Causes and Home Remedies for Dandruff

The term dandruff generally refers to the condition of the skin wherein shiny, silvery scales separate from the scalp and collect amidst the hair. The condition can become troublesome when the skin gets infected. There are two main types of dandruff, namely dry dandruff and oily dandruff. Those with an oily skin tend to suffer from oily dandruff while those with dry skin suffer from dry dandruff. The type of dandruff home remedy that one chooses must therefore be decided according to the type of dandruff.

Oily dandruff can be a little tougher to treat as it tends to recur quite easily while dry dandruff can be prevented quite easily. Nevertheless, with a suitable dandruff home remedy and a regular hair care regimen, you can get obtain permanent relief from this condition. While most people see dandruff as a purely cosmetic problem that can be embarrassing at times, dandruff can have several serious repercussions. Dandruff increases one's risk of scalp infections, especially dry skin conditions, and it can also cause loss of hair which is generally temporary but which can be permanent.

Dandruff can also cause itching on your forehead and face as it settles on your skin. A dandruff home remedy needs to be used for a prolonged period to ensure that the condition is successfully treated. Very often, people use home remedies for dandruff for just a week or so and as soon as the dandruff has seemed to have cleared, they stop the treatment. However, discontinuing treatment before the condition has cleared completely will cause the problem to resurface. A dandruff home remedy is usually made up of natural ingredients and can be used for at least two weeks or so as this will ensure permanent relief.

Dandruff is of two types:

Waxy dandruff - it occurs the epidermis scales which is mixed with the sebum that stick to the scalp in the form of patches.
Dry dandruff - in this, small white flakes of scalp falls or may get attached to the skin of head.

Causes

Factors that contribute in causing dandruff are:

mal nutrition
Lack of minerals like zinc and calcium in diet.
Fungal infection especially malasezia furfur is the major cause of dandruff
Infections caused by yeast
Usage of soaps and shampoos those are alkaline in nature.
Infection caused by communication with others.

Home Remedies for Dandruff

Dandruff Treatment using Fenugreek Seeds
The use of fenugreek seeds is one of the most important remedies in the treatment of dandruff. Two tablespoons of these seeds should 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 half an hour. The hair should then be washed thoroughly with soap-nut (ritha) solution or acacia concinna. This dandruff home remedy is especially effective for those suffering from dry dandruff. You will need to use this anti dandruff treatment at least twice a week for the first two weeks and then once a week for another two weeks.

Dandruff Treatment using Lime
The use of a teaspoon of fresh lime juice for the last rinse, while washing the hair, is another useful remedy. This not only leaves the hair glowing but also removes stickiness and prevents dandruff. Lime juice or lemon juice is an excellent oily dandruff home remedy and can also be used to prevent this scalp condition. You can also apply a paste made out of lemon juice and fuller's earth to your scalp once a week. This pack is one of the best dandruff home remedies as it is an effective method of deep cleansing your scalp. The lemon juice in this paste will help to break down the excessive sebum that has collected on your scalp while the Fuller's earth will help to cleanse your scalp of the excess dead skin cells.

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