What is Dandruff? Causes, Prevention, and Treatment
Dandruff, as we all know, is a skin condition that affects the scalp. Its a skin condition where the skin on your scalp starts exfoliating. It is medically known as seborrheic dermatitis. It is quite common and has affected most of us at least once. Let's state the obvious, dandruff can be quite embarrassing and once you've got it there's no hiding it! Now that you have understood what dandruff is let's see what causes it and how to prevent it.
Causes
It's hard to pinpoint a particular cause for dandruff as it varies from person to person. However, there are some causes which are:- Allergic reaction: According to dermatologists, dandruff can also be an allergic reaction to something. Just like how peanut butter makes the skin bloat, dandruff can also be a reaction to something you are allergic to.
- Stress: It is believed that stress does trigger dandruff. It doesn't for everyone but almost 20% of people are affected due to stress.
- Malassezia: Yes that's the name! By the name you can guess it’s something bad! This is believed to be the main reason for dandruff. It's a kind of yeast overgrowth in your hair that exists on the scalps and skin.
- Brushing your hair regularly: Yes, believe it or not, not brushing your hair regularly does contribute to increasing dandruff in your hair
- Shampooing: Not taking a head bath and rinsing off the dirt and excess oil can also be seen to cause dandruff.
Prevention
Dandruff is hard to treat once it has made an appearance. Though it can be treated I would say prevention is better than cure, right? Let's see some ways to prevent dandruff.Avoid using too many hair products :
When it's shopping time most of us especially women tend to buy more shampoos and other products as a sign of taking care of your hair but it's quite the opposite. Using too many products on your hair can be dangerous as most shampoos have chemical content in it. It damages your hair and can lead to hair fall and dandruffStay Hydrated
Always keep your self hydrated. Drink 7-8 glasses of water every day. Drinking water keeps your skin moisturized.Reduce stress
Like mentioned before, it is seen in some people that stressing can cause dandruff. So avoid stressing so much, take a break once in a while!Maintain a Healthy Diet
Food that has too much oil content in it and always include vitamin B in your diet. According to a dermatologist, a lack of vitamin B can cause dandruffTreatment
If you check for treatment, there are many treatments available both online and offline.Henna Treatment
Treating the scalp with henna can be seen to be the most effective way of treating dandruff. Henna is widely used as they are very beneficial and also is a natural colouring agent.- Henna powder (4-5 tablespoons)
- Lemon juice (2 teaspoons)
- Coffee powder (2teaspoon)
- Egg(1 or two)
Method
- Make a paste by adding henna powder, lemon juice, and coffee powder. Adding egg is not a necessity but can be used if needed
- Use a brush and apply on your scalps and hair and wait for an hour.
- Wash it off with mild shampoo to get the best results.
Coconut Oil Treatment
Hot oil treatment is another remedy that is effective in reducing dandruff. Coconut oil has been used as the main treatment for dandruff. It helps to restore scalp health and reduce flaking. It’s known for its moisturizing properties and was used in villages way back before it was merchandised. They not only used coconut oil, but also gooseberry, bringharaj, and pepper leaves to fight dandruff and maintain their healthy hair So yes they did it better way before we even knew!Ingredients :
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Coconut Oil
Procedure:
- Heat the coconut oil on the stove. Make sure you don't overheat it and apply to your scalp and hair
- Massage it for a few minutes and leave it on for 15-20 minutes.
- Wash it off with mild shampoo
- Salon treatment and antidandruff shampoos
