Plant-Derived Bioactives for Dandruff Management: Phytochemistry, Antifungal Mechanisms and Modern Formulation Strategies

Dandruff is a common chronic scalp disorder characterised by excessive shedding of superficial scalp skin, producing visible flakes accompanied by itching, irritation, and mild inflammation. It commonly develops after puberty and is associated with interactions among Malassezia yeasts, sebaceous gland activity, scalp-barrier function, and individual susceptibility. Although dandruff shares features with seborrheic dermatitis, dandruff is generally limited to scaling and itching, whereas seborrheic dermatitis involves more prominent erythema and inflammation and may affect other sebaceous areas.[1-3,8]