People who experience excessive dandruff every day may be at risk of hair thinning.

Even people who don’t have thinning hair can have dandruff, but the “amount of dandruff” is the issue.

Dandruff is one of the factors that can worsen the condition of the scalp.

With AGA, it’s important to maintain a healthy scalp environment.

To achieve an ideal scalp environment, it seems necessary to understand the causes of dandruff.

So in this article, we’ll explore the relationship between dandruff and AGA and introduce ways to combat dandruff.

What can you do to control the amount of dandruff?

What does this article cover?

What Causes Dandruff?

How is the “dandruff” that flakes off the scalp every day formed? Here’s an explanation of the causes of dandruff. Does dandruff worsen the condition of the scalp?

Dandruff is caused by the scalp’s natural renewal cycle

Dandruff is a “natural process” that occurs when old skin cells on the scalp shed and are replaced by new ones. This cycle of cell renewal is called “turnover.”

The shorter the skin renewal cycle, the more likely you are to develop dandruff. There are two types of dandruff. Here, we’ll explain the types of dandruff and their causes.

Causes of oily dandruff

The cause of oily dandruff lies in an unbalanced diet high in fat. Eating fast food or convenience store meals every day can lead to a high intake of fat. When the body absorbs large amounts of fat, it produces an excess of sebum.

Excess sebum production increases the risk of a fungus called “Malassezia” multiplying, which can cause inflammation of the scalp. Oily dandruff occurs when the inflamed areas caused by Malassezia fungi flake off, forming dandruff. The causes of oily dandruff are listed below.

  • A high-fat diet
  • Don’t blow-dry your hair after shampooing
  • Lack of exercise

A lack of exercise is also one of the causes of oily dandruff. In addition, if the scalp is constantly damp, there is a higher risk of Malassezia fungi multiplying. This type of oily dandruff seems to be more common in men. Now, what are the characteristics of the other type of dandruff?

Causes of dry dandruff

The causes of dry dandruff include excessive shampooing and an unhealthy lifestyle.

Excessive shampooing can wash away the natural oils necessary for the scalp, creating a risk that the scalp will remain constantly dry. Like oily dandruff, an unhealthy diet can also be a contributing factor to dry dandruff. White, flaky dandruff is a characteristic of dry dandruff.

If you experience a large amount of dry dandruff, there may be an abnormality in your scalp’s natural renewal cycle. The causes of dry dandruff are listed below.

  • Excessive hair washing
  • Common during dry seasons, such as winter
  • Vitamin and protein deficiency

If left untreated, can both oily dandruff and dry dandruff lead to AGA? What is the relationship between dandruff and AGA?

The Impact of Dandruff on AGA

I think many people worry that excessive dandruff might be a sign of AGA. So, let me explain the relationship between dandruff and AGA.

Related Articles: AGA Hair Loss: 7 Causes and How to Treat It

AGA is caused by dihydrotestosterone

The direct cause of AGA is an increase in the harmful male hormone “dihydrotestosterone.” Dandruff is not a factor that directly affects AGA. The progressive hair thinning caused by an increase in dihydrotestosterone is referred to as AGA. However, dandruff also has a significant impact on AGA.

Is dandruff a sign of a deteriorating scalp environment!?

As we know, AGA is caused by the effects of dihydrotestosterone. Under the influence of dihydrotestosterone, the “anagen” phase of the hair growth cycle becomes shorter, leading to gradual hair thinning.

However, AGA isn’t caused solely by dihydrotestosterone; the condition of the scalp is also a key factor. If you experience excessive dandruff, it may indicate an abnormality in the scalp’s natural renewal cycle. Excessive dandruff is a warning sign that the condition of your scalp may be deteriorating.

While there is no direct link between dandruff and AGA, leaving dandruff untreated can increase the risk of hair thinning.

Start Today! Tips for Combating Dandruff

If left untreated, both oily and dry dandruff can lead to hair thinning. To prevent hair thinning, it seems important to take steps to treat dandruff as early as possible. With that in mind, here are some ways to prevent dandruff.

Treating oily dandruff

Oily dandruff is caused by inflammation resulting from Malassezia fungi. It seems that controlling the growth of Malassezia fungi is key. Below are some preventive measures for oily dandruff.

  • Switch to a diet focused on food
  • Cut back on alcohol
  • Relieve stress

Switch to a diet focused on food

Western cuisine, which centers on meat dishes, uses large amounts of oil. Convenience store bento boxes and instant ramen also contain oil. In contrast, Japanese cuisine tends to use relatively little oil. It would be ideal to eat these dishes alongside green and yellow vegetables, which are rich in vitamins.

Cut back on alcohol

Alcohol consumption carries the risk of disrupting the skin’s natural renewal cycle. When you drink alcohol, your body produces acetaldehyde. The liver consumes large amounts of nutrients to break down this acetaldehyde.

As a result, fewer nutrients reach the scalp, disrupting the renewal cycle and leading to dandruff.

While alcohol consumption does not directly cause dandruff, it can worsen the scalp environment and indirectly increase the risk of dandruff, so it’s best to drink in moderation.

Relieve stress

Excessive stress can disrupt your hormonal balance. When your hormonal balance is disrupted, adrenaline is released, leading to the production of free radicals. As free radicals increase, sebum production rises proportionally.

We recommend using your days off to relieve stress and clear your mind.

Treating dry dandruff

Dry dandruff is caused by a dry scalp, isn’t it? Just like with oily dandruff, the key to treating dry dandruff is regulating sebum production. Below are some tips for dealing with dry dandruff.

  • Use an amino acid-based shampoo
  • Lather the shampoo before applying it
  • Avoid perms and hair coloring

Use an amino acid-based shampoo

Many conventional shampoos contain “synthetic surfactants” to remove bacteria from the scalp and hair. Because synthetic surfactants have very strong cleansing power, they can sometimes wash away the minimum amount of sebum necessary for the scalp along with the bacteria.

On the other hand, while amino acid-based shampoos are less effective at cleansing than those containing synthetic surfactants, they are gentler on the scalp and hair. Using an amino acid-based shampoo allows you to wash your hair while preserving the minimum amount of sebum needed.

Lather the shampoo before applying it

Lathering the shampoo before use can help reduce irritation to the scalp. If you apply undiluted shampoo directly to your hair, it will take longer to work up a lather, which means the shampoo will remain in contact with your scalp and hair for a longer period of time, causing irritation. Be sure to lather the shampoo thoroughly before using it.

Avoid perms and hair coloring

Perms and hair coloring can be very harsh on the scalp. Since they are highly likely to lead directly to hair thinning, we recommend avoiding them. If you do decide to get a perm or color your hair, be sure to have it done at a professional hair salon.

Consult an AGA hair clinic about Dandruff, too!

The AGA Hair Clinic also offers consultations for dandruff. It can be difficult to assess the nature of your dandruff and the condition of your scalp on your own, right? At the AGA Hair Clinic, we use high-performance equipment, such as microscopes, to examine the condition of our patients’ scalps at a microscopic level.

For consultations regarding dandruff and hair thinning, we recommend the AGA Hair Clinic, which has a proven track record.