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Does dandruff cause hair loss?

Dandruff itself does not take your hair. What it can do is make you scratch, and scratching an inflamed scalp breaks hair and can push more of it into shedding.

Watch the answer27s · Nora, our educator
Transcript

Dandruff doesn't take your hair. What it can do is make you scratch, and scratching an inflamed scalp breaks hair and can push more of it into shedding. So the flakes aren't the villain. The inflammation and the scratching are. Treat the scalp and the shedding usually settles. If it doesn't settle, the dandruff was never the whole story.

So the flakes are not the villain — the inflammation and the scratching are. Treat the scalp and the shedding usually settles. If it does not settle once the scalp is calm, dandruff was never the whole story and it is worth having a doctor look properly.

The honest next step for most hair questions is a measured look at your own scalp. The Uberhair hair check is free, takes about 3 minutes from your phone, and your photos go to the doctor you choose.

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Uberhair connects you with hair and skin providers and helps you prepare for your visit. It does not provide medical advice — always talk to your provider about your care.