Dandruff is a condition of the scalp in which scalp flakes or sheds off dead skin. Dandruff is infectious in nature and the infection is the result of bacteria or fungus which causes excessive scaling of scalp. The scales resemble snow flakes and fall off in plenty, accumulating on shoulders or neck. Dandruff spreads through direct or indirect contact with the person having dandruff. There can be two types of dandruff: dry and waxy. Dry dandruff is whitish light flakes that can be easily dusted off. Waxy dandruff occurs when the flakes mingle with sebum and remain glued to the scalp. Dandruff results in irritation, intense itching and redness of scalp. Dandruff is often mistaken for dry scalp, but both are not the same. The factors contributing to dandruff may be listed as follows:
1. Malnutrition
2. Inadequate zinc and calcium in diet
3. Excessive sugary, spicy or salty diet
4. Excessive alcohol intake
5. Yeast infection
6. Infection caused by the fungi malasezia furfur
7. Usage of alkaline soaps and shampoos
8. Prolonged exposure to heat or cold.
Home Remedies for Dandruff
1. Wash scalp with warm water to get rid of dandruff.
2. Make a paste of crushed peel of lime, add coconut milk to the paste and apply the mixture on scalp. Keep for an hour and wash off. This is a useful home remedy for dandruff.
3. Massage scalp with warm olive oil or sesame oil. Wrap a warm moist towel on head for 30 minutes and then wash off. This helps to remove dandruff thoroughly.
4. Massage scalp with pure apple juice mixed with thrice the quantity of warm water. This is an effective dandruff cure.
5. While washing hair, use the juice of one lemon for the final rinse. This is a popular dandruff remedy.
6. Massage scalp with a mixture of curd, lime juice and Indian gooseberry juice before bedtime. Keep it overnight and wash next morning with lukewarm water. This is an effective dandruff treatment.
7. Scrub away dandruff with a scalp scrubber made from the powder of green gram.
8. Massaging scalp with the juice of snake gourd enables the fading away of dandruff.
9. Apply a mixture of beet root juice, ginger juice and cider vinegar on scalp to do away with dandruff.
10. Soak fenugreek seeds in water overnight. Next morning grind the seeds to make a paste. Apply the paste on scalp and keep for 45 minutes. Then rinse off with a mild herbal shampoo. This treatment will give you dandruff free hair.
11. Apply a mixture of 2 tablespoon cosmetic vinegar and 6 tablespoon hot water on scalp by means of a cotton swab soaked in the mixture. Keep overnight and wash.
12. Off with a mild shampoo the next morning. This effectively relieves dandruff situation.
13. Apply a mixture of sandalwood oil and thrice the amount of lemon juice on scalp to get relief from dandruff problem
14. Apply a mixture of heated coconut oil and 1/100th of black pepper to safeguard scalp against dandruff.
15. Exposing scalp to sunlight is the easiest cure for dandruff.
16. Massaging scalp with warm olive oil or almond oil before hair wash also causes dandruff to disappear.
Read more Home Remedies for Dandruff. Also know useful Home Remedies for Corns.