Is Dandruff Contagious?

Table Contents

If you’re wondering is dandruff contagious? The simple answer is no. Just like you can’t catch dry skin from another person, your scalp doesn’t become irritated just because someone else has dandruff.

If you’ve suffered from lifelong dandruff, don’t be alarmed, because the real causes are treatable!

What is Dandruff?

Dandruff or seborrhea is the most common skin condition in the world. It causes white or yellowish flakes on the scalp, eyebrows, and beard. Dandruff is considered a milder form of Seborrheic dermatitis known as Cradle Cap in babies, which causes severe flaking and scaling not only on the scalp but other parts of the body.

Some other common symptoms of dandruff are

Itchy scalp
Dry skin
Redness
Greasy scales and flakes
Inflammation

What Causes Dandruff?

If you really want to get to the root of your itchy scalp, you should understand what can cause an onset of Dandruff.

While the medical and scientific community haven’t come to a consensus on exactly what causes this skin condition, most doctors agree that the likely cause is an abnormal amount of Malassezia yeast along with a sensitivity to its presence.

Common Triggers

There are also other things that might trigger a person’s sensitized response to this fungus such as

Stress and depression
Hormonal changes
Wearing itchy materials, such as a wool hat
Exposure to cold, dry weather
Having a build-up of hair products
Irritation from chemicals in hair products
Eczema
Psoriasis

The best way to determine your triggers is to record outbreaks and track common habits or actions that may have led up to a dandruff flare-up.

Is Dandruff Contagious?

The cause of dandruff is believed to be an overabundance or sensitivity to Malassezia globosa, something that is already present in almost every single human on this planet. Therefore, the dry, red, itchy, and flaky skin is actually more of an inflammatory response.

So, there’s no need to flake out on your dinner date or scratch plans with your friends over a dandruff flare-up. Hair dandruff is not contagious; It’s not a condition that can transfer from person to person by contact.

Is Dandruff a Fungus?

Many people think that dandruff is a fungus or a scalp fungal infection. However, the truth is that dandruff is not a fungus nor is it a fungal infection, it is only caused by a fungus (Malassezia).

Fungal infection on the scalp is known as ringworm or tinea capitis which can cause redness, irritation, and scaling similar to dandruff, which is why both conditions are often confused.

Is Dandruff Hereditary?

If you think you will inherit dandruff, you are incorrect. Dandruff is not something that can be inherited. But other things are hereditary and can trigger or cause your dandruff such as

Sensitivity to oleic acid
Excess sebum production
Change in hormonal levels

These are some factors that can cause dandruff, but only when there is excess sebum production that mixes up with Malassezia yeast and produces oleic acid. To which your scalp reacts in the form of dandruff flakes and scales.

Many factors must come to give you those flakes only one would not be responsible for it.

Does Dandruff Cause Hair Loss?

Dandruff and hair loss are like old friends. A lot of people experiencing dandruff would also experience hair fall at the same time. However, dandruff itself can not cause hair loss.

The hair loss that you have with dandruff is usually because of

The excess itching and scratching of the scalp. Scratching can weaken the hair roots and cause them to fall out.
Inflammation caused by dandruff in the hair follicles can slow down hair growth and damage the follicles leading to hair loss.

How to Know if You Have Lice or Dandruff?

Having lice in your hair can cause itching and irritation, which can also be caused by dandruff. And the lice eggs may look similar to white dandruff flakes. However, both conditions are quite different.

Lice eggs look like tiny eggs or teardrops while dandruff appears as dry skin flakes.
The eggs are usually present on the hair shafts while dandruff appears on the scalp.
Dandruff flakes can easily fall off the scalp but the lice eggs stick to the hair.

Learn more about it in our blog Lice Eggs VS Dandruff.

How Do I Get Rid of Dandruff?

While dandruff isn’t contagious or hereditary and isn’t much more than an uncomfortable condition, it can be embarrassing and frustrating for the person dealing with it. There is no permanent cure for dandruff yet.

However, taking simple steps like

Avoiding triggers
Following a simple and effective routine
Using a medicated shampoo for treating dandruff can help keep symptoms of dandruff at bay (and your black shirts flake-free).

Medicated Dandruff Shampoo

One ingredient to look for in dandruff shampoo is pyrithione zinc. This zinc complex is a safe and effective antifungal and antibacterial agent that has been used for more than 50 years to neutralize the Malassezia that is believed to cause symptoms of dandruff.

Use an anti-dandruff shampoo 2 to 3 times a week.
Make sure to apply it to the hair roots.
Leave it on the scalp for a few minutes before rinsing it.
Rinse thoroughly without leaving any residue behind.

However, there is more than pyrithione zinc that goes into dandruff shampoos and conditioners. For those who are concerned about sensitivities and irritations to harsh ingredients, or just simply want a more natural shampoo that can still help with symptoms of dandruff, there is Dr. Eddie’s Happy Cappy Medicated Shampoo for dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis.

Its 95% natural plant-based ingredients, the natural soothing properties of licorice root extract, and provitamin B5 moisturize and calm skin while the active pyrithione zinc works to fend off Malassezia yeast.

This fragrance-free, sulfate-free (SLS/SLES), paraben-free, gluten-free shampoo can also be used as a body wash and face wash by adults, teenagers, and babies.

Treating Dandruff and Cradle Cap in Babies

When dandruff is present in babies and children, it’s often a sign of seborrheic dermatitis, sometimes referred to as “cradle cap.”

Symptoms of “cradle cap” on babies include

Scaly patches of yellow or brown
Cracking
Flaky skin that occurs on the scalp sometimes reaches across the scalp to the eyebrows, like a cap.
It can also be found in the form of moist pink plaques along the diaper area, the armpits, and the neck, and can appear similarly in the folds of skin, such as the back of the knees or elbows.

“Cradle cap” is extremely common in young children, with more than 40% of children experiencing symptoms before the age of 6.

While adults have many options when looking for a shampoo and body wash for dandruff, it can be harder to find a safe and effective dandruff shampoo designed for the sensitive skin of children.

Dr. Eddie’s Happy Cappy Medicated Shampoo for children is dermatologist and clinically tested, which was specially formulated to eliminate flaking, scaling, and inflammation associated with cradle cap and dandruff in babies.

It is free of other things that could be harmful to your child’s skin, such as parabens, sulfates, dyes, synthetic fragrances, and alcohols—making it the only medicated shampoo formulated for children of all ages.

Shop our products for seborrheic dermatitis, cradle cap, dandruff, and eczema today.