Can dandruff cause hair fall?

Dandruff refers to the itchy and dry flakes of skin that develop on the scalp. Many factors can cause dandruff, such as stress, diet, dry skin, and some hair products and shampoos. Severe dandruff can cause a person to scratch their scalp so hard that they might injure it. Repeated inflammation in the hair follicles can cause scarring and damage, stopping or slowing the hair regrowth. Now, this can cause thinning of hair. Aggressively brushing, twisting the hair, or scratching the scalp can make this type of hair fall worse. Some medical conditions also cause flaky skin on the scalp or dandruff, including seborrheic dermatitis, scalp ringworm, scalp psoriasis, or eczema. Some of these conditions are associated with hair fall as well.

What can cause both hair fall and dandruff?

Any condition that causes skin flakiness or makes the outer layer of skin shed at an unusually fast rate can cause dandruff. Some of the conditions that can cause both dandruff and hair fall are mentioned below:

• Fungal infections

Fungal infections can result in excessive itching on the scalp. Some people might notice blisters or dry flakes and their hair may fall out in clumps.  Some fungal infections like tinea capitis or ringworm of the scalp can also cause dandruff symptoms and lead to hair fall.

• Scalp psoriasis

Scalp psoriasis is a type of autoimmune disease that causes scaly and itchy patches to develop on the scalp. Although it is not dandruff, it causes dandruff-like symptoms and can cause hair loss as well.

• Lichen planopilaris

Lichen planopilaris causes a flaky and dry skin rash to develop on the scalp and causes the hair to fall out in clumps. The symptoms are similar to those of dandruff, but dandruff treatment won’t be effective for this condition.

• Seborrheic dermatitis

This condition can affect any part of the body but it majorly affects the scalp. It may cause a greyish or red scaly rash that itches, as well as greasy patches. If this condition is left untreated, it might damage the hair follicles. Aggressive or intense scratching of the area may just intensify the damage.

• Folliculitis decalvans

This condition destroys the hair follicles. It also causes itchy red patches to develop on the scalp. A person might think that they have dandruff because of the itching that this condition causes but it is always better to consult a doctor to get the proper diagnosis for this condition.