Does Dandruff Lead To Hair Loss?

There are differing degrees of severity for the many causes of dandruff, and thus different treatment options. Dandruff is rarely serious, but when left untreated it can lead to hair loss.

Dandruff

Dandruff is a chronic condition that can happen to anyone at any time. It's characterized by itching and flaking of the scalp. Dandruff produces white, oily flakes of dead skin and may occur more frequently in winter when the climate is dry, according to the Mayo Clinic. Your scalp can become aggravated by shampooing too much or not enough, making your scalp produce excess oil. Other scalp conditions that can cause dandruff are scalp psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis and malassezia.

Hair Loss

Your hair has a three-phase growth cycle. The first phase, anagen, is the most active and longest part of the cycle. It typically lasts two to six years. The second phase, catagen, is shorter and when your hair becomes protein. The last phase, telogen, is when your hair falls out and the hair follicle reenters the first phase of anagen. If your hair fails to reenter the first phase, your hair follicle becomes inactive and you experience hair loss.

Significance

The reasons for your dandruff may be what causes hair loss. Scalp psoriasis is an inflammatory skin condition that causes an overproduction of skin cells. This results in silvery, white scales and flakes and plaques, according to the Surviving Hair Loss website. Scalp psoriasis can be mild to severe and can result in temporary hair loss. Seborrheic dermatitis is also an inflammatory skin condition. It produces excess oil that builds up on the scalp and causes flaking and inflammation. Severe cases of seborrheic dermatitis can lead to scalp infection and temporary hair loss. Malassezia is a fungus that resides on your scalp, feeding on the oils secreted by your hair follicles, according to the Mayo Clinic. It can also lead to temporary hair loss by blocking the hair follicles from the natural growth cycle.

Treatment

Selenium sulfide is a common ingredient for treating dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis. It helps fight the underlying infection while relieving itching and flaking, according to the Mayo Clinic. It also helps fight malassezia by limiting the fungus that feeds on the skin and oil, and cutting down on the number of skin cells that die and flake off. Coal tar is used to treat scalp psoriasis by slowing the rapid production of skin cells and reducing itching and inflammation, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation. Salicylic acid is also used to treat scalp psoriasis. It works by softening and peeling the outer layer of skin, causing it to shed.

Considerations

A nutritious diet and drinking plenty of water help your scalp and hair. Other products, such as organic and natural shampoos, can help with dandruff and hair loss, according to the Surviving Hair Loss website. Using shampoos that have herbs such as rosemary, chamomile, thyme, lavender, aloe vera, jojoba, jasmine and pomegranate are gentle and effective. If you believe you have dandruff, consult your doctor on the best treatment for you in order to avoid possible hair loss.