We’ve heard the word ‘stress’ thrown around, but everyone has vague definitions of what it means. We definitely know how it feels, but what does it actually do?
Stress is a reaction by your body to moments of pressure or threat, which can be physical or mental. It’s a natural human response to a situation that might seem out of the ordinary, helping us survive those moments. It releases hormones within the body, which allows us to prepare for the coming emergency.
But constant stress can also affect your body in negative ways, especially on the face and scalp.
Can stress cause dandruff?
Stress can’t cause dandruff, but it can aggravate dandruff.
The core reasons for dandruff are oily skin and a naturally occurring fungus. Your scalp is covered in oil glands which can start producing excess oil in certain situations. The fungus, Malassezia Globosa, breaks down any oil build-up into a fatty acid. If your body exhibits any sensitivity towards this, you end up with itching, redness and flaking. This is what causes dandruff.
Stress can be one of the reasons for dandruff because of what it does within your body. In moments of stress, your body secretes a hormone called Cortisol. This is required to help you deal with the situation in front of you. However, prolonged periods of stress can keep the cortisol at high levels. The disruption in your hormones can trigger your oil glands into producing excessive amounts of sebum. This is why you might even see acne breakouts during stressful days.
Stress can also increase the body temperature and cause sweating, which provides fertile grounds for why dandruff occurs. Add stress-led inflammation to this and you should have a clear answer to the question – does stress cause dandruff.
What should you do?
Now that we’ve understood why dandruff occurs with stress, you can go about trying to fix it. Here are a few things you can do
Meditate
Healthy mind gives you a healthy body. People have been talking about meditation as a way to cope with stress for a very long time. It can help regulate your breathing and body temperature, while reducing the cortisol levels. Practice it every day for even a few minutes and stop worrying on does stress cause dandruff.
Exercise
Sitting at your desk for hours is not good for you, but don’t exchange that with sitting on your phone. Working out at least 4 times a week can help boost your dopamine and serotonin levels, which can improve your mood and mental well-being. It allows you to apply your energy rather than worrying about it.
Get help
Find the tools to help you deal with stressful situations. You can find online mental exercises, tools, and coaches to help you practice positivity. This can have a marked effect on your body’s constitution.
Shampoo for dandruff
Managing stress is important, but you also need to complement it with products that have been specifically designed for your issues. Using a shampoo for dandruff can work to soothe your symptoms in the short term. Try the Head and Shoulders Cool Menthol, which can get rid of the dandruff causing germs, deep cleanse your pores, and leave you smelling fresh.
It’s important not to start worrying about the thought – can stress cause dandruff. That’s adding another layer of stress. Visit a dermatologist if you’re unsure about the cause of your dandruff, finding another source of help in dealing with your dandruff stress.
