Dandruff itself—a symptom associated with an itchy and dry scalp—does not directly cause hair loss. It is a common issue that can be linked to a wide range of factors, such as allergies and reactions to some shampoos, dry skin, eczema, diet, and high-stress levels.
However, the connection between dandruff and hair loss is that when the itching around the scalp becomes intense or prolonged, the temptation to itch can potentially damage the follicles or cause scarring that prevents follicles from producing new hair.
It’s also worth booking a consultation with our talented hair transplant professionals if you have had extended dandruff for a long period of time, often coupled with noticeable hair loss or thinning. Underlying causes of dandruff that also prompt inflammation around the follicles can mean that scarring develops, resulting in weak, thin, or lost hair.
Understanding the Links Between Dandruff and Hair Loss
- Dandruff is an incredibly common symptom of conditions like eczema and skin sensitivity. Most dandruff sufferers experience itchy, irritated, dry, flaky skin, which results in the dandruff ‘snow’ on your shoulders you may be familiar with.
- Although dandruff isn’t dangerous or a cause of hair loss, untreated and sustained dandruff and its underlying causes can damage your scalp and hair due to excessive scratching, inflammation, and impacts on the follicles.
- Ignoring dandruff is never wise, and if topical and over-the-counter treatments haven’t worked or you are worried about hair loss, we recommend getting in touch. A relatively easy-to-treat medical condition like psoriasis or dermatitis could be causing the dandruff.
How Dandruff Can Contribute to or Exacerbate Hair Thinning and Loss
For most people who experience dandruff, it isn’t the dry scalp or irritation that causes hair loss. Research indicates that attempts to manage dandruff can have a negative impact on your hair, either causing unnecessary thinning or impacting the health of your scalp. [1]
The temptation to scratch your scalp, often in your sleep, and use powerful shampoos and hair products can exacerbate irritation and inflammation, which, over time, can cause significant damage to your scalp and follicles or even prevent new hair from growing.
In other cases, people who assume they have dandruff and believe this is connected to hair loss are actually suffering from alopecia areata – hence the need to consult a professional hair restoration clinician who can evaluate your scalp and hair and provide more tailored advice. [2]
Dandruff may also be triggered by an underlying cause, such as seborrheic dermatitis. This skin condition can impact hair growth, the scalp and follicles, and scratching to relieve irritation may mean this type of eczema is mistaken for general dandruff. [3]
Dr Matee, the Director of Surgical Services at KSL Clinic, says, ‘We appreciate that some people perceive dandruff or scalp irritation as embarrassing, and delay seeking help often for some time, due to assumptions that the condition cannot be resolved.
In reality, numerous treatments, including non-surgical PRP therapy, can activate dormant follicles, contribute to a healthier scalp and skin, and prevent hair loss altogether – alongside a professional evaluation of your hair and scalp to ensure our recommendations are tailored to you.’
Potential Causes of Dandruff Accompanied by Hair Loss
There are thousands of possible reasons you have dandruff some or all of the time, whether a mild reaction to a food, ingredient or cosmetic product, a chronic sensitivity or irritation, or an undiagnosed medical condition that may be easy to treat.
The key is always to seek help, ensuring you know why you have dandruff, and avoid anything that could either speed up hair loss or worsen the side effects of the cause of the flaky scalp.
In addition to those potential conditions often confused for dandruff, the following can all cause both irritation and dry skin and hair loss or thinning:
- Infections and fungal infections like tinea capitis can cause flaky skin or blisters on the scalp, often along with hair loss in specific areas. [4]
- Lichen planopilaris is more common in women and creates a rash and dry skin on the scalp. The symptoms are similar to dandruff but cannot be resolved with dandruff shampoos, and leaving the issue untreated can lead to hair loss. [5]
- Folliculitis decalvans is rare and a type of inflammatory condition that causes red, itchy patches on the scalp and the loss of hair follicles. The itching is commonly mistaken for dandruff. [6]
If you have dandruff and any sensitivity, itching, or visible symptoms on your scalp, there is a stronger likelihood that dandruff is simply one symptom of something else. Medical treatment may be the best option to remedy the issue and restore the health of your scalp and hair.
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Treating Dandruff and Preventing or Managing Hair Loss
Your scalp and hair follicles can be surprisingly delicate, and aggressive scratching and treatments could worsen the problem. Our advice, as always, is to book a consultation with our accomplished hair restoration experts if you have any concerns about hair loss or are worried about scalp irritation and associated hair loss or thinning.
Regular shampooing with gentle products may also help. Following the usage instructions carefully and rinsing your hair thoroughly can avoid build-ups of chemicals that could irritate an already inflamed scalp.
Importantly, you must avoid brushing your hair too hard, twisting your hair, or scratching it since these actions are more often associated with hair loss than dandruff itself.
Finally, we suggest booking your hair restoration consultation earlier rather than later. Catching some causes of hair loss quickly may mean we can suggest therapies or treatments to slow or prevent further loss and ensure you maintain a healthy scalp and hair.
In the future, a hair transplant may be a permanent way to correct irreversible hair loss, but focusing on the health of your scalp and follicles now could make this unnecessary or limit the extent of hair loss to ensure your hair restoration procedure is minimal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Could Dandruff Be Responsible for My Hair Loss?
Dandruff is a symptom of multiple conditions. It cannot cause hair loss alone, but understanding why you have dandruff and treating the underlying cause may be essential to protecting your hair and preventing avoidable hair loss.
Why Do People With Dandruff Often Experience Hair Loss?
The dry scalp, itchy skin, and flaking associated with dandruff can cause any number of issues with your scalp and hair health.
However, the most common reason that dandruff and hair loss are mistakenly associated is that excessive scratching and abrasion on your scalp can damage follicles and, if left unmanaged, cause permanent injuries to the follicles, preventing new hairs from growing.
Could Dandruff Be Responsible for My Hair Loss?
Dandruff is a symptom of multiple conditions. It cannot cause hair loss alone, but understanding why you have dandruff and treating the underlying cause may be essential to protecting your hair and preventing avoidable hair loss.
Why Do People With Dandruff Often Experience Hair Loss?
The dry scalp, itchy skin, and flaking associated with dandruff can cause any number of issues with your scalp and hair health.
However, the most common reason that dandruff and hair loss are mistakenly associated is that excessive scratching and abrasion on your scalp can damage follicles and, if left unmanaged, cause permanent injuries to the follicles, preventing new hairs from growing.
