Ask Val: Is It My Imagination, or Does My Dandruff Get Worse in the Cooler Months?
| Photo: Robert Trachtenberg |
A: Dandruff might worsen when it's cooler, says Jeffrey Benabio, MD, voluntary clinical assistant professor of medicine at UC San Diego. Seborrheic dermatitis (dandruff, to you) seems to be triggered by an overgrowth of the yeast malassezia, says Benabio; washing your hair less frequently (as you might in cool months) can lead to more of the yeast. Also, low humidity can increase dandruff, while sunshine seems to reduce it. So the dry air and loss of sunlight in fall and winter might be contributing to your problem.
Keep in mind: Shampooing daily and using an anti-dandruff shampoo at least three times a week (try Pert Plus Dandruff Plus 2-in-1 Shampoo & Conditioner, $4; drugstores) should keep flaking under control.
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