What is dandruff?
Dandruff is the shedding of dead skin cells from the scalp, it is a common condition, which is marked by itching. Dandruff is primarily an aesthetic problem, which many people find unattractive or embarrassing. There is nothing medically serious about it. It will not lead to baldness, and it is not contagious. Since dandruff occurs naturally, it is unable to be cured, but fortunately dandruff can be controlled.
What are the signs and symptoms of dandruff?
The hallmark sign of dandruff, or seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp, is white flakes on the scalp and in the hair. If the person is wearing dark clothes, the flakes will be more noticeable when they fall on their shoulders. The scalp may also feel itchy, tight or sore.
There are simple measures you can take to treat dandruff:
1. Wash your hair regularly
The best thing to start with is by shampooing more regularly and making sure to rinse your hair thoroughly. Most of the time dandruff can be treated and controlled with over-the-counter dandruff shampoo. More severe dandruff may need prescription shampoo, steroid creams, or antifungal creams to help improve the skin irritation. Hair washing method is important in treating dandruff. Lather the hair twice and on the second lather, leave the shampoo on the hair for five minutes (or as directed on the shampoo label) before rinsing to give the medicine time to work properly.
2. Rinsing your hair with vinegar
Rinsing your hair with vinegar (specifically Apple Cider Vinegar or white vinegar) may sound like a dreadful idea, but it can be quite an effective way to treat dandruff because it actually addresses the root of the problem. Vinegar will get rid of the unwanted skin that would flake off into dandruff, and it won’t clog up your pores or cause more. An overgrowth of fungus can also cause dandruff, and vinegar acts like a fungicide. To give your dandruff the brush-off, follow up each shampoo with a rinse of 2 cups apple cider vinegar mixed with 2 cups cold water. You can also fight dandruff by applying 3 tablespoons vinegar onto your hair and massaging into your scalp before you shampoo. Wait a few minutes, then rinse it out and wash as usual.
3. Treat dandruff with tea tree oil
Tea tree oil has antiseptic qualities that may help kill the fungus, and keep your scalp moisturized. You can buy a small bottle at many groceries and health food stores, and add 5-6 drops to your regular shampoo. Or just purchase a shampoo that contains tea tree oil.
Baking soda is just an all-around useful thing to have in the house. It plays a large part in a lot of natural home remedies. To get dandruff under control, Mix one tablespoon of baking soda to every one cup of warm water. If you’re using an old (clean) shampoo or soap bottle, shake up the mixture and apply generously. Otherwise, stir it before you use it. Do this in place of shampoo, daily if possible. Your hair may feel quite dry in the beginning, but its natural oils will restore themselves soon, and they will be much more balanced than when using some commercial shampoo.
5. Lemon for dandruff
To begin with the lemon for dandruff remedy is more efficient for a individual with oily flaky kind of dandruff but it could also be efficient if utilized relatively for a dry itching scalp also. The acidity in pure freshly squeezed lemon juice contains acids that can help break down the fungus that is often the cause of dandruff outbreaks. Just massage 2 tablespoons lemon juice into your scalp and rinse with water. Then stir 1 teaspoon lemon juice into 1 cup water and rinse your hair with it. Repeat this daily until your dandruff disappears. No more itchy scalp, and your hair will smell lemon-fresh.
