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Is Dandruff Hereditary?


Did you know dandruff is NOT caused by poor hygiene? Its your own sensitivity something that can be inherited from your parents.

Sensitivity is just one factor that causes dandruff the other two are universal and everybody has them:

  • A naturally occurring microbe called Malassezia globosa
  • Scalp oils – or sebum – which everybody produces
    They cause dandruff as Malassezia breaks sebum down into oleic acid.

For 50% of the worlds population that results in dandruff, because theyre sensitive to oleic acid.

If youre not sensitive to it, you wont experience dandruff.

Explore the cause of dandruff in more detail

Hormones are the key to oil production

The oils on your scalp are produced by glands beneath the surface of your skin theyre essential to keeping your hair and scalp moisturized.

These glands are controlled by hormones. Its why many people start to notice oil both on the scalp and other areas of skin during puberty when their hormones start to kick in.

More oil doesnt always mean more dandruff

Just because you produce scalp oils even if you have inherited a tendency to over-produce them doesnt mean youll suffer from dandruff.

To experience dandruff, you also need to be sensitive to oleic acid. If youre not, it doesnt matter how much oil you produce, youll never experience dandruff. Skin sensitivity is one trait that can be inherited from our parents.

So its not really dandruff thats hereditary, but rather some of the factors that cause it are. So if you have it, you may indeed have your parents to blame.

See all our dandruff shampoos

More tips and advice from the experts:

  • The causes of dandruff