Overview
Researchers haven’t pinned down exactly what causes dandruff, but they suspect that it is connected to a common type of fungus called Pityrosporum ovale. Most of the time, Pityrosporum ovale is harmless, but when it starts to multiply, it can cause the excessive skin cell shedding that’s associated with dandruff. Winter weather may be one of the factors that causes Pityrosporum ovale to multiply, according to Duke University’s The Campus Barber.
The Facts
Winter weather can dry out your skin, including the delicate skin on your scalp. This increased dryness can cause or exacerbate dandruff, according to The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas’ Health Watch. The cold weather has a drying effect, but the excess of indoor heating also contributes to dandruff, says Duke’s Campus Barber.
Identification
Dandruff–whenever it occurs–shows up as pale flakes of dead skin that fall on your hair and clothes. Serious dandruff, or seborrheic dermatitis, may make your scalp scaly or crusty, give the skin on your scalp a greasy, red appearance or cause itchiness or soreness in addition to manifesting as the telltale white or yellow flakes, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Risk Factors
Cold weather is just one of the factors that can intensify dandruff symptoms. Your hair hygiene plays a major role–use a gentle shampoo every other day to prevent dandruff caused by over-washing or not washing often enough. If dandruff is a problem, stop chemical hair treatments to give your scalp time to heal. High levels of stress and a diet low in essential fatty acids can also increase your risk for dandruff in winter and the rest of the year.
Prevention/Solution
You can control winter dandruff and help clear it up by using a medicated shampoo designed to rehydrate your scalp and slow down skin cell shedding. Paul Bergstresser, M.D., professor of dermatology at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, recommends choosing a tar-based shampoo for best results in a 2007 edition of Health Watch. The Mayo Clinic suggests using the shampoo every day until your dandruff is controlled and then using it as needed.
Considerations
If your dandruff is so uncomfortable that it interferes with your sleep or regular activities, if your skin is painful or if you think you might have an infection or if your efforts to treat your dandruff yourself have been unsuccessful, see a doctor.
