Dandruff is a skin inflammation, which causes the formation of flakes (white to yellowish scales) on the scalp or inside of the ear. It is also medically termed as Seborrheic dermatitis or Seborrheic eczema. When it is found in infants, it is referred to as cradle cap.
Dandruff is believed to be caused by the excess formation of skin oil and by the growth of yeast known as Malessizia. It gets worsened when dirt gets accumulated in the pores. It may also be caused by low immunity, improper diet, constipation or an underlying health condition. This condition can become a troublesome due to the constant itching sensation and falling of the flakes from the scalp. Dandruff may form a crust or lumps on the scalp in severe cases. Hence, it is necessary to prevent dandruff and related skin problems.
Scalp Cleanliness
Clean your hair and scalp thoroughly by washing in order to remove the accumulated dead cells and flakes. You can use shampoos having Ketoconazole, selenium sulphide or zinc to wash your hair and scalp. However, using these anti-dandruff shampoos when there is no dandruff can lead to severe dandruff problems, as it makes your scalp dry. You need to brush your hair with a fine comb to remove flakes on the surface of the scalp. This fine combing will also help in improving the blood circulation.
Massaging
Massaging your scalp with warm linen, and coconut or olive oil will improve the blood circulation. When the circulation of blood improves, dandruff gets controlled; hence, regularly massage your scalp before you brush your hair. This massaging also let the hair follicles to breath, as it dislodges the dirt and dandruff flakes. It has another added advantage of stimulating hair growth.
Avoid Weather Extremities
Protect your hair and scalp from extremes of weather. For example, sun rays and the heat can increase the production of oil on your scalp, which will in turn aggravate the dandruff problem. So, it is necessary to avoid direct exposure to sun rays and other extreme weather conditions, else wear protective head gears.
Home Remedies
There are some simple home remedies to control and prevent dandruff problems.
- Mix lemon juice with coconut milk; apply this mixture to your scalp and leave it for at least half an hour. Then, wash your hair with plain water.
- Apply mustard paste to scalp, leave it for 10 minutes and then wash it off. Repeat this once in 3 days for a month to get a dandruff-free scalp.
- If you are not prone to common cold or rhinitis, you can apply curd pack to your scalp on a daily basis to get a dandruff-free scalp.
- Add a pinch of pepper powder to coconut milk and apply it to the scalp. Leave it for 30 minutes and wash it off.
Lifestyle Changes
Reducing stress, eating a balanced diet and engaging in body cleansing will also help you in preventing dandruff. Even exercising relieves you of tension and stress, and dandruff can also be prevented. Thus, it is important to regularly do some exercises like walking, jumping, or jogging in order to keep dandruff at bay.
