Dandruff Information - Symptoms And Herbal Home Treatment

Dandruff is a condition in which flakes and chunks of dead skin are shed from a persons scalp. Contrary to popular belief, it is not always caused by a dry scalp, many people with oily scalps are also afflicted.

2. What causes dandruff?

There are many conditions known to cause dandruff. Here we will outline known causes and others that have not yet been substantiated.

Methods of getting rid of dandruff

Commercial dandruff shampoos

Here I will list the active ingredients used in the most common anti-dandruff shampoos and explain what they do.

Selenium sulfide
(Selsun blue, Head & Shoulders Intensive)
Selenium sulfide is an anti-fungal agent used to treat dandruff caused by yeasts and fungi. In the US, 1% solutions can be purchased over-the-counter and 2.5% solutions are available by prescription. Dandruff often returns when treatment is stopped.

Zinc pyrithione
(Head & Shoulders classic, Pert Plus dandruff control)
Zinc pyrithione, or Zinc omadine is an anti-fungal and antibacterial agent that is most commonly used to fight the dandruff caused by yeasts and fungi. Once you begin using this treatment, stopping will often cause dandruff to return worse than before treatment began.

Ketoconazole
(Nizoral AntiDandruff shampoo)
Ketoconazole is an anti-fungal drug used to treat dandruff caused by yeasts and fungi. Dandruff usually returns after treatment is stopped.

Coal tar
(Ionil-T, Neutrogena T/Gel Therapeutic)
Coal tar is a liquid by-product of the distillation of coal. It is used in shampoos meant to treat head lice and psoriasis. Be warned, coal tar is on the NIOSH carcinogen list as a potential cancer-causing agent.

Salicylic acid
(Ionil)
Salicylic acid based shampoos are used to help the scalp shed excess skin more easily, which in turn helps to keep skin pores from getting clogged.

Herbal home remedies for the treatment of dandruff

• Simple home remedy for dandruff - Coneflower and red clover extracts - Aveda has a product named “Scalp Remedy” that is growing in popularity. It contains both coneflower and red clover extracts, comes with a dropper and is applied directly to the scalp after you shower. This will prevent dandruff.
• Good home remedy for dandruff - Oil soaks - Scalp massages with moisturizing oils an hour or so before bathing are said to rejuvenate a dry scalp. Skin lotions will likely work as well.
• Effective home remedy for dandruff - Vinegar rinses - Some people have reported success after rinsing their hair with white or apple cider vinegar prior to bathing. It may have something to do with correcting your hair’s PH balance.
• Natural home remedy for dandruff - Rinse the hair with a mixture of 3 tablespoons vinegar and one cup water to eliminate shampoo residue which can cause scalp irritation.
  
• The use of fenugreek seeds is one of the most important remedies in the treatment of dandruff. Two tablespoons of these seeds should be soaked overnight in water and ground into a fine paste in the morning. This paste should be applied all over the scalp and left for half an hour. The hair should then be washed thoroughly with soap-nut (ritha) solution or shikakai. This will help in reducing dandruff.
• People should avoid spicy and greasy food because it helps dandruff to increase and spread. People should add more vegetables and fruits on the diet. It is very essential to take fresh foods avoid taking tinned and canned foods add more green vegetables and fruits. 
• Herbal home remedy for dandruff - Tea tree oil - Tea tree oil has an anti-fungal quality and can be mixed into lotions, oils and shampoos. Massage the mixture into the scalp and let it sit for 15 minutes prior to rinsing clean. This is beneficial for the treatment of dandruff.

Natural home remedy for dandruff using Hot oil

Hot oil therapy is the best method to cure dandruff. Massage hot oil into the scalp at bedtime. Next morning an hour before the bath, rub lemon juice mixed with cosmetic vinegar into the scalp with cotton wool. Wash your hair properly and as a last rinse use the juice of one lemon in a cup of hot water. Continue this treatment once or twice a week for three months. This will help in controlling dandruff.