Can dandruff cause alopecia?

Dandruff is a common scalp condition that affects plenty of people. Although it is harmless dandruff is often visible as white flakes. If you have dandruff it’s only natural to want to get rid of it. The question sometimes asked is, does dandruff cause hair loss? This article will explore this question and give you a better understanding of all things dandruff-related.

📝 What is dandruff?

Dandruff is a skin condition that affects your scalp (the skin on your head). It causes your scalp to flake off in small patches. These patches of skin can be visible in your hair and on your clothes, usually on your shoulders.

The skin on a healthy scalp follows a cycle where skin cells are continually replaced. Layers of old skin cells die and fall away from your body and new layers of skin cells grow to take their place. When you lose old layers of skin the dead skin cells aren’t visible because they usually separate as you shed them. With dandruff, your skin is replaced too quickly causing a build-up of oil and dry skin and this is the cause of dandruff. When the cells are shed they’re still attached, forming the visible white flakes.

📋 What are the symptoms of dandruff?

• Flaky skin on your scalp, hair, eyebrows, beard or moustache, and shoulders
• Itchy scalp
• Dry scalp
• Scaly, crusty scalp in infants with cradle cap

👨🏽‍🦱 Can dandruff cause hair loss?

No, not directly however indirectly, yes. The way we react to the symptoms of dandruff might cause hair loss but the dandruff itself does not cause the hair to fall out. One of the most common and irritating symptoms of dandruff is itchiness, causing a person to scratch their scalp. The more severe the dandruff, the more itchiness and the more likely to scratch harder and create injuries on the scalp. This can injure your hair follicles, leading to hair thinning, excessive hair shedding or even stopping hair growth.

📋 What causes the skin on your scalp to be replaced too quickly?

There’s some debate around this, but likely common causes include:

• A condition called contact dermatitis is caused by the skin on your scalp having an allergic reaction to something you put on your scalp or something around you
• Malassezia is a yeast-like fungus that lives on all our scalps and is usually harmless. The toxins produced by this fungus living on your scalp can cause an inflammatory response in your skin and a fungal infection
• An autoimmune disease called scalp psoriasis that causes your skin to be replaced too quickly
• A skin condition called seborrheic dermatitis that causes inflammation in your scalp
• Medical conditions that cause inflammation in your body, like obesity, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma or type 2 diabetes

🧴 Treatment options for dandruff

Here are some ways to treat dandruff:

• Regular shampoo every day: Starting with daily use of a regular but gently formulated shampoo can help with mild cases of dandruff before moving to medicated shampoos. It works by removing dead skin cells and oil from your scalp
• Anti-dandruff shampoo: You can buy over-the-counter anti-dandruff shampoos that can help with mild to moderate cases of dandruff
• Antifungal shampoo: If a fungal infection of your scalp causes your dandruff, shampoos with antifungals can be used. Antifungal medication called ketoconazole can be effective. You can buy shampoos with ketoconazole both over the counter and as prescription treatments
• Salicylic acid shampoo: This is a type of acid that can remove dead skin cells from your scalp before they form flakes of dandruff. Salicylic acid can dry out your scalp and may not be suitable if you have dry or sensitive skin
• A coal tar-based shampoo: Coal tar is a thick dark liquid that can slow the growth of skin cells on your scalp and prevent dandruff. It can darken lighter hair colours, so use it with caution if you have light hair
• A prescription treatment for psoriasis or eczema: If your dandruff is caused by a skin condition like psoriasis or eczema, talk to your doctor about prescription treatments for your condition
• Other shampoos containing active ingredients such as zinc pyrithione and selenium sulfide are also available for dandruff treatment

Always use these shampoos as directed and check the label for potential side effects.

📓 What can make dandruff worse?

• Stress

Stress can exacerbate dandruff as it can weaken the immune system, so managing stress levels is crucial. Try relation techniques such as mindfulness, meditation or yoga.

• Cold weather

Cold weather can dry out skin on the body as well as the scalp. Try a home remedy of massaging your scalp with coconut oil, then rinse it out.

• Having oily skin on your head (oil can stick dead skin cells together)

Infrequent shampooing can result in a buildup of oils and dead skin cells, worsening dandruff.

• Having a compromised immune system

This could be caused by anything from an infection like a common cold to a chronic immune system disease like lupus.

• Irritating hair products

Hair dye and other hair products often contain ingredients that can irritate skin and cause dryness.

• Heat and styling tools

Excessive heat while washing your hair and the use of hot styling tools can cause dryness and dandruff.

🩺 When to see a doctor or dermatologist

Most of the time, dandruff isn’t cause for concern, but there are times when it can indicate something more serious if your condition doesn’t improve with regular use of dandruff shampoo. If you have excessive hair fall, your healthcare provider may investigate further into the cause of hair loss.

Androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness/female pattern baldness) is a type of genetic hair loss that tends to occur with age. Alopecia areata is another hair loss type where patches of hair loss occur. In these cases, your healthcare provider may look into other treatments, such as hair loss treatments like minoxidil and finasteride, or a hair transplant.

💡 Tips for scalp health

• Stay hydrated

Your scalp is skin and dehydration can lead to dryness and flakiness. Aim to drink 8 glasses of water daily to maintain scalp hydration from inside out.

• Dry your hair before bed

Never sleep with wet hair as it can cause fungal growth and irritation on the scalp. Always ensure your hair is fully dry before bedtime to protect scalp health and avoid breakage.

• Rinse your hair in cool water

Hot water can strip natural oils, leaving your scalp dry and more prone to damage. Cold water on the other hand helps seal the hair cuticle and lock in moisture. It also prevents over-drying of your scalp keeping your scalp’s natural oils intact.

• Protect your hair from heat

One of the most basic things you can do is to avoid excessive heat that can lead to sensitivity and scalp inflammation.

• Avoid product build-up

Apply hair styling products sparingly near the scalp to prevent residue build-up.

📝 Conclusion

Having dandruff doesn’t immediately lead to hair loss. However, constantly scratching your scalp can damage your hair follicles and lead to some hair loss. It is temporary hair loss and should be resolved once you find out what’s causing your dandruff. If you don’t already know the cause, your doctor or dermatologist can help.

Sources

• Dandruff – NHS
• Itchy Scalp: 8 Common Causes and Cures
• How to treat dandruff
• Dandruff – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic