How climate
affects dandruff
The North is gripped in the depths of winter now. For some
people, it is also the season for winter dandruff. This type of dandruff has
flakes that are smaller and less oily than those from other causes of dandruff
and is often accompanied by dry skin on other parts of the body, such as the
limbs and face. Since time immemorial, people had tried to deal with the
problem with various remedies such as slathering on yogurt, rubbing with salt
or mud, dousing with teas and washing the scalp with various herbal
concoctions.
The hypothesis is winter dandruff is due to exposure to
extremes in temperature such as cold, dry winter air outside and overheated
rooms indoors. Researchers noted dandruff worsened for Yeast-sensitive people during
winter and improved during the warmer months. Winter dandruff symptoms may
appear only during winter or worsened during these months.
There is lack of sunshine in winter and UV rays of the sun is
reported to kill Malassezia, the yeast often associated with dandruff.
Interestingly, sun exposure is also reported to trigger dandruff. Pityriasis
versicolor is a yeast infection that develops in hot humid weather on oily
skin. The yeast feeds on skin oils (lipids) as well as dead skin cells.
Infections are more common in people who have seborrheic dermatitis, dandruff
and hyperhidrosis.
Experts believe Malassezia is responsible for both dandruff
and pityriasis versicolor, a condition characterized by patchy rashes with
scaling on upper torso, arm and lower leg.
When Malassezia is present, there is a higher chance of
getting dandruff than pityriasis versicolor. The chances are fifty percent for
dandruff and merely two to eight percent for pityriasis versicolor. This strain
variability puzzled experts. Why do Malassezia give the skin on the scalp more
problem than skin on other parts of the body? Does local immunity play a role
in the disease predisposition? Many questions are yet to be answered.
Experts found a number of contributing factors to seborrheic
dermatitis, the severe form of dandruff and scaling of the skin. They are Genetic, environmental, hormonal, and
immune-system factors. The condition may be aggravated by sleep deprivation,
psychological stress, fatigue, change of season, illness and reduced general
health.
Genetic, climatic and hormonal factors are beyond our
control. We can adjust lifestyle factors to reduce the chance of getting
dandruff. Since cholesterol-loving Malassezia is often associated with dandruff,
we can adjust our diet so our body do not overproduce cholesterol. Is that
possible? Let us explore this last contributing factor to dandruff in the next article.
