Question

Which of the following microorganisms causes dandruff?
A)Bacteria
B)Algae
C)Fungi
D)None of the above

Answer 1

Hint: The agents that cause the hair infections are the microorganism which belongs to the group of eukaryotic organisms. Hair infection is the most common concern in human beings. The microorganisms that cause hair infections had chitin cell walls but no chlorophyll or plastids. The microorganisms may be unicellular or multicellular.

Complete answer:
Dandruff causes the skin on the scalp to flake. It is a very common condition of hair infections in human beings.it is not contagious or a serious problem but it can be embarrassing and difficult to treat.
-Dandruff is itself not a fungus but it is caused by a naturally occurring fungus known as Malassezia globosa.
-The oils are present on the scalp called sebum. This fungus breaks down the oil and produces oleic acid. One in two peoples is sensitive to oleic acid.
-If a person is sensitive to oleic acid, then their scalp becomes irritated and increases the rate of renewal of skin cells in order to get rid of whatever is irritating it. As a result, skin cells clump together and form flakes that we associate with dandruff.

Additional Information: The symptoms and signs of dandruff include -
-Skin flakes on the scalp, eyebrows, beard, and shoulders.
-Scalps become itchy.
-In infants scaly crusty scalps with a cradle cap.
Bacteria - these are the single-celled microorganisms that can live in soil, ocean, and inside the human gut. Humans have a complex relationship with bacteria. Bacteria is also the helping hand of humans such as it helps in curdling of milk into yogurt and helps in digesting the food.
Algae - they have the ability to conduct photosynthesis and they are aquatic organisms.

So, the correct answer is,” Fungi”.

Note: -Malassezia sp is a fungus that causes infections mainly on the skin. It mostly infects the follicles of the hairs and causes skin irritations, flaky scalp (dandruff).
-Most of the organisms belonging to this genus cause different other skin infections.
-Mild dandruff can be treated with an anti-dandruff shampoo and if it doesn't work then medicated shampoo may help but the symptoms may return later.
-It is also considered to be a mild form of seborrheic dermatitis and in babies called a cradle cap.