Alaska Hairdresser and Barber Certification 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

Dandruff is primarily caused by the growth of a yeast-like fungus called Malassezia, which is naturally found on the scalp. This fungus often thrives under conditions of excess oil production, known as sebum, leading to irritation and the formation of flaky skin. The presence of this fungus causes an inflammatory response in some individuals, resulting in the characteristic white or yellowish flakes associated with dandruff.

While insufficient shampooing might contribute to the accumulation of dead skin cells and oils on the scalp, it is not the primary underlying cause of dandruff. Similarly, using an excessive number of hair products may result in buildup that can exacerbate flakiness, but the fundamental issue lies within the scalp's response to the yeast and sebum levels. The length of hair is irrelevant to the causation of dandruff; rather, it's the scalp’s health and the microbial environment that play crucial roles. Thus, the correct answer highlights the significant connection between the yeast-like fungus or overproduction of sebum and the condition known as dandruff.