Dandruff (or dry flaky scalp) is an itchy, annoying and persistent skin disorder of the scalp. A dark suit and dandruff simply don't go together!

There is nothing more embarrassing than to have someone brush white scaly flakes off your beautiful black dress or navy blue jacket.

Based on ongoing research, it has been noted that in the past ten years dandruff problems have become more serious and more frequent.

Dry or Greasy Dandruff
Dandruff can cause either an overly dry scalp with itchy white flakes that may be waxy or greasy or dandruff can manifest as an oily greasy scalp with scales.

What Is Dandruff?
A person's entire body surface continuously sheds dead skin cells. The skin itself sheds every twenty-four days.

Dandruff, the shedding of dead skin cells from the scalp at an excessive rate, is the result of the normal growing process of the skin cells of the scalp.
Excessive Sloughing Of Old Cells
In a normal scalp, the process of sloughing off old cells and manufacturing of their replacements is very orderly and complete. In the dandruff scalp, there is mass disorder and often the departing cells are not dead before leaving the scalp.
Why there should be a speedup in the scalp's cell production is still a debated mystery.
There appear to be two different causes of dandruff. Internal and external.

Internal Causes
Among the myriad of internal causes suspected are:

hormonal imbalance
poor health
excessive perspiration
poor hygiene
allergic hypersensitive
lack of rest
emotional stress
excessive consumption of sugar, fat, starch
improper nutrition
heredity pre-disposition

There is still no other published cure for the skin disorders that can cause dandruff so most of the 50 million people in the United States who have it find they get it again and again.

External Causes
The following factors may make the flaking of dandruff worse and considered to be external causes for the problem:

Excessive use of hairsprays and gels.
Improper use of hair-coloring products or excessive use of electric hair curlers
Cold weather and dry indoor heating.
Tight fitting hats and scarves.
Infrequent shampooing of the hair or inadequate rinsing.
Stress, anxiety and tension.

Dandruff & The Fungus Theory
Contrary to popular theory, although bacteria may aggravate a dandruff condition, germs do not cause the initial problem. The precise cause of dandruff is unknown.

Most medical authorities consider dandruff, even the mildest forms, to be a type of scalp or skin related disease.

Clinically, one description of dandruff is seborrhea capitos or excessive sebum production of the scalp.

Today most skin specialists agree that dandruff is associated with a tiny fungus called Pityrosporum ovale, P. ovale for short.

This fungus lives on our bodies and scalp all the time, usually without causing a problem. Unfortunately, for some people, it can increase in numbers, leading to dandruff.

Additional Causes of Dandruff
Dandruff is seasonal. It is most severe during the winter and mildest during the summer. The most common symptom of dandruff is scaling with occasional itching.

Dandruff scales usually occur as small, round, white-to-gray patches on top of the head. Scaling can occur anywhere on the scalp, in the hair, on the eyebrows, the beard and can spread to the neck and shoulders.

Dandruff is often known as "dry scalp", but people with oily scalps tend to suffer most. An oily scalp also supports the growth of P. ovale.

Dandruff & Baldness
As always, myths and rumors pervade any type of hair or scalp condition. For many years the common belief was held that untreated dandruff would eventually lead or contribute to baldness.

Current thinking does not support these original beliefs. Many people, both men and women, live under the fear that dandruff may lead to baldness. Although these conditions may occur at the same time, there is absolutely no known or documented evidence that baldness is related to dandruff.

Traditional Treatments For Dandruff
The most common dandruff treatments are shampoos containing:
coal-tar
pyrithione zinc
salicylic acid
selenium sulfide
sulfur

Daily shampooing with thorough rinsing has been the treatment recommended until the present.

Since dandruff is a natural process, it can not be eliminated. It can only be managed and controlled.