Causes of Dandruff and How to Address It

In everyday life, there are always various concerns and things that draw our attention. Among them, many people may feel stressed when they see foreign particles falling onto their clothes, as if dust has collected on their shoulders.

This is also something that is greatly affected by changes in the seasons, and because it may not create a clean impression to others and can instead leave a negative image, people with a lot of flaking may worry about it. So today, we will look at what causes dandruff and how to address it.

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It is a condition that occurs when dead cells shed from the skin on the head. In general, it starts to increase during puberty, and it is such a common condition that it is frequently seen even among adults in their 20s and 30s. It can also be caused by excessive sebum secretion, hormonal imbalance, severe stress, dieting, and irregular lifestyle habits. Among these, the main cause is said to be the excessive proliferation of a fungus called Pityrosporum ovale, one of the bacteria found on the skin, for various reasons.

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Because there are many possible causes, it would not be appropriate to say that dandruff occurs simply because you do not wash your hair. Depending on whether the scalp is dry or oily, there can be differences in treatment and care.

Dry dandruff occurs when the scalp lacks moisture and becomes dry, causing dead skin to separate. The particles tend to be fine, and the color is often white. Oily dandruff occurs when a large amount of sebum is produced. It has a yellowish color, is larger in size, and feels sticky when touched.

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Unlike dry dandruff, with oily dandruff, if bacteria or dead skin clog the pores and problems arise in sebum secretion, the material becomes oxidized, creating an environment where bad odor and inflammation can easily develop. If inflammation appears frequently, it can make the skin more sensitive, increasing the possibility that even mild stimulation may lead to various conditions, and it can worsen into hair loss.

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In everyday life, it is good to wash with a dedicated shampoo, and it is important to manage the surrounding environment so that the scalp's oiliness and humidity can be maintained at a consistent level. For dry scalp, it is better to use products that can provide moisture, and it is advisable to avoid using a hair dryer in a way that removes more moisture than necessary. If the condition is severe, steroid medication or a vitamin D combination may need to be taken. For oily scalp, wash your hair every day to manage sebum secretion, and because inflammation can easily occur, please remember that scratching hard with your fingernails can be a cause of dandruff.

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Cases caused by seborrheic dermatitis or folliculitis can also be considered one of the causes of dandruff. In such cases, inflammation occurs due to bacteria other than fungi, and dead flakes fall off. Because it appears in a similar form to dandruff, it is easy to mistake it for dandruff, but since this is a condition that requires antibiotics rather than general improvement measures, if there is no noticeable effect, it is a good idea to visit a clinic or hospital.

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The scalp can be said to be the weakest part of the skin on the human body. When you wash it while scratching the area with your fingernails, the likelihood of damage to that area can increase. Through the damaged area, dead skin can continue to form and fall off, becoming visible to our eyes.

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So, the correct way to wash your hair is to use the fingertips, not the fingernails, and gently massage the entire area. Also, when using shampoo, conditioner, or similar products and rinsing with water, it is important to wash thoroughly so that no residue remains inside. It is also said that you should avoid shampoos with especially strong cleansing power.

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After washing, it is important to dry the moisture thoroughly. If moisture remains on the skin, the humidity can lead to flakes and inflammation, so leaving it wet can also be one of the causes of dandruff. After washing everything, you should dry it with a hair dryer, and drying with cool air rather than hot air can be a good way to prevent the dryness from getting worse.

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If you are under a lot of stress in daily life, it is better to find your own way to relieve it and put it into practice to minimize the impact. Also, if you tend to prefer meals such as instant foods or fast food along with insufficient sleep, improving these lifestyle and eating habits can be very helpful in preventing symptoms.

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If the scalp environment is poor, it can ultimately lead to hair loss. So if a lot of flakes are falling, you are very itchy, or inflammation appears on the skin, visit a clinic or hospital for an examination to find out the cause of dandruff, and only with appropriate treatment and care can the symptoms improve and disease be prevented.

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