There are many weird and wonderful ideas about how dandruff spreads and why it spreads. Many of these ideas are just not true, and maybe a few of them have little merit to them.
Understanding Dandruff and its Causes
Dandruff can be an embarrassing condition left untreated, and depending on the severity of the condition will dictate the regime of treatment you undertake.
Would you be surprised if you found out that one half of the world population has been affected by dandruff? That’s a staggering accurate statistic. However, there is good news, and Dandruff is not contagious.
What is dandruff?
Dandruff is a scalp condition known as Seborrheic dermatitis, a fungal infection that needs treatment with medicated shampoos.
A lack of personal hygiene does not cause dandruff. In fact, it can be exacerbated by overwashing of the hair and scalp.
Will Dandruff Spread to my Pillow?
Because of the nature of dandruff, the shedding dead skin cells will fall on your pillow and clothing. Only treating the condition will improve the condition.
But spreading to your pillow and being part of a cycle of reinfection is not the case.
Pillow Cleaning Regime
Following a regular pillow cleaning regime should be sufficient for the average person who has dandruff.
Changing the pillowcase weekly or more frequently if you desire will, of course, make your bed feel fresh and improve your sleeping experience.
For day to day maintenance, you may need to vacuum or at the very least shake the dead skin cells from your pillow.
Does My Pillow Make Dandruff Worse?
This is an interesting question. Although very sketchy, there are some reports that some pillow care materials and stuffings may be better than others over some time.
The best advice always is to choose a pillow that makes you feel comfortable. If you look at a range of pillows, you will find that most materials used in the construction of the pillow are inert, and meaning they have no impact on your health or skin conditions.
If we take memory foam as an example, not only will you sleep exceptionally well as the memory foam mattress supports your head and neck, but the memory foam is made from a hypoallergenic polyurethane sub strait.
Of course, your pillowcase material needs to be of high quality to take full advantage of the quality of the memory foam pillow.
If you find your pillow a contributing factor, say because of excess moisture build-up, it may be time to invest in a modern pillow that is more suited to your lifestyle and sleeping needs.
In A Nutshell
Dandruff being contagious is a complete myth. If you share your bed, there is no chance of your sleeping partner contracting the same ailment.
Dandruff is something that so many of us suffer from at one time in our lives and should not be a cause for concern.
The correct treatment and management of dandruff can be easily obtained from a medical professional such as a GP, Dermatologist, or pharmacist who will point you in the right direction.