Page Header Page Content Page Footer
Enable Javascript
  • Part of the P&G family
  • Pantene
  • Herbal Essences
  • Aussie
  • Olay
USA - English
Please select a location
  • North America
  • USA - English
  • USA - Español
  • Canada - English
  • Canada - Français
  • Latin America
  • Español
  • Português
  • Asia
  • 中文
  • India - English
  • Indonesia - Bahasa Indonesia
  • 日本語
  • Pakistan - English
  • Philippines - English
  • ไทย
  • Tiếng Việt
  • Australia & New Zealand - English
  • Europe
  • English
  • Deutsch
  • Français
  • русский
  • Italiano
  • Español
  • Nederlands
  • Polska
  • Português
  • Limba Română
  • Vlaams
  • Middle East
  • الجزائر
  • Français
  • English
  • עברי
  • Türkçe
  • South Africa - English
Contact Us
Head & Shoulders Dandruff Shampoo
Go
  • Shop Products
    • Daily Scalp &
      Hair Care
      • Daily Scalp and Hair Care
      • Shop by Person
    • For Him
      • Products for Men
      • Shop by Hair Concern
    • For Her
      • Products for Women
      • Shop by Hair Concern
    • Royal Oils
      • Royal Oils Collection
      • Shop by Scalp Concern
    • Shop by Type
      • Dandruff Shampoo
      • Dandruff 2-in-1
      • Dandruff Conditioner
      • Dandruff Treatment
    • View All Products
  • SCALP CARE
    • Dandruff
      • Dandruff
      • See All Articles
    • Itchy, Dry & Sensitive Scalp
      • See All Articles
    • Severe Scalp Conditions
      • See All Articles
  • Hair
    • Hair Care
      • Hair Care
      • See All Articles
    • For Her
      • Hair Care
      • Learn More
    • For Him
      • Hair Care
      • Learn More
  • What's New
  • About
  • Home |
  • Healthy Hair & Scalp |
  • Dandruff
    |
  • Dandruff Treatment
Print This

Dandruff causes and treatment

Recommended 265 Times Recommend This
Share fb_icon_article twitter

YOU'RE NOW LEAVING HEADANDSHOULDERS.COM

We recommend you to review the third-party site’s privacy policy, as their privacy practices may differ from P&G.

Any personal information you provide on the third-party’s website will be managed in accordance with their privacy policy.

Share on

EMAIL THISmail

Share This By E-Mail

Dandruff causes and treatment

There are # error(s) on this page.
Email Service Unavailable
   
   
   
   
Send
CANCEL

E-MAIL SENT SUCCESSFULLY

Your email has been successfully sent to the recipent.

Continue

1 in 2 people in the world have suffered from dandruff at some point in their lives. Find out more about the cause, symptoms and the best way to get rid of dandruff.

Causes of dandruff
When does dandruff start?
Symptoms of dandruff
How to get rid of dandruff

The cause of dandruff

Dandruff is caused when 3 things come together:

• A microbe that’s present on everyone’s scalp called Malassezia globosa
• Natural oils on the scalp known as sebum
• A sensitive scalp

As the Malassezia globosa breaks down the sebum on your scalp it produces oleic acid.

And if you’re scalp is sensitive to it – and around 50% of the world’s population is – your scalp can become irritated, leading to the symptoms we know as dandruff.

Explore the causes of dandruff in more detail

When does dandruff start?

Dandruff often starts with puberty as your hormones start to change, causing you to produce more scalp oils for the dandruff-causing microbe Malassezia globosa to thrive on.

But it can also appear at other times when your hormones change such as in old age or during times of stress.

More about when you get dandruff

The symptoms of dandruff

The easiest way to spot dandruff is flakes appearing on your shoulders, but there are other signs too including:

• Itching
• Redness
• Dry scalp

These can all arise as the result of irritation as a sensitive scalp reacts to the dandruff-causing microbe.

More on the symptoms of dandruff and how to treat them

How to get rid of dandruff

Luckily, treating dandruff and treating flakes, itching and dryness is easy – just use an anti-dandruff shampoo that’s been proven to work on all the symptoms of dandruff.

There’s a whole range of different shampoos depending on your symptoms, your hair type and how you want your hair to look whether it’s thicker and fuller, or smooth and silky.

They all contain the active ingredient zinc pyrithione, which has been proven in hundreds of clinical trials to get rid of dandruff when used regularly.

Get advice and tips on how to get rid of dandruff.

Related Products

  • Classic Clean Shampoo
    Quick View

    Classic Clean Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

    Rating Stars Off
    Rating Stars On
    ( 324 )
    $1.99-$9.99 MSRP
    Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price
  • Green Apple  Shampoo
    Quick View

    Green Apple Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

    Rating Stars Off
    Rating Stars On
    ( 182 )
    $3.79-$9.99 MSRP
    Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price
  • Smooth & Silky Shampoo
    Quick View

    Smooth & Silky Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

    Smooth & Silky Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

    Rating Stars Off
    Rating Stars On
    ( 794 )
    $5.99-$7.99 MSRP
    Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price

Related Articles

Why Do I Have Dandruff?

How do you get dandruff – the causes explained

  • Connect With Us
  • Connect with us on Instagram
  • Connect with us on YouTube
  • Connect with us on Facebook
  • Connect with us on Twitter
  • Shop Products
  • Shampoo
  • Conditioner
  • 2-in-1
  • Treatment
  • Shop All Products
  • About
  • About H&S
  • Sustainability
  • FAQ
  • Seborrheic Dermatitis
  • Itchy Scalp
  • Coupons & Offers
  • Head & Shoulders Coupons
  • HELP & SUPPORT
  • Contact Us
  • Smart Label For ingredients and more, select a product.
  • Collections
  • Men Styling
  • Supreme
  • Classic Clean
  • Full & Thick
  • Dry Scalp Care
  • Moisture Care
  • Green Apple
  • Ocean Lift
  • Instant Oil Control
  • Old Spice
  • Instant Relief
  • Purely Gentle
  • Instant Fresh
  • Refresh
  • Instant Hydration
  • Smooth & Silky
  • Clinical Strength
  • Nourishing Hair & Scalp Care
  • Itchy Scalp Care
  • Related P&G Products:
  • Pantene
  • |
  • Herbal Essences
  • |
  • Aussie
  • |
  • Olay
    • BBB
  • Privacy
  • CA Privacy
  • Site Map
  • AdChoices ad choice
  • Terms & Conditions
  • © 2021 Procter & Gamble
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
Scalp AnalysisArrow
Scalp analysis
Sunday Haircare Routine