Written by Navya Pathak Anxiety and stress, common mental health issues affecting millions worldwide, are linked to various physical symptoms like headaches, digestive issues, and sleep disturbances. An often overlooked consequence is their impact on the scalp . “Seborrheic dermatitis, or dandruff, is a chronic condition with flaky, itchy, and sometimes inflamed skin on the scalp caused by the organism Pityrosporum Ovale.
Mood disorders are often associated with severe dandruff,” says Dr Renu Jadhav, dermatologist at Resolute Care Clinic. The stress-scalp connection “Anxiety and stress can trigger dandruff as they are interlinked neurological disorders,” says Dr Rashmi Aderao, a dermatologist. Advertisement Stress and anxiety trigger a lot of hormonal changes in the body.
Rucha Divekar, a consultant psychologist at the Ruby Hall Clinic said, “This is due to cortisol, the primary stress hormone. Increased cortisol levels can disrupt the natural balance of various bodily systems, including the skin. The scalp is like any other part of the skin.
” A challenging aspect of this relationship is the vicious cycle it creates: anxiety worsens dandruff, which in turn increases stress. Aderao said, “Many patients with scalp conditions are unaware they might also have anxiety and stress. We treat their conditions and refer them to psychologists.
” Psychological and physiological mechanisms The link between anxiety and dandruff is both psychological and physiological. “Men.
