Why your dandruff gets worse in summer: The heat and humidity connection explained

In most cases, dandruff is linked to winter season. However, if you experience increased levels of flakes, itching or scalp irritation in hot and humid conditions, you shouldn’t be surprised. According to Dr. Partap Chauhan, world renowned Ayurvedacharya, summer seasons may secretly cause disturbance to the scalp health, resulting in worsening the symptoms.

The mechanism behind heat related scalp irritation

Increased levels of heat in the body result in excess sweating, even from the scalp area. Sweat when mixed with oil and dirt results in accumulation, leading to clogged pores and irritation. From the Ayurvedic perspective, such a situation is the manifestation of aggravated pitta dosha, which is characterized by excess heat in the body.

Humidity is an ideal condition for causing dandruff

Humidity inhibits proper drying of sweat on the scalp, making it moist. This creates a good breeding ground for fungi, which cause dandruff. This is what causes your scalp to appear oily but still flaky when the weather is humid.

The hidden role of oil and product buildup

High temperatures also increase the production of oils on our body surface. In addition to being polluted by dirt and hair products, this results in buildup, which causes irritation of the scalp. This makes the scalp heavy and itchy

Too much or too little washing: Either can cause problems

People tend to wash their hair too often, thus removing their natural oil, but some people do not wash at all, allowing dirt and sweat to build up. The solution is to keep a balance.

What your scalp is trying to tell you

Signs like slight itching, mild redness, or stickiness of the scalp are normally disregarded but are warning signs that should be heeded before they worsen into dandruff.


Dealing with dandruff during summer does not mean using aggressive measures. It is all about maintaining harmony by ensuring cleanliness, calming, and removing any build-up on the scalp. According to Dr. Chauhan, by balancing the internal heat and applying proper external methods, the scalp becomes healthy again.

Inputs By: Dr. Partap Chauhan - World Renowned Ayurvedacharya and Author