Causes of dandruff on the scalp

Dandruff, small white scales on the scalp, result from the presence of some bacteria.

According to Mother Nature Network, in 1874, French microbiologist Louis - Charles Malassez found that the Malassezia fungus appeared on the scalp of people with dandruff. He hypothesized that mushrooms are the cause of itching and dandruff. However, according to a study published in the journal Nature on May 12, bacteria are the real cause of this phenomenon.

The research team led by Zhijue Xu from Shanghai Jiaotong University, China, conducted a survey of 363 adults. The results showed that dandruff is more closely related to the presence of Staphylococcus bacteria on the scalp than mushrooms. Malassezia mushrooms have the same amount on the scalp of people with dandruff and no dandruff.

Bacteria are the cause of dandruff.(Photo: Zurijeta).

People with dandruff carry higher numbers of Staphylococcus and a much smaller amount of Propionibacterium than those without dandruff. Therefore, the cause of dandruff is not simply due to the presence of a bacterium. The absence of another type of bacteria can also determine whether a person is dandruff or not.

Scientists also found that people with dandruff produce less water and mucus on their scalp than others. But they are not sure if this is the cause of dandruff or just a side effect. Understanding more about the role of bacteria in dandruff development helps producers create better products to reduce this situation.

Currently, no medicine can eliminate dandruff completely. The common anti-dandruff treatment is the use of zinc - pyrithione in shampoo , which has antifungal effects and destroys certain types of bacteria, such as Staphylococcus. According to the team, the new dandruff removal formula should focus on balancing the amount of bacteria on oily skin, increasing Propionibacterium bacteria and reducing Staphylococcus.