As consumers, we have all seen plenty of advertisements dramatizing the repulsive appearance of these small white flakes on dark hair, a dark blouse, or shirt. Dandruff flakes represent scales from the scalp.

White specks can arise from dried hair mousses, sprays, or nourishers that flake off the hair and then fall on the shoulders. Some people avoid shampooing regularly in the belief that washing leads to a dry scalp, that such washing damages the hair, or that washing will destroy their hairdo. Scale from an unwashed scalp can accumulate and then appear as excessive dandruff. The scalp skin is full of follicles with active sebaceous glands producing large quantities of grease. Actually, having a dry scalp is very rare.

Dandruff Can Be Found in Other Areas:

Probably the most common cause of dandruff, however, is a skin disease called seborrheic dermatitis. This condition can produce an itchy, scaling red rash on the scalp, in the ears, on the upper eyelids, brows, forehead, in the folds that extend from the nose to the corners of the mouth, and occasionally on the mid-chest and mid-back.

Natural Remedies to Treat Dandruff:

The conviction that there is a superiority of botanical organics over so-called synthetic substances is a creation of popular culture and the Internet. There is minimal evidence to support any efficacy. The idea that a plant recently harvested from a personal garden might cure a real ailment and is perfectly safe does have a romantic appeal. Many plants contain pharmacologically potent chemicals that when purified and standardized become FDA-approved medications. Beware of backyard amateur pharmacy.

Sunshine and Dandruff:

There is very little evidence that sunlight affects dandruff one way or the other. Unless the scalp is mostly hairless, it would be unlikely that any ultraviolet light could reach the skin. There is at least one report of mountain guides having more seborrheic dermatitis than expected. It was presumed that there might be a causal relationship between ultraviolet exposure and the disease. Sun exposure, therefore, should not be recommended for controlling dandruff.

What Causes Dandruff:

The cause (or causes) of seborrheic dermatitis remains obscure. The role of Malassezia yeasts appears essential, but since they are normal components of the skin's microbiome, the mechanism of disease is obscure.