Dandruff Prevention 101

Dandruff is caused due to a fungus called Malassezia Globosa that feeds on oils on the scalp of most adults. This skin condition miserably affects the scalp. In this, as the skin layers continually replace themselves, cells are pushed outward where they die and flake off. People with this condition experience the maturity of skin cells within 2-7 days as opposed to a duration of month for other people. The white or greyish, large oily clumps or flakes on the scalp, skin and/or clothes are a result of dead skin cells. The most common symptoms of dandruff are flaking and mild itchiness. Red and greasy patches on the skin and a tingly feeling on the scalp are other symptoms of dandruff. There are several genetic and environmental causes of dandruff. It affects people in all areas of the world.

There Are Mainly Four Types Of Dandruff-

1. Dry skin dandruff: This is the most common type of dandruff, which usually occurs during winters. This is caused due to excessive hot water head bath, which makes the scalp go dry and flaky. Mostly, individuals with dry, curly air suffer from this type of dandruff. To treat this condition, one should avoid colouring, dying, or perming of hair. A good moisturizing shampoo is a must to treat this kind of dandruff. Home remedies for itchy scalp like oil massages helps to alleviate itchiness and stimulate blood circulation and provides nutrition to the scalp.

2. Oil related dandruff: The oil related dandruff is caused by the accumulation of sebum oil on the scalp, which is caused by high amounts of stress and anxiety. If the excessive oil is not taken care of when discovered, it can further cause fungus dandruff.

3. Fungal dandruff: The fungus survives on excessive oil on the scalp and produces oleic acid as the by product, that in turn causes the skin cells to clump together which causes white flakes.

4. Disease related dandruff : This type of dandruff occurs when certain skin cells come in contact with sebum oil and dirt, causing dandruff. These skin cells are produced by skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema stimulate.

A dandruff attack is everyone’s worst nightmare and can lead to anxiety and lower self-esteem.

Here Are A Few Pointers On How To Prevent Dandruff Naturally:

Keep the hair and scalp clean: This includes to avoid touching your hair with dirty hands, covering your hair when going out in the sun, keeping your hair safe from pollutants by covering with a scarf or hat and drying out your hair after an excessive session or a sweaty day.
Eat a healthy diet: Opt for good food products, which are rich in Omega 3 fatty acids, proteins and Biotin. These foods will help in maintaining a healthy hair and scalp. Green leafy vegetables and fruits will also help in keeping infections and dandruff at bay.
Use anti-dandruff home treatments religiously : The fungus survives on excessive oil on the scalp and produces oleic acid as the by product, that in turn causes the skin cells to clump together which causes white flakes.
Make sure you use shampoos with Salicylic acid, which is an important ingredient in most anti dandruff treatments and shampoos. This ingredient makes sure your scalp is clean of dandruff and prevents it from coming back on regular use.
Take a few spoons of soda, add a little water to make a paste and rub it all over the hair and scalp. Rinse with water (skip shampoo). Fight white flakes with white powder in this way!
Adding a few drops of tea tree oil in the shampoo will make a big difference in treating dandruff. Wash as usual.
Just squeeze some lemon juice on the scalp for thirty to forty minutes and hair an rinse off with water. The acidic lemon is the best-known treatment for dandruff. Follow this up with an equal proportion of lemon water and rinse.
Apply allicins. It has anti-fungal properties and is present in garlic and onion. Mix garlic juice or onion juice with honey and apply it on the scalp. Rinse after fifteen minutes.
Spray some apple cider vinegar and water mixture on the hair after shampooing and rinse off with lukewarm water after keeping it on for five minutes.
Mix mehndi with curd and a little bit of lemon juice. Keep the mixture aside for eight hours. After that time, apply it on the hair and keep it on for two hours, then wash away.
Soak fenugreek seeds in water overnight. In the morning, wash them to form a mixture and put some lemon juice in it. Apply this paste on the hair and scalp and leave it to dry for thirty minutes. After that, wash your hair with a good anti-dandruff shampoo and rinse it off thoroughly.
Apply Aloe Vera gel on your hair and scalp. Aloe Vera is a type of succulent that helps in treating rashes, burns and skin problems. The anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties of Aloe Vera could help protect against dandruff.
Do not use oil : Oil blocks the moisture from entering our scalp naturally. Blocked hair follicles ultimately lead to dandruff.
Hygiene: Wash your pillow cover, hairbrush, etc. Every other hair accessory and stuff must be washed regularly as well with a good disinfectant so as not to transfer the germs and dust onto your scalp
The hot towel therapy: This therapy works wonders for treating dandruff. Soak your towel in hot water for a few minutes, wring out excess water and then wrap the towel around your head like a turban. Let it sit for about fifteen to twenty minutes and then remove.

During Winters, the chances of getting dandruff doubles. This is because of a combination of things- dry, cold air and an abundance of the Malassezia fungus. Invest in making a few lifestyle changes during this season to avoid dandruff.

Here Are A Few Tips On How To Prevent Dandruff During Winters

Brush your hair sufficiently: A well brushed hair helps in stimulating the scalp to produce necessary oils which keep hair and scalp healthy. A well-nourished scalp implies a flake-free scalp.
Drink more water: Dehydration tends to make the scalp dry which can cause dandruff. Hence, it’s necessary to drink at least 4 litres of water every day, especially during Winters.
Avoid direct heat: Exposing hair to too much ironing and blow drying can make the scalp dry. Ditch these hair products and choose natural towel drying.
Change the towel: Choose pure cotton towel to wipe the hair during Winters. The rough texture of other towels can make your hair frizzy.
Reduce stress: Keep the negativity at bay as it can aggregate any existing dandruff problem. Do exercise, yoga, eat healthy and sleep well to reduce stress levels.
Good hair routine: Along with the above-mentioned home remedies, one must also use an anti-dandruff shampoo & conditioner from the Head & Shoulders range of products. Head & Shoulders contains Zinc Pyrithione which helps fight the dandruff killing germs leaving the scalp clean & healthy. You must use an anti-dandruff shampoo at least 2 to 3 times a week to effectively control & prevent dandruff

Although dandruff can be a frustrating problem, following the natural home remedies and tips in this article will help reduce dandruff to a large extent. Following a good hair care routine will help protect you from dandruff in the long run.