Plural of dandruff; flaky, dead skin that sheds from the scalp, often causing an itchy, uncomfortable condition.
From Middle English 'dandriff' or similar forms; the exact origin is debated, possibly from Old Norse or Low German roots related to 'dander.' The '-s' makes it plural in modern English.
Dandruff is caused by a yeast called Malassezia that everyone has on their skin, but some people's immune systems overreact to it—it's not about hygiene, it's literally a condition where your body fights back too hard against something harmless.
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