What causes dandruff?

Our experts answer your most frequently asked questions.

The main cause of simple dandruff, besides desquamative diseases of the scalp, is a microscopic fungus belonging to the yeast genus, called Malassezia.
Malassezia are usually present in small quantities on a healthy scalp. They develop excessively when their environment is rich in lipids. This is the case for the scalp, the center of the face and the upper torso, where sebaceous glands are highly abundant.

Besides the excessive presence of Malassezia, several factors can trigger the appearance of dandruff, or worsen it: stress, fatigue, hyperseborrhea of the scalp, scalp irritations (intolerance to hair products for example) and certain scalp diseases such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, certain eczemas and seborrheic dermatitis.

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