What is dandruff ?

Dandruff (seborrhea) also called scurf is due to the excessive shedding of dead skin cells from the scalp, nothing else but the excessive production of scalp. Many skin specialists agree that dandruff is associated with tiny fungus called pityrosporum ovale. Which normally lives on the human skin and feeds on skin oils? During dandruff this fungus known as malassezia multiplies manifold and creates problems in the scalp. This fungus, when becomes out of control causes dandruff. It can appear in the hair and can also spread in eyebrows and beard to neck and shoulder.

Causes of Dandruff

There may various causes for dandruff, including some of the internal or external ones. Some of the internal causes are:

• Hormonal imbalance.
• Poor health condition.
• Poor hygiene: failing to keep oneself or the surroundings clean.
• Allergy or unfavorable reaction to certain substances that may cause or aggravate dandruff.
• Lack of rest or being overworked.
• Emotional stress or emotional disturbances.
• Improper diet containing excess of sugar, fat and starch contents, and nutrition and hereditary predisposition.
• Excessive use of hair products such as sprays and gels, hair coloring.
• Excessive use of hair dryers or hot curlers, which dry up the scalp.
• Using heaters or hot air blowers inside the house.
• Inadequate rinsing of scalp after shampooing.

Treatment of Dandruff

• To treat dandruff, one needs to regularly wash one’s hair with an anti-dandruff shampoo. An anti-dandruff shampoo removes the dead skin before it can build up. Most of the anti- dandruff ingredients are either acids, which break down the oils on the scalp, or fungicides, which kill the Malassezia fungus, ensuring better hair hygiene and health.
• There are various shampoo brands and the treatments specifically available for treating dandruff. The definitive standard of treatment is a tar shampoo that contains salicylic acid. Shampoos like Head and Shoulders, which contain Zinc Pyrithione; Selsun Blue, which contains Selenium Sulfide; Neutrogena and T-Gel, which contain coal tar; and, shampoos that contain Ketoconazole, such as Nizoral, are also effective in controlling and treating dandruff.

Home Remedies for Dandruff

• Camphor with coconut oil - Mix a spoonful of camphor with coconut oil, or neem oil and massage on the scalp. This is an effective natural dandruff treatment.
• Hazel with lemon - Combine one tablespoon fresh lemon juice with 100 grams witch hazel. Add 200 ml water and use this mixture to wash your hair. This is to be done many times until your hair become free from dandruff.
• Olive oil and almond oil - Combine almond oil and olive oil in equal parts. Massage on the scalp and let it stay for five minutes. Rinse thoroughly. This is also another useful natural dandruff treatment.
• Pain killer with shampoo - Crush two aspirins and mix with gentle shampoo. Put it on the scalp and let it stay for 2 minutes. Rinse and take out all the aspirin particles on the head.
• Glycerin with coconut oil - Combine one tablespoon glycerin, one tablespoon vinegar, one tablespoon coconut oil, and one egg. Mix until the materials form a paste. Put this mixture on your scalp and let it stay for about one hour. Then wash your hair using a shampoo. Do this once each week.
• Tamarind and Sugarcane - Dampen tamarind using water and combine it with molasses. Put this mixture on your scalp and after an hour, cleanse it using a shampoo. Do this once each week.
• Lemon juice and Honey - Take a few drops of lemon juice and honey and mix it well with some yogurt. Apply this mixture on your scalp and leave it for some time. Scrub and wash well with warm water.
• Green Gram Powder -The hair must be washed with this herb at least two times a week with two tablespoons of the powder mixed with half a cup of curd.
• Fenugreek Seeds - Fenugreek seeds are one of the most essential treatments for conditions like dandruff. Two tablespoons of these seeds need to be soaked overnight in water and ground into a fine paste in the morning. This paste should be applied all over the scalp and left for about partially an hour.
• Rosemary Rub - Mix rosemary oil or a mixture of olive oil and crushed rosemary. Leave this into the scalp for 15 minutes.
• Ginger - Mix ginger root and olive oil, and apply these to the scalp before shampooing. If the condition is extremely bad, put the mixture on 10-15 minutes before shampooing