Dandruff: Stress or What?

Dandruff: Stress or What?

Although stress may be exacerbate or contributing to scalp flaking, the real culprit is a fat-eating, yeast-like, fungus called Mallassezia,which lives on the scalps of most healty adult without causing problems. However sometimes it grows out of control, feeding on the oils secreted by hair follices and causing irritation that leads to increased cell turnover. The result is a large number of dead skincells that fall off and clump together with oil, making them appear white, flaky and all too visible.

Exactly what causes an overgrowth of these organisms isn;t known, although increased oil production, hormonal fluctuations, stress,illness, a suppressed immune system, infrequent shampooing and extra sensitivity to the malassezia fungus may contribute to the development of dandruff. Mild cases of dandruff may need nothing more than daily shampooing with a gentle cleanser and stubborn flakes often respond to medicated shampoos, but dandruff shampoos aren't all alike, and you may need to experiment until you find one that works best for you. If you've shampooed faithfully for several weeks and there's still a dusting of dandruff on your shoulders,talk to your doctor or dermatologist.

However, be mindful that you can't prevent dandruff, you can only take steps to reduce your risk,such as learning to manage stress, using the right shampoo,cutting back on styling products and eating a healthy diet.