1. Improper and irregular brushing of hair:
When you brush your hair, you are giving it a way to shed dead skin on top of your head. When you do not brush your hair enough or do not air your scalp, there is no way for the dead skin to leave the scalp area. Accumulation of such dead skin on the scalp can cause dandruff.
2. Allergic to yeast:
People who have a yeast allergy or are very sensitive to yeast tend to have a higher risk of developing dandruff. By yeast, I do not mean the yeast that is used for baking breads. This yeast is a type of fungi or spore that flies through the air all around us.
3. Dry skin:
Those of us who have drier skin than the rest have chances of getting dandruff. In fact people with dry skin report aggravated dandruff during winters when the skin gets drier still.
4. Certain illnesses cause dandruff too:
It has been said that certain types of illnesses such as weak immunity, people recuperating from heart attacks and strokes, people affected by Parkinson’s disease and seborrheic dermatitis can cause an increased risk of dandruff.
5. Infrequent shampoo wash:
When we do not regularly shampoo and clean our hair, there is an excess build up of oil and dead skin on our scalp. When this excess is not cleaned away properly, it gives rise to an itchy scalp and dandruff.
6. Malassezia:
Malassezia is said to be a fungus that is naturally present on every person’s body including the scalp. It is usually harmless but grows specifically in areas where more oil glands are located. When these oil glands over work, the fungi tend to multiply, causing blockages of the sebaceous glands. When the sebaceous glands on the scalp are clogged, it causes inflammation, itching and dandruff.
7. Improper diet:
It is also believed that a diet containing less than the required amount of zinc, vitamins and fats causes an increase in dandruff.
8. Stress:
And last but not the least, what my dermatologist personally told me to beware of is stress. Stress has been directly linked to dandruff and many other skin problems.
Having seen some unheard of causes of dandruff, panic is naturally the next stage and all the “what if” questions arise.
Dandruff is difficult to get rid of but not really impossible. With proper and regular care, dandruff can be eliminated once and for all.
Over-the-counter shampoos are available for treating dandruff. Your anti-dandruff or anti-fungal shampoo should ideally contain one or more of the following ingredients: Zinc pyrithione, Selenium sulphide, Ketoconazole, Coal tar, Tea-tree oil, Salicylic acid. Use your shampoo religiously everyday till you find your dandruff to be under control. Also, while using such a shampoo, you must let it stay on your scalp for 4-5 minutes before rinsing off for its active ingredients to work on your dandruff.
Some of the best dandruff home remedies are found right in the kitchen, so make sure you make the best out of them to control dandruff.
How to Control Dandruff? Simple Home Remedies
A few of the most popular home remedies for dandruff control are:
1. Yogurt and pepper:
You’ll be running into the kitchen for this one. This is one of the simplest dandruff home remedies ever! The ingredients are so simple that you never would have guessed. Yogurt, when applied onto the scalp, acts as a soothing agent. Yogurt prevents the aggravation of scaling on the scalp. Pepper is an anti fungal agent. It is always better to use fresh ingredients. Grind finely about 2 teaspoons of black pepper. Add this powder to one cup of curd. Mix them thoroughly and apply all over the scalp. Apply on the scalp and not the hair. Leave it on your scalp for about an hour and rinse off. Follow it up with a mild shampoo.
2. Olive oil:
Probably man’s greatest discovery is olive oil. Out of the multitude of uses of olive oil, its use in curing dandruff is the most widely popularised. Olive oil is an excellent moisturiser. Olive oil also has natural clarifying properties. As dandruff is caused mostly by a dry scalp, using olive oil is an obvious home remedy for dandruff that you can think of. Massage warm olive oil onto the scalp in gentle circular motions at night before going to sleep. Keep the olive oil overnight and cleanse with a mild shampoo in the morning. Remember to use an old pillowcase to absorb the oil or wrap your head in a cotton cap. Take care that the olive oil is warm but not hot. You can also apply olive oil on your hair before a wash; let it stay for 15-20 minutes before shampooing. Olive oil is truly an excellent home remedy for dandruff.
3. Lemon juice and oil:
Lemon juice is assumed to be natural bleach because of the citric acid content in the juice. Due to this reason, many people assume that using lemon juice on their hair can result in bleaching of hair, thereby causing grey hair. But this very popular belief is just that! A belief. A myth. Lemon juice has extremely beneficial antifungal properties which make it an essential weapon in the kit for dandruff home hair masks remedies. Mix coconut oil and lemon juice such that for one part lemon juice, add five parts coconut oil. Smear this mixture gently onto your scalp and leave this mixture on the scalp for about twenty minutes to half an hour. Wash off the mixture using a mild shampoo. Treat regularly to get rid of dandruff using lemon.
