Why do we only get dandruff on our scalp and not the rest of our bodies?
In: Biology
Flakes on your scalp are caused by either a dry scalp or by a form of dermatitis that affects oily areas of the body. If your flakes are caused by dry skin, that same dry and flaky skin also occurs on the rest of your body.
Dandruff mostly shows up on our scalp because that area has a lot more oil glands compared to the rest of our body. These glands produce sebum, which, when mixed with dead skin cells, creates a perfect environment for a type of yeast called Malassezia to thrive. This yeast can cause the skin cells to shed more frequently, leading to those pesky flakes.
Imagine if dandruff popped up on our arms or legs – we’d be living in a constant snow globe! So, it’s really about the scalp having a unique combination of oils and microbes that you don’t get elsewhere on the body. Lucky us, right?
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