True or false: common myths about dandruff

Are women more likely to suffer from dandruff than men? Do age, environment or even lifestyle play a factor in determining dandruff prevalence? We sort the fact from the fiction.

True or false: women get dandruff more often than men

FALSE
Dandruff is linked to an imbalance of the microbiome, which develops faster in areas rich in sebum. This combination results in oily dandruff sticking to the scalp in the form of thick flakes. Studies have found that, generally speaking, men are more likely to suffer from dandruff than women[1]. Research also suggests that certain ethnic groups are more likely to suffer from dandruff than others. Specifically, one study found dandruff prevalence was between 81–95% in African Americans, 66–82% in Caucasians, and 30–42% in Chinese.[2] Learn more about the difference between different types of dandruff.

True or false: I've had dandruff once, so I’ll always have it

TRUE-ISH:
As we know, dandruff occurs as a result of excess levels of the yeast mentioned above (malassezia), which is found on almost all of our scalps. In this sense, dandruff can be described as a recurring condition. However, dandruff can also be linked to scalp’s sebum levels, so it’s more likely that the condition will come back during life moments where sebum production is higher than usual - for example, during puberty.

True or false: dandruff is affected by our environments

TRUE-ISH:
While dandruff can affect anyone at any time of their lives, it’s also been linked with a number of external factors. Age, stress and even the body’s hormone levels can affect how often we suffer from dandruff. When malassezia is combined with increased levels of sebum, oily flakes start to form. This, in turn, encourages malassezia cells to multiply even faster across the scalp, creating a vicious circle. This becomes even worse for scalps with elevated sebum production (for example, teenagers) or those suffering from stress, which weakens the body’s natural defenses and makes us more susceptible to skin disorders.

Sources:
[1] Manuel, F. et al, ‘A New Postulate on Two Stages of Dandruff: A Clinical Perspective’ in International journal of Trichology 3.1 (2011) pp. 3-6
[2] Borda, L. et al, ‘Seborrheic Dermatitis and Dandruff: A Comprehensive Review’ in Journal of Clinical and Investigative Dermatology 3.2 (2015) 10.13188/2373-1044.1000019.