Dandruff is a common chronic scalp condition
marked by flaking of the skin on your scalp. Although dandruff isn't contagious
and is rarely serious, it can be embarrassing and sometimes difficult to treat.
Symptoms
For most teens and adults, dandruff symptoms
are easy to spot: white, oily looking flakes of dead skin that dot your hair
and shoulders, and a possibly itchy, scaly scalp. The condition may worsen
during the fall and winter, when indoor heating can contribute to dry skin, and
improve during the summer.
A type of dandruff called cradle cap can
affect babies. This disorder, which causes a scaly, crusty scalp, is most
common in newborns, but it can occur anytime during infancy. Although it can be
alarming for parents, cradle cap isn't dangerous and usually clears up on its
own by the time a baby is 3 years old.
Causes
Dandruff can have several causes, including:
- Dry skin. Simple dry skin is the most common
cause of dandruff. Flakes from dry skin are generally smaller and less
oily than those from other causes of dandruff, and you'll likely have
symptoms and signs of dry skin on other parts of the body, such as your
legs and arms.
- Irritated, oily skin (seborrheic
dermatitis). This
condition, one of the most frequent causes of dandruff, is marked by red,
greasy skin covered with flaky white or yellow scales. Seborrheic
dermatitis may affect your scalp and other areas rich in oil glands, such
as your eyebrows, the sides of your nose and the backs of your ears, your
breastbone, your groin area, and sometimes your armpits.
- Not shampooing often enough. If you don't regularly wash your
hair, oils and skin cells from your scalp can build up, causing dandruff.
- Other skin conditions. People with skin conditions such
as eczema — a chronic, inflammatory skin condition — or psoriasis — a skin
condition marked by a rapid buildup of rough, dry, dead skin cells that
form thick scales — may appear to have dandruff.
- A yeast-like fungus (malassezia). Malassezia lives on the scalps of
most adults, but for some, it irritates the scalp. This can irritate your
scalp and cause more skin cells to grow. The extra skin cells die and fall
off, making them appear white and flaky in your hair or on your clothes.
Why malassezia irritates some scalps isn't known.
- Sensitivity to hair care products
(contact dermatitis).Sometimes
sensitivities to certain ingredients in hair care products or hair dyes,
especially paraphenylenediamine, can cause a red, itchy, scaly scalp.
Shampooing too often or using too many styling products also may irritate
your scalp, causing dandruff.
Remedies
to Cure Dandruff
1. Yogurt
Yogurt is
not only a very good option to condition your hair and scalp, but it also a
wonderful home remedy to get rid of severe dandruff. Take plain yogurt and
apply it on your scalp. Leave it for like 20 minutes and rinse off afterwards.
Now, use a little shampoo to clean the scalp.
2.
Aspirin
Take two
aspirins and crush them. Make a fine powder and mix it into your regular
shampoo. When you shampoo, leave it for 2 minutes. After that, wash it off.
3. ACV
(Apple Cedar Vinegar)
Take one
part of ACV and mix it with one part of water. Both ACV and water should be
equal in parts. Mix them well. After shampooing, take a small amount in your
palm and rub it onto your scalp. Leave it for 10 to 15 minutes. Then wash it
off with water. Repeat this procedure for a week or so.
4. Oil
Therapy
Take mild
oil. It is considered that baby oil is the mildest oil. Use baby oil if you are
unable to find mild oil. Heat this oil, but not too much as this will burn your
scalp and fingers. First, touch the oil. If it is okay, take some oil in your
palms and massage gently. Do not apply too much pressure or your hair will
fall. Now, heat some water. Soak a towel in it. The towel should be long enough
to cover your scalp and hair. Now, squeeze the excess water and cover your hair
with this warm towel for 20 minutes. Take the towel off after 15-20 minutes and
leave it overnight. In the morning, shampoo your hair.
5.
Coconut Oil Massage
Heat some
coconut oil and massage your scalp with it, gently. Leave it overnight. Rinse
with shampoo, the next morning. It can be difficult to get the oil out in one
wash. Wash your hair twice, if needed. Coconut oil and especially the heated
oil will moisturize your scalp and hair. Repeat it every week.
