This Common Condition Is Actually A Signal Of Stress And Anxiety (And You’ve Probably Never Made The Connection)

You’ve likely heard of people breaking out into a rash when they’re stressed. Possibly even acne flare-ups too. But there’s one other side effect of a heavy mental load that’s surfacing as a skin condition. And it’s one that flies a little more under the radar than most: dandruff.

Once we’ve ruled out skin conditions, allergies and using a shampoo that’s far too harsh, it’s time to consider that the cause might actually be coming from within. And alongside remedying our itching, flaking scalps with a soothing mask or sensitive-friendly formulations, what we can be doing to prevent dandruff caused by stress.

What is the connection between dandruff and stress?

Speaking to Well + Good, psychologist Sanam Hafeez confirmed that the connection between our mind and scalps is very real (they are close neighbours after all). Lowering our stress levels has shown visible improvement for those who suffer from dry, irritated scalps. Of course, both conditions — anxiety and dandruff — can ultimately exist in a seemingly unbreakable cycle. Stress, which leads to a skin flare-up can then result in a person having a negative self-image, which then worsens the stress. And so it goes.

“Stress and anxiety correlate with skin conditions, but some skin conditions are exacerbated by stress and anxiety,” Dr. Hafeez explained.

Image credit: @gentlehairdos

What does cortisol have to do with it?

According to dermatologist Dr. Jenny Liu, “aside from the physical appearance and effects on one’s mental health, there have been reports that stress can flare seborrehic dermatitis, as cortisol can feed into an inflammatory response.”

Cortisol (otherwise known as the stress hormone), is released into our bloodstream when our body is under stress. It can result in an increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, and also, inflammation. This is where triggering dandruff (which can be defined as an inflammatory rash) becomes a possibility.

How can we lower our stress and reduce our dandruff?

Instead of looking to treat just one, we recommend targeting both. So, where do you start? Firstly, seek out methods which aim to lower stress levels and achieve mental clarity. Whether it’s taking an overdue break from work, starting to exercise or speaking to a professional, we recommend taking action before you start seeing a far greater impact on your health than a flaky scalp. Seriously.

Now, for treating your dandruff. Sub out your regular shampoo for a formulation that has been created specifically to treat an itchy scalp. Our recommendation? Aveeno’s Oat Milk Blend Shampoo ($19 at Woolworths.)

And don’t stop there. Try assessing how what you’re eating might be playing a role. Introducing an elimination diet and gradually cutting out gluten, processed foods, alcohol, dairy or sugar can be another way to detect any allergies which might be triggering dandruff. It’s not easy, we know.

As one aspect begins to improve, you should start to result both physically and psychologically.

Have you ever noticed that stress has triggered dandruff?