What Types Of Hair Get Dandruff?

Dandruff is a common and usually minor and treatable condition characterized by an itchy scalp and white, flaking skin. Though dandruff can affect people with any type of hair and may come and go, the condition does tend to disproportionally affect certain hair types. While most cases of dandruff can be treated with over-the-counter medicated shampoos, severe or chronic cases may be best addressed by a dermatologist.

Oily Hair

According to the Mayo Clinic, oily hair and oily scalp skin are significant risk factors for dandruff. Excessive sebum oils nourish malassezia, a genus of yeast fungi that contribute to dandruff and seborrhoeic dermatitis. Dandruff sufferers whose conditions are caused by oily hair may notice a greasy film on the scalp, patches of redness and yellow or while scales. Excessive oil on the scalp is also commonly accompanied by excessive oil in other areas where oil glands are concentrated, including the creases along the sides of the nose, around the eyebrows and behind the ears. Regular use of a shampoo containing zinc pyrithione can reduce the levels of oil that encourage malassezia growth. Some hair styling products may make excessive oil production worse, so reducing or discontinuing their use may also improve the condition.

Dry Hair

People with naturally dry hair may also experience dandruff more frequently, usually because dry hair is often accompanied by dry skin, according to Mia Wadsworth's book "Beautiful Hair Healthy Scalp Secrets & Remedies: Itchy Scalp & Dandruff Causes Explained & Natural Remedies To Soothe & Heal." When dry hair and dry skin have a common cause, the skin on the scalp may become cracked, itchy and flaky, not unlike chapped lips or hands that become dry and rough in cold weather conditions. Dandruff related to dry hair is often different in appearance than dandruff related to oily hair; dry hair flakes are often finer, more consistently white and less likely to cling to clothing. While this type of dandruff may also respond well to over-the-counter medicated shampoos, simple moisturizing shampoos may also solve the problem. This can also be a seasonal issue, as scalp skin tends to become more dry during the winter months, when more time is spent indoors in heated environments.

Infrequently Shampooed Hair

A study cited in the book "Hair and Scalp Diseases: Medical, Surgical, and Cosmetic Treatments" by Amy J. McMichael and Maria K. Hordinsky indicates a direct correlation between the incidence of dandruff and the frequency of shampooing. The screening of 1,408 participants found that subjects within the United States who shampooed more frequently were less likely to experience dandruff. The study also included participants in China who, while they indicated less-frequent shampooing than those in the United States, also indicated much more common usage of medicated dandruff shampoo. The Chinese participants exhibited the lowest overall rate of dandruff among those studied. African-American participants, African-American women in particular, exhibited the highest dandruff rate. McMichael and Hordinsky's book suggests that this is due in part to the hairstyles that are more common among African-American populations, which generally call for less frequent shampooing.