6. Baking
Soda
Take a
handful of baking soda and apply it onto your scalp. Massage for a minute and
then, wash it off thoroughly. Repeat this procedure for 2 weeks. After 2 weeks,
your scalp will be dandruff-free, and hair will look beautiful.
7. Tea
Tree Oil
Take some
tea tree oil in your palm and massage your scalp and hair with it. Leave it
overnight. Rinse in the morning.
8.
Listerine
We all know
that Listerine is a great mouthwash product, but how many of you know that it
can actually help you to get rid of that terrible dandruff? The methyl salicylate
and menthol can provide relief in itching. Dab a cotton ball in Listerine and
place it on your scalp and see the wonder.
9. Lemon
Lemon is a
very good and effective natural remedy for dandruff. After shampoo, put some
lemon juice on your scalp and massage gently. Leave it for 1-2 minutes and wash
thoroughly.
10.
Mouthwash
Take 1 cup
of mouthwash and 9 cups of normal water. Mix it together. After shampoo, rinse
your hair and scalp with this mouthwash mixture. Do not use water afterwards.
Just style your hair like always. Repeat this procedure once a month.
11. Olive
Oil
Take extra
virgin olive oil, if available. If not, take the regular olive oil, heat it and
apply it on your scalp and hair. Massage gently. Olive oil will return your
lost moisture. Your hair will appear healthy, shiny and of course,
dandruff-free.
12. Aloe
Vera
Aloe vera
has many beneficial properties. Take raw aloe and cut it into half. Take out
the sticky gel in a bowl. Apply this gel before taking a shower. If you are
unable to find raw aloe, you can use aloe vera juice. After applying aloe vera
juice or gel, rinse thoroughly with a mild shampoo.
13. Thyme
Take 4
tablespoons of thyme and boil it in 2 cups of water. Boil it for 10 to 15
minutes. Let it cool down and then, strain this thyme mixture. Apply it on your
scalp and leave it for 5 minutes. It’s a good herbal therapy for dandruff.
14. White
Vinegar
Take one cup
of white vinegar and mix it with 3 cups of normal water. Rinse your hair with
vinegar mixture and then, run down the water on your scalp.
15. Salt
Salt really
works as a great scrub. Take some salt and sprinkle it on your dry scalp.
Massage gently as this will remove the nasty dandruff. Shampoo your hair
afterwards.
16. Egg
Take 2 eggs
and beat the yolks along with egg whites. Apply this mixture onto your scalp
and leave it for 1 hour. Wash it off thoroughly after one hour. This will make
your hair shiny, dandruff-free and silky.
17. Apple
and Orange
Take orange
and apple in equal proportion and make a fine paste. Apply this onto your scalp
and massage gently. Wash your hair after 20-30 minutes with shampoo.
18.
Garlic
Mix 2
tablespoons of garlic powder with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Make a fine
paste and apply it on your scalp. Leave it for 35-40 minutes and rinse off with
cold water and mild shampoo.
19. Onion
Take an
onion and make a fine paste. Apply it on your scalp. Wash your scalp after 1
hour.
20.
Ginger and Beetroot
Take ginger
and beetroot and make a fine paste. Massage your scalp with this solution and
leave it overnight. Rinse your hair, the next morning. Repeat this procedure
for 4 to 5 nights.
21.
Rosemary Oil
Take
rosemary oil and mix vinegar in it. Massage your scalp with this oil. After
15-20 minutes, wash it properly.
REMEMBER
Almost
anyone can have dandruff, but certain factors can make you more susceptible:
- Age. Dandruff usually
begins in young adulthood and continues through middle age. That doesn't
mean older adults don't get dandruff. For some people, the problem can be
lifelong.
- Being male. Because more
men have dandruff, some researchers think male hormones may play a role.
Men also have larger oil-producing glands on their scalps, which can
contribute to dandruff.
- Oily hair and scalp. Malassezia
feeds on oils in your scalp. For that reason, having excessively oily skin
and hair makes you more prone to dandruff.
- Poor diet. If your diet
lacks foods high in zinc, B vitamins or certain types of fats, you may be
more likely to have dandruff.
- Certain illnesses. For reasons that aren't clear, adults with neurological diseases, such as Parkinson's disease, are more likely to develop seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff. So are people with HIV infection and those recovering from stressful conditions, particularly heart attack and stroke, and those with compromised immune systems.