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Dandruff is small, white to yellowish flakes of skin that are shed from the scalp and are often visible on clothing. It occurs when the skin cells of the scalp renew and shed faster than usual. A natural level of skin cell renewal is normal and healthy, but in people with dandruff this happens at an accelerated rate, leading to the accumulation of visible flakes of skin.
A common cause of dandruff is seborrhoeic dermatitis, a form of dermatitis characterized by red, inflamed skin under the shed scales. This skin condition occurs mainly in areas with a high density of sebaceous glands, such as the scalp, face and chest. Seborrheic dermatitis can lead to an itchy feeling and dandruff, especially on the scalp.
The exact cause of seborrheic dermatitis is not fully understood, but a combination of genetic, environmental and health factors are thought to contribute. A yeast of the genus Malassezia, which occurs naturally on the skin, may also play a role. In people with seborrheic dermatitis, the skin appears to be more sensitive to the presence of this fungus, leading to inflammation and increased skin cell renewal.
