Advances in Scalp Microbiome Research: Molecular Insights into the Metabolism-Inflammation-Barrier Axis and Dandruff Pathogenesis

Abstract

Dandruff (DF) is a prevalent, recurrent inflammatory scalp disorder increasingly recognized as a complex state of functional dysbiosis rather than a simple Malassezia overcolonization. The scalp microbiome is predominantly shaped by Malassezia species (M. restricta and M. globosa), Cutibacterium, and Staphylococcus species. Recent multi-omics evidence indicates that DF pathogenesis is driven by the destabilization of microbial interaction networks and strain-level functional heterogeneity, characterized by the disruption of the C. acnes/S. epidermidis balance and the opportunistic expansion of Staphylococcus aureus. Mechanistically, Malassezia utilizes its lipolytic repertoire to hydrolyze host sebum into irritant free fatty acids and peroxides. Concurrently, oxidative metabolites like squalene peroxide (SQOOH) penetrate the stratum corneum to activate the NF-κB and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) pathways, triggering a pro-inflammatory cascade that overexpresses keratins (K6/16/17) and downregulates filaggrin. This molecular cascade drives abnormal keratinocyte turnover and lipidomic remodeling, establishing a self-perpetuating “metabolism–inflammation–barrier disruption” pathological cycle. This review systematically elucidates the molecular etiology of DF as an ecological disorder driven by a tripartite imbalance among the microbiome, host physiology, and the environmental niche. We propose that next-generation therapeutic paradigms must transcend traditional antifungal eradication, focusing instead on targeted molecular intervention and microecological restoration to recalibrate overall scalp homeostasis.