Can Dandruff cause Acne?

The answer is “YES.” Dandruff can cause acne which can be difficult to deal with. Dandruff is the most common problem which the majority of us have to face. Dandruff and acne are both common problems that are interrelated to each other. If you have acne on your forehead, the first question that your expert will ask is- “Whether you are suffering from dandruff?” Well, that's true, in most cases. Both conditions impact and result in the overgrowth of bacteria. This leads to the question of what is the relation between acne and dandruff. 

Let us know in detail about dandruff and acne and how to solve acne-related dandruff in this blog. 

What is Dandruff? 

Dandruff is also known as “Seborrheic Dermatitis” in medical terms. Dandruff is a common scalp condition that results from dry skin and excessive flaking. 

How to identify if you have dandruff? 

If you have excessively dry skin or oily skin on your scalp, there are higher chances of dandruff. You can easily identify dandruff if you wear dark clothes as it may cause embarrassing situations when dry white flakes fall on your shoulder. You can also identify it when you have dark-colored hair, white dry flakes are easily visible. 

Many people believe that dandruff is caused due to not maintaining proper hygiene, but this is not true. Let us know the causes of dandruff. 

Causes of Dandruff 

The causes of dandruff are- 

• Stress
• Aging
• Dry climatic winter conditions
• Extreme skin conditions like oily or dry skin
• Growth of yeast-like fungus called Malassezia
• Scalp conditions like eczema or psoriasis
• Sensitive to hair care products
• Infrequent washing of hair
• Using too many chemicals in products
• Deficiency of vitamins
• Certain illnesses like the weakened immune system
• Long term medication
• Seen more in males than females 

Symptoms of Dandruff 

The symptoms of dandruff are as follows- 

• Dry scalp or oily scalp
• Excessive itching
• Hair loss
• White dry flakes
• Yellow sticky flakes
• Acne on forehead and cheeks
• Acne on shoulder and back
• Skin flakes on the scalp, eyebrow, hair, beard, and mustache
• Scaly crusty scalp in infants 

Now, you can easily identify dandruff. Let us move into the next step in the relation between acne and dandruff. 

Relation between dandruff and acne 

Overactive sebaceous glands secreting oils are the main culprit resulting in dandruff and acne. When excess oil on the skin and scalp mixes with a dead layer of skin, this may cause shedding of skin and result in dandruff. This may clog the pores causing acne due to dandruff. Clogged pores may result in bacterial overgrowth causing cysts and pimples on the scalp or face. 

Another common link between dandruff and acne is the shedding of skin. If your skin is shedding at a faster rate, there are higher chances of dry flakes due to dandruff. This leads to the quick formation of dead skin cells. This may clog skin pores and cause acne. 

How to get rid of acne-related dandruff? 

There are simple steps to get rid of acne-related dandruff which are as follows- 

Preventing dandruff is the first step toward controlling acne in the right way. Ensure to use comprehensive natural skin and hair solutions to maintain dandruff-free hair and acne-free skin. 

Prevent and control dandruff	Prevent acne
Use anti- dandruff shampoo	Use skin care products focused for acne
Shampoo and wash hair frequently	Use natural elements of salicylic acid and hyaluronic acid
Keep hair clean	Cleanse your face regularly
Moisturize your hair with proper conditioner	Maintain healthy lifestyle