Key insights

• 🦠 Malassezia yeast colonizes human scalps shortly after birth, leading to differences in dandruff severity.
• 🔬 Follicles are popular living spaces for Malassezia due to the presence of sebum-secreting glands.
• 🍄 Malassezia consumption of saturated fats, leaving unsaturated fats behind, leads to skin inflammation and dandruff.
• 🔄 Skin renewed every two to three weeks, but with dandruff, cells churn out quickly and form large, greasy clumps due to Malassezia's effects.
• 💡 Dandruff can be managed with antifungal shampoos, but its cause is unclear and may be linked to genetic predisposition or skin barrier permeability.
• 🔑 Malassezia communicates with the immune system using oxylipins, and dandruff may help protect the skin from harmful microbes.

Q&A

• What are researchers studying about dandruff?

  Researchers are studying the communication between Malassezia and the immune system, as well as investigating potential treatments and the benefits of the relationship. They are exploring the use of oxylipins, which are involved in the communication between Malassezia and the immune system, to develop new treatments. Additionally, they are examining how dandruff, by providing a reliable, oily food source for Malassezia, might help protect the skin from harmful microbes.

• Is dandruff contagious?

  Dandruff is not contagious, and it is not a major threat to health. While it can be uncomfortable, it does not pose a risk of transmission from one person to another.

• Can dandruff be managed?

  Dandruff can be managed with antifungal shampoos, which are applied to the scalp to kill the Malassezia yeast. It's important to note that while dandruff can be managed, its exact cause is not fully clear, and susceptibility to dandruff may be linked to genetic predisposition or skin barrier permeability, which is still under investigation by scientists.

• How does Malassezia contribute to dandruff?

  Malassezia consumes saturated fats, leaving behind unsaturated fats, which can lead to skin inflammation and dandruff. The skin responds by causing inflammation and increasing skin cell proliferation to repair the damaged barrier. Additionally, the quick turnover of skin cells due to Malassezia's effects results in the formation of visible flakes around the hair follicles.

• What causes dandruff?

  Dandruff is caused by the Malassezia yeast, which lives on the human scalp and feeds on the oils secreted by glands in the hair follicles. The yeast's consumption of these oils and the body's response to it lead to the formation of dandruff.

• 00:07 Malassezia yeast lives on human scalps and causes dandruff in about half of the population. The yeast colonizes our skin shortly after birth, leading to differences in dandruff severity. We are hosts to billions of microbes on our skin.
• 00:51 Follicles provide a popular living space for Malassezia, which feeds on the oils secreted by glands in the follicles, leading to dandruff formation due to the composition of the oils.
• 01:36 Malassezia consume saturated fats but leave unsaturated fats behind, leading to skin inflammation and dandruff. Skin responds by causing inflammation and increasing skin cell proliferation to repair the damaged barrier.
• 02:27 Our skin renews every two to three weeks, but with dandruff, cells churn out quickly and form large, greasy clumps around the hair follicle, shedding as visible flakes due to Malassezia's effects.
• 03:09 Dandruff can be managed with antifungal shampoos, but its cause is unclear. Susceptibility may be linked to genetic predisposition or skin barrier permeability, which scientists are investigating further.
• 03:52 Researchers are studying the communication between Malassezia and the immune system, investigating potential treatments and the benefits of the relationship. Dandruff provides a food source for the yeast and may help protect the skin from harmful microbes.