Dandruff is actually caused by a microbe. It’s 100% natural and lives on everyone’s scalp. But how does it work?
Malassezia is found on almost all warm-blooded mammals – so it’s not just us that suffer from its effects.
And it doesn’t just cause dandruff, it’s also responsible for other problems like allergies or infections in humans and even ear infections in cats.
The main culprit for dandruff formation
The root cause of dandruff is the single-celled microbe Malassezia globosa, which is present on everyone’s scalp.
About 50% of people experience a negative reaction to the presence of this fungus, which causes dandruff.
It feeds on the oils on your scalp…
The natural oils on your scalp, known as sebum, are the main food source for the microbe that causes dandruff.
Malassezia feeds on these oils and breaks them down into by-products, such as oleic acid.
This is where dandruff is born.
Half the world’s population is sensitive to oleic acid
If you are one of the 50% of people in the world who are sensitive to oleic acid, you are likely to suffer from dandruff.
The body reacts to the presence of oleic acid by increasing the rate at which your cells renew themselves.
This is an attempt to “get rid” of the irritant and it is this mechanism that causes dandruff. Dead skin cells accumulate on the scalp and become visible on your hair, then fall onto your shoulders.
Flaking, but not only
Flaking is not the only reaction of the body to malassezia and oleic acid.
If you suffer from dandruff, you may experience the following problems:
- Itchy scalp
- Dry scalp
- Inflammation
- Red scalp
All these symptoms are caused by the body's reaction to irritation caused by malassezia.
Research on malassezia provides better dandruff treatment
At Head & Shoulders, we have been studying malassezia for decades. In 2007, our scientists sequenced its 4,285 genes.
By understanding how it works, we can better identify the irritants it produces and work to develop anti-dandruff shampoos that can treat these irritants and help get rid of dandruff.
But that's not all. We are still researching and working hard not only to improve our shampoos, but also to investigate the biochemical changes that malassezia stress causes on the skin.
Learn more about our research on malassezia
Learn more about dandruff
