Coughs and sneezes might spread diseases, but dandruff? Definitely not. Dandruff is not contagious – here’s why.
No – Dandruff is not contagious. You can’t "catch" dandruff nor can you pass it on to anybody. Whether you suffer from dandruff or not, you already have the two main factors present on your scalp – the microbe Malassezia globosa and natural scalp oils.
They’re present on everyone’s scalp, and for about 50% of the world’s population, their interaction causes dandruff.
More about the causes of dandruff
Why you can’t catch dandruff
You only get dandruff if you’re sensitive to the main causes, and you’re either sensitive or you’re not – it’s not something that can be caught like a cold or flu virus.
If you are sensitive to the combination of Malassezia and scalp oils, your body responds by speeding up the production of skincells, causing excess skin to build up and appear as flakes.
Other symptoms include irritation, redness, itching and a dry scalp.
How to get rid of dandruff
The best way to treat your dandruff is by using a tried and tested anti-dandruff shampoo that contains an active ingredientclinically proven to be effective on all the symptoms.
Like Head & Shoulders. We use pyrithione zinc in all our shampoos – it’s been approved by regulatory organizations aroundthe world as an effective dandruff treatment.
See all our anti-dandruff shampoos
More tips and advice from the experts: