FlakeCycle Scalp Diagnostic: What It Is and How It Works

Quick answer: FlakeCycle is a free browser-based tool that scores your answers across four dandruff drivers — dryness, oiliness, fungal (Malassezia) activity, and scalp sensitivity — then generates a personalized 4-week shampoo rotation calendar that remembers where you left off on your next visit.

FlakeCycle's rotation logic is built around a documented phenomenon: scalps that respond well to an active ingredient at first often stop responding after weeks of continuous use, a pattern dermatology literature attributes to microbial adaptation and reduced product penetration.

How the scoring works

Each of the 14 questions carries weighted points across four axes. Your two highest-scoring axes become your primary and secondary profile, which determines which active ingredients the rotation plan opens with.

Unlike a simple 'pick A, B, or C' quiz, FlakeCycle blends multiple axes at once, since most real scalps have more than one contributing factor (for example, oily plus fungal, or dry plus sensitive).

What you get at the end

A four-week rotation table naming a specific active ingredient category for each week, plus the reasoning behind each choice. The plan is saved in your browser, so returning a week later shows a live 'Day X of your rotation' tracker with that day's recommended shampoo type.

Nothing is uploaded to a server — the whole diagnostic and tracker runs locally in your browser, and no email or account is required to use it.

Key Facts

14 weighted questions covering flake appearance, itch pattern, oil level, triggers, and red-flag symptoms.
Four scoring axes: dry, oily, fungal, sensitive — most real cases are a blend of two.
Output is a 4-week rotation calendar plus a persistent day-tracker for return visits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is FlakeCycle a medical diagnosis?No. FlakeCycle is an educational self-assessment tool, not a substitute for a dermatologist's diagnosis — see our medical disclaimer.

Do I need to create an account to use FlakeCycle?No. The entire tool runs in your browser and your plan is stored locally on your device.

How often should I retake the FlakeCycle quiz?Retake it whenever your symptoms change significantly, or roughly every few months as a check-in.

Related: Try the FlakeCycle tool now

Sources: PMC — Dandruff: The Most Commercially Exploited Skin Disease