Dandruff

Undesirable Snowflakes: Dandruff and Its Issues

• Everyone is aware of the itchiness in the scalp and the resulting greasy hair texture.
• If you are one of those worst hit, it may just be the beginning of an avalanche of hair loss.
• Dandruff is exactly the opposite of hair that is happy.
• The ways to treat dandruff may be easy, strategic or seriously tedious.
• Chemical relief to dandruff hit hair in the form of dandruff medication is also available. You can find oils, shampoos or even scalp powder for tackling this problem.
• Picking the right treatment regime becomes tricky because of the high availability of various choices.
• To pick up the right cosmetic, it is necessary that you first understand the causes and symptoms of your dandruff trouble.
• If these solutions still disappoint you, turn to Ayurveda!

Symptoms of Chronic Dandruff: Keep an eye out for these

• Medically, dandruff is known as seborrheic dermatitis.
• It is a fungal infestation which thrives on the nutrition sucked from the hair roots and spreads itself.
• Depending on the damage to the scalp, dandruff can take from days to months to go away.
• Effects of dandruff are also dependent on various factors like personal hygiene, seasons or hair care routine.
• Flaky Scalp: This is one of the most common and visible signs of dandruff. Dandruff flakes can be spotted on shoulders, hair or even eyebrows. However, after washing they do subside for a while.
• Itching or Redness: Hair follicles may get swollen or red due to dryness caused by the fungi. This may result in pain while combing.
• Seasonal Outbursts: If you notice closely, it would be winters or seasons with high moisture retention that the dandruff breaks out every year.

Why it Keeps Returning: Causes of Dandruff Growth

• Poor hair routine: Unless you shampoo every alternate day, chances are high of accumulation of oil, dust and pollutants in hair follicles. Dandruff will resurface once the pores are blocked.
• Scalp Dryness: This can happen due to long exposure to sunlight or chemical products, due to ageing or even woollen clothes. Using herbal oils, serums and other scalp moisturisers can keep this at bay.
• Skin Disorders: Another reason for dandruff can be psoriasis and eczema. They suck up the moisture and nutrition content from the hair.
• Sensitive Hair/Scalp: If you are prone to sensitive skin, you may be in the high risk zone for hair problems like dandruff, scalp inflammation and baldness.

Get Rid of them : Treat Dandruff

• Changes in Lifestyle: The best treatment for dandruff can be modifications in your daily diet and hair care habits. Eat a diet rich in antioxidants like fruits and vegetables. Always oil before shampooing and shampoo at least 3 times a week.
• Anti-Dandruff Hair Wash: Some chemicals like Pyrithione zinc, tar, salicylic acid, or Selenium sulfide are very effective in treating dandruff problems. Look for shampoos which have them as ingredients. Try to alternate brands/type every couple of months.
• Medicated Shampoos