Causes of Dandruff
Dandruff is a condition of the hair that can cause much pain and frustration to those who suffer from it. Most people may be of the belief that one of the most probably causes of dandruff is dryness of the scalp due to excessive shampooing. However, this is far from the truth as even oily hair and scalp can be home to dandruff. Thus, it is advisable not to refrain from washing hair on a regular basis as a means to avoid dandruff as this can only make the problem worse. In most cases, the causes of dandruff may be either one of the following or a combination of the below mentioned factors:
- Overactive oil glands of the skin on the scalp.
- Too much sweating.
- Chemical shampoos.
- Stress problems.
- Allergies
Apart from the above, what causes dandruff can also vary in some individuals. For certain people plagued by this problem, dandruff may only be a seasonal problem that may start to show up during the cold, winter season. At other times of the year, the hair may remain healthy and completely dandruff free. This makes it important to take extra care of the hair during this season.
The best thing that you can do is to ensure that your scalp remains clean and free of excess oil as too much oil build up can lead to the development of large sized dandruff flakes that may be more visible and stain your clothes. It is impossible to completely eliminate dandruff by using external products. However, it is possible to manage this ailment by choosing the right kind of shampoo and by maintaining a good, healthy diet that does not encourage too much oil secretion. You should also try to prevent your scalp from getting too oily and give it a thorough washing every time the oil level increased too much due to bodily or environmental factors. It is very important to wash your hair with the best shampoo for dandruff available in the market especially if you reside in a humid climate. You can also choose to follow a good home remedy for dandruff like using lemon juice on your hair before giving it a wash or applying curd.
One of the major causes of dandruff is the presence of the micro organism called pityrosporum-ovle. Additional factors like exposure to dusty areas, UV radiation, chemical elements like hair dyes, etc. can increase the incidence of this organism significantly and cause a dandruff problem. These elements can build up over the scalp and cause flakes of skin to form. This in turn leads to loss of shine; limpness and even hair fall in extreme cases.
Another one of the causes of dandruff includes excessive stress. In such a situation, the cells of the scalp skin may start to get replaced by new ones too fast thus triggering a dandruff problem. The sebaceous glands are excessively activated in such a case thus releasing too much oil. Family history of dandruff may also be a leading cause of this ailment.


