Dandruff is a common scalp disorder with multiple microbial and host-related factors contributing to its aetiology, including alterations in scalp sebum. Despite existing evidence that the yeast Malassezia restricta plays a key role in the onset of dandruff, the interplay of these factors is poorly understood. Recently, squalene monohydroperoxide and malondialdehyde were established as biomarkers of dandruff-afflicted scalp, highlighting the role of sebum lipoperoxidation in the triggering and maintenance of dandruff, although its mechanism of action is unknown. The current study provides evidence that M. restricta mediates sebum peroxidation, leading to production of squalene monohydroperoxide and malondialdehyde. Furthermore, in vitro data show that these lipoperoxidation products act on epidermal cells and alter the skin barrier. These results support the role of Malassezia restricta-induced lipoperoxides as triggers of dandruff, which suggests that blocking their production could be a novel anti-dandruff treatment approach.

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is a PhD student in the Computational Chemistry group at ETH Zurich. She is the responsible for international relations in the youngSCS board. ChrysanthiPapadimou is a PhD student at the University of Neuchâtel. She acts as a representative of UniNE at the youngSCS. Magdalena Lederbauer currently pursues her Bachelor's studies of Chemistry at ETH Zurich and is an active member of the youngSCS. Christian Schellhaas is a Master's student in Interdisciplinary Sciences and ETH Zurich representative for the youngSCS. Dragan Miladinov is a PhD student of organic chemistry in the Sparr research group and is the youngSCS representative of University of Basel. Eva Vandaele is a PhD student in the Computational Chemistry group at the University of Zurich. She currently is the vice president of youngSCS and representative of the University of Zurich.

To attract children's interest in Chemistry, the youngSCS composed this easy science experiment about chromatography. It shows in a beautiful and simple way the science behind colors and explains a common laboratory technique. To best reach its target audience this experiment was published “Kaleio”, a Swiss girl’s magazine.