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Dandruff

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Close Encounters of the Microbial Kind

Abstract

Dandruff is a disease of the scalp in which fungi belonging to the genus Malassezia are thought to play an important role. These fungi are also invariably present on the scalp of dandruff-free individuals. The disease results in flaking of the scalp and affects about 50% of adults worldwide. The disease is rarely eliminated but can be controlled using shampoos containing anti-fungal agents. Malassezia species are responsible for a number of other diseases (pityriasis versicolor, seborrheic dermatitis and atopic eczema), but these are less prevalent than dandruff.

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Wilson, M., Wilson, P.J.K. (2021). Dandruff. In: Close Encounters of the Microbial Kind. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-56978-5_4

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