4. Vinegar:
Using vinegar as a cure against dandruff control has been around for the better part of the last century. When using vinegar for dandruff treatment at home, never pick a chemically prepared one. Always choose vinegar made from natural ingredients such as apple cider vinegar or balsamic vinegar. Vinegar is rich in potassium and active potassium enzymes which help to curb all your cravings for a good itch on your head. Vinegar is effective in curing itchy dandruff the best. Massaging apple cider vinegar onto your scalp gently benefits blood circulation as well as cures dandruff. Apple cider vinegar helps in getting rid of the dead skin which forms the flakes of dandruff and clogs the hair roots. Another easy way of including vinegar in your dandruff treatment routine is to add about a tablespoon of vinegar in your last mug of water as a rinse when you are washing your hair. Take care that this does not get into your eyes. Don’t worry about the smell as it will go away once your hair is dry.
5. Baking Soda:
Surprising isn’t it, the variety of cures present for dandruff? Would you have ever imagined finding baking soda to be listed as a potential among the various home remedies for dandruff? Baking soda clarifies the scalp and helps clear off the flakes on the scalp. But this does not mean you start washing your hair with baking soda instead of shampoo. Just add about one teaspoon of baking soda to your shampoo and wash your hair with this newly prepared shampoo. One wash is enough for you to see that the stubborn flakes hiding in the strands of your hair are also removed by the baking soda.
6. Aloe Vera:
We just cannot get enough of this miracle plant. Aloe Vera gets another feather in its hat. Aloe Vera repairs raw broken skin on the scalp caused due to repeated itching of our scalp. Aloe Vera gel also has anti bacterial and anti fungal properties. It acts like a clarifying agent on our scalp and keeps dandruff out. Apply the Aloe Vera gel obtained from the plant directly on your scalp. Leave it on for about a quarter of an hour and wash it off using a mild shampoo. Do this daily till you get satisfactory results. Aloe Vera cleans up the scalp, and also soothes and heals the scalp which makes it the perfect dandruff home remedy.
7. Neem:
Another age old recipe for countless ailments is the good old neem. Neem leaves are an excellent antibiotic, antiseptic, antibacterial and antifungal agent. Neem has been successfully used to treat numerous scalp and hair-related problems like lice, hair fall, scalp allergies and irritations etc. Neem has also proven its worth in treating dandruff. Make a paste of neem leaves after boiling them for half an hour and apply this gently onto your scalp. Leave it on for about half an hour and wash off. Regular usage can help control not only dandruff but also counteract hair fall. This is another amazing ways to control dandruff at home that one can easily follow.
8. Apples:
Another unconventional and unheard of cure among the other dandruff home remedies is an apple. Squeeze out the juice from a fresh apple, add about two tablespoons of this juice to an equal amount of water and apply it on to your scalp. Leave on this juice for about ten minutes on your scalp and wash your hair normally with a mild shampoo. Apples have an enzyme called phenolase which helps fight dead skin accumulation that can clog the hair roots. Eliminating the dead skin helps gradually cure dandruff.
9. Garlic:
Another dandruff treatment to try at home is garlic. The smell of garlic that is so effective in driving people away is also very effective in keeping dandruff away. Garlic has natural antibiotic properties which help in killing any bacteria present on the scalp. This helps fight dandruff. Mash garlic and make it into a smooth paste. Apply it on the scalp and leave it on for about half an hour. Wash your hair as usual with a mild shampoo.
10. Reetha:
The good old reetha is a wonderful home remedy for treating dandruff. Apply a paste made of water and reetha powder on your scalp. Keep this on for 2 hours and wash properly with a good shampoo.
11. Fenugreek seeds (Methi):
Soak fenugreek seeds overnight and make a fine paste out of this the next day. Apply this on your scalp and leave for half an hour followed by shampooing. Try this treatment for a month to do away with your dandruff problem.
One thing to keep in mind when gearing up to fight dandruff is that none of these cures are miracle cures, that is, you will have to have patience to see results. The best way to fight dandruff is to keep fighting until it gives up and runs away for good.
Hope you find these remedies on how to control dandruff useful. If you want to add to the list, you are welcome.
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