DEFINITION:
Dandruff is a physiological condition whereby the dead skin cells of the
scalp are shaded as flakes. While it is natural for the dead cells from scalp
to flake; it becomes a disease of embarrassing concern when flaking exceeds
487,000 cells per square centimeters. The disorder affecting the scalp marked
by itching and increased flaking; dandruff is caused by the heightened
secretion of ‘sebum’ (oil secreted by the sebaceous gland). Also triggered by
micro organisms as their metabolic waste, lack of individual resistance may be
another of its causes.
Caused mostly due to the increased secretion of sebum, restoration of the
scalp’s pH balance usually settles the issue. Dandruff is one of the ailments
where home remedies are particularly effective. This is particularly true of
dry dandruff; but cases of oily dandruff are difficult to be treated.
Dandruff is a kind of skin disorder
that affects the scalp. Dandruff is a condition in which white, dry flakes of
dead skin are shed from the scalp. Normally dead skin cells are shed from the
scalp, but it results in dandruff only when the scalp starts shedding thick
layers of these dead skin particles. Seborrheic dermatitis or Seborrhoea is a
disorder of the sebaceous glands which affects the scalp. Seborrhoea produces
severe dandruff and a red, itchy scalp. Dandruff rarely causes hair loss or
baldness. However, severe seborrheic dermatitis may cause patchy baldness.
CAUSES:
Some common causes of dandruff are
the following
- Unclean habits
- Emotional problems
- Hard shampoos
- Exposure to severe cold
- Excessive intake of oily and sweet foods
TREATMENT:
- Massage scalp with a mixture made of equal quantities
of lime juice and vinegar. Wash hair with egg shampoo after this.
- Fenugreek is very effective in preventing dandruff,
hair fall and baldness. Soak fenugreek seeds in water overnight and grind
it into a fine paste the following morning. Leave this paste applied on
the scalp for 30 to 45 minutes and then wash it with a mild shampoo.
- Boil neem leaves in water and use this water to rinse
hair.
- Massage scalp with warm coconut oil for half an hour at
least twice a week
- Make a paste by tulsi leaves and amla powder mixed with
water. Massage this paste on the scalp and let it remain for half to one
hour. Wash the hair with water.
- Egg shampoo can be prepared by beating 2 or 3 eggs with
a little water in it. Apply this mixture on the hair after wetting the
hair and massage the scalp for sometime. Let this remain on the hair for
sometime before washing it off with water. This treatment is very
effective in preventing dandruff.
- Tea tree oil is found to be an effective medicine
against dandruff. Into some hot water, mix 1 teaspoon tea tree oil and
massage your scalp with this. Wash your hair with lemon water followed by
pure water. After washing, wrap a hot moist towel around your head for
some time. The best time to do this is at night before going to bed
HOME REMEDIES:
- Besides resorting to a healthy hare care regimen,
certain home centric use of natural herbs and fruits work wonders for
dandruff. One such schedule includes regular massaging of lemon into your
scalp. Following the massage, you are required to wash your scalp with
shampoo.
- Similarly lemon juice added to that of coconut oil
ensures the right pH balance whereby healthiness of scalp protects against
dandruff. The mixture may be made out of lemon juice and mustard oil as
well. The citric acid of lemon juice helps to restore the required
balance.
- Before choosing to apply shampoo a soothing massage of
oil, generally ensures healthy hair free from dandruff. You may go for
coconut oil; but massage of almond or olive oil will prove to be more
effective.
- In cases of oily dandruff hot bath or a steam shower is
naturally effective as a remedial option. But the same option should be
avoided in cases of oily dandruff.
- Apart from lemon, curd also can be included as one of
the remedial options. Application of curd is especially effective for
dandruff of the oily type.
- Acetic acid in plain vinegar as well as in cider
vinegar is helpful to combat conditions of dandruff. Having foamed your
head with an effective herbal shampoo, you can rinse it off with water.
For the final round of washing you can use vinegar diluted in water.
Weekly use of the same will prove to be an effective option.
- You can also try out another condition whereby you add
two table spoon measures of cider vinegar to six similar measures of
water. The same can be applied to the scalp with cotton and left
overnight. The next morning you can have it washed off with shampoo.
- Rubbing a sun baked lemon peel to the affected scalp
before immersing the same in coconut milk is another good option.
- In case you have colored hair, it is advisable to avoid
lemon and vinegar. For the dandruff treatment option for colored hair
beetroot juice and juice extracted out of ginger is an effective
alternative.
- Amalgam of lime juice and vinegar in the ratio of one
is to two measures in tea spoon works wonder to cure dandruff. Overnight
application is to be followed by rinsing it clean with an egg based
shampoo.
- In case you are not allergic to eggs, application of
two beaten eggs diluted with little water also comes in handy.
- The multi dimensional medicinal uses of aloe vera also
serve to be effective from the point of view of dandruff cure. Application
of its gel is equally effective if used prior to washing of head.
- Besides aloe vera, rose also makes for effective
dandruff treatment. Soaked rose merry leaves may be boiled in sufficient
amount of water. The consequent mixture of the leaves and two spoonful
measures of white vinegar can be applied to the affected scalp after
washing the same.
- Fenugreek paste applied overnight to the dandruff prone
scalp can be another remedial measure. It can also be used an hour before
washing of head.
- Washing of head with ritha another natural ingredient
by the name of ‘acacia concina’ serves as a protection against dandruff
prone scalp.
- Washing of head with two tablespoons of powdered green
gram and six similar measures of curd is another effective remedial means.
It must be borne in mind that
processed or tinned food including that of tinned fruits acts as an antidote to
the cure of dandruff. Besides avoiding these, hair should be brushed properly
to stimulate blood circulation and means adapted to free scalp from accumulated
dirt and dead cells.
