Dandruff, medically referred to as seborrheic dermatitis, is a common scalp condition characterized by flaky skin and itching. Emerging research suggests a potential association between dandruff and hair loss, primarily through the involvement of the Malassezia fungus and the resultant inflammatory responses.

A study published in PubMed investigated the presence of Pityrosporum ovale (now classified as Malassezia) in individuals experiencing hair shedding. The findings indicated that 89.92% of subjects with hair shedding were carriers of Malassezia, compared to only 9.52% in the control group, suggesting a significant correlation between Malassezia colonization and increased hair shedding. 

Further research presented in Medical Mycology explored the role of Malassezia hyphae in androgenetic alopecia (AGA). The study observed that Malassezia hyphae were present in 48.89% of AGA patients, with a positive correlation between fungal load and scalp inflammation. Treatment with antifungal agents led to a reduction in fungal presence and alleviation of inflammation, implying that Malassezia may contribute to the pathogenesis of AGA through inflammatory mechanisms.

Additionally, a descriptive clinicopathological study examined hair loss within lesions of pityriasis versicolor, a condition also associated with Malassezia. The study reported that 61.5% of patients exhibited hair thinning or loss within affected areas. Histopathological analysis revealed follicular degeneration and miniaturization linked to the presence of Malassezia, further supporting the fungus's role in hair follicle impairment.

Moreover, a review in Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology discussed the scalp microbiome's involvement in alopecia. The review highlighted that Malassezia species, particularly M. globosa and M. restricta, were more abundant on the scalps of individuals with AGA. The authors proposed that Malassezia's enzymatic activities could lead to keratin degradation and inflammatory responses, contributing to hair follicle damage and subsequent hair loss.

Collectively, these studies underscore a potential link between dandruff-associated Malassezia colonization and hair loss. The proposed mechanism involves Malassezia-induced inflammation and follicular damage, which may contribute to hair shedding and conditions like androgenetic alopecia.