What is dandruff?

Dandruff, which in medical terms is a squamous condition of the scalp, is an extremely common scalp problem. It involves a light, harmless desquamation of the epidermis of the scalp.

It should be noted that our epidermis, the outer layer of our skin, is continuously renewing itself. Every day, mature cells detach themselves from the skin. These are microscopic cells that fall away from the skin one by one, and we don't usually see them. However, in some skin diseases, this epidermal renewal is abnormal, and it occurs too quickly and excessively. Clumps of skin cells, visible to the naked eye, detach themselves from the scalp. These are called "squamae". Dandruff is therefore a visible manifestation of excessive scalp desquamation.

The hair itself isn't affected: dandruff conditions, though intense and long lasting, do not trigger hair loss.