Dandruff and its cause

Dandruff is an excessive growth of the scalp without inflammation. In general, the symptom is the presence of white scales on the scalp, itching, and sometimes accompanied by hair loss.

Dandruff is a problem because it disturbs appearance. It can be worsened by the excessive growth of microorganisms in hair. Pityrosporum ovale is normal fungi that grow in the hair. However, various circumstances such as temperature, humidity, high oil content, and decreased immunity of the body can affect excessive growth of this fungus that create dandruff.

Dandruff is actually caused by certain factors that increase skin oils and increase the normal flora in the skin, such as:
1. Certain race with oily skin
2. Genetic
3. High diet of fat foods
4. Climate and weather which stimulates production of oil in the skin
5. Physical stress that increase oil gland activity
6. Particular age that causes to oil glands to produce maximum
7. Certain drugs that stimulate the oil glands
8. Bad hygiene of skin
9. Chronic systemic disease
10. Drugs that lower resistance of skin and body

A symptom of dandruff that often arises is itching in the scalp during the day especially when the weather is hot and the body get sweaty. As a result of head scratching is the release of epidermal keratin layer which attach to the hair shaft or falling into the clothes. Sometimes scratching also results injury to the skin that causing secondary infections by other microbes. Dandruff can also cause hair loss, especially in the area of the vertex (top of head).