would normally shed off unnoticed, stick together in clumps that show themselves as tiny, but visible white flakes.
Scalp fungus (yuk you think) is totally normal and it’s typically controlled by the immune system. There are certain causes that lower the scalp immune state, for example, low vitamin D3 or ferritin, genetic history, an inflammatory diet, aggravating hair and scalp products, or allergies, all of these factors can play into whether or not fungus will thrive on your scalp.
Stress:
While the main cause of dandruff, as mentioned earlier is fungal growth, stress can also have an effect on your scalp health as well. The ‘stress’ can be psychological, for example, relationship trouble, work deadlines blah, blah.. or it can be physical stress on your body, caused by having a cold, fighting an illness, having surgery, or just being run down.
Dandruff Symptoms
Itchy scalp and/or eyebrows
Noticeable white flakes
Potential redness
The most common sign of dandruff is when you start to notice white flakes falling from your scalp to your shoulders and back as you brush or tousle your hair. Often itchiness will occur first before the white flakes appear.
What Is Dry Scalp?
While both dryness and dandruff can make your scalp itch and lead to flaking, a dry scalp can be improved by making simple adjustments to your hair care routine. For example, dry scalp could improve with less frequent shampooing, just to confuse things, it is also possible to have both dry scalp and dandruff, which is the reason why most people find it difficult to tell the difference between the two.
Dry Scalp Causes (Inability to produce or retain moisture)
Excessive washing
Irritation from haircare products
Sunburn
Climate
More often than not dry scalp occurs the same way that dry skin does: When it doesn’t produce or retain enough moisture. Like other forms of dry skin, this can cause itching, flaking, and irritation. It’s important to understand that you can wash your scalp’s hydration down the drain if you shampoo it too regularly. What’s more, when you wash it with can also lead to drying—that’s why it’s so important to use products designed to hydrate your strands without weighing them down and not strip them.
Dry Scalp Symptoms
Itchy scalp
Dry hair
Small, tiny flakes
Very small flakes can occur as a result of extreme dryness, just as they can appear on your face during the harshest seasons of the year.
What is Scalp Psoriasis?
Scalp psoriasis is more than just flaky skin and dandruff. Scalp psoriasis is typically characterized by thick, inflamed, itchy patches known as plaques. They can occur on the entire head or in just some areas. The scaly flakes that shed from these plaques can be larger than what you'd see with dandruff and the amount of shedding can be more prolific. It can spread beyond the perimeters of the scalp to the forehead, back of the neck, and behind the ears.
You may notice a silvery scale, a scalp that feels very dry to the touch and sometimes can even crack and bleed, itching, bleeding, a burning sensation, soreness and temporary hair loss. It is not the scalp psoriasis itself that causes hair loss, but rather the itching and scratching. Itching and a dry sensitive scalp are often the most common early signs and symptoms of scalp psoriasis. Below are a couple of products we produce that can ease your discomfort.
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