Dandruff is a common health condition where the skin on the scalp turns dry and flaky, shedding itself from time to time. These dry, white flakes are nothing but dead skin cells and the shedding of these flakes is a normal process. When they shed in large numbers, they show up in the hair and clothing, which is quite unsightly.
Dandruff often causes constant itching, spreads all over the head, or sometimes, it is present in patches on the scalp. It is triggered by a variety of reasons such as stress, weak immune system, hormonal imbalance, or certain health issues and medications. Some people have reported to suffer from dandruff even because of being exposed to sunlight. When dandruff goes untreated, it expands in large numbers, and it amplifies during the summer and winter and months. Although it can be treated by washing the head and keeping it clean or with the help of various home remedies, if all fails, medical help must be sought. While dandruff can be a result of various factors, we must understand its nature, whether it is contagious, and if it can trigger hair loss.
Is Dandruff Contagious?
It is sometimes believed that dandruff is contagious and can spread from person to person. It is important to know what makes dandruff contagious in nature. It is certainly not communicable or infectious and can aggravate due to change in climate, using the wrong hair products, and due to a dirty scalp as well. However, the growth of yeast can be the main reason why dandruff increases and these microbes also bring varied skin problems.
Walking dandruff, which is a condition usually visible in dogs and other mammals, occurs due to dog skin getting infected with mites, which transfer to humans and other animals. This type of dandruff is primarily contagious and needs proper medication to kill the mites and cure the animal or person from walking dandruff.
Can Dandruff Cause Hair Loss?
Many people have reported to suffer from hair loss due to dandruff and this is because of extreme itching and scratching the head too much. Dandruff can lead to a constant urge to itch and can eventually result in hair loss. If you rub or scratch your head intensely, you damage the hair roots and loosen the hair grip, which leads to hair loss.
The reason between dandruff and hair loss is not often known to people, and it is due to the skin condition known as dermatitis. Dermatitis is the reason why the scalp itches and gets damaged, resulting in hair loss. Dermatitis can be of different types and can cause hair loss due to dandruff.
However, hair fall might be the result of other health conditions as well. Although, in most of the cases, dandruff can be directly or indirectly related to constant loss of hair, scratching might be induced by trauma and irritation as well, which triggers hair fall.
Which Comes First: Dandruff Or Hair Fall?
Although dandruff can be a reason for hair loss, certain hair products and shampoos contain harmful chemicals that help in treating hair damage but cause flaking. Flaking can result in conditions similar to dandruff and accelerate hair fall. This is the reason we must always be vigilant about the hair products we use and discontinue them the moment we feel any kind of irritation.
Certain health conditions and medications followed regularly can also cause dryness in the scalp, weaken the hair roots, and result in hair loss. This is the reason we must always find out the root cause of our dandruff. Lack of hygiene is often one of the most common causes of dandruff and hair loss. So, while dandruff is not necessarily contagious, maintaining good hygiene must always be a priority. It must also be noted that since dandruff can result in hair fall in some way or the other, it is necessary that you treat your dandruff to protect your beautiful hair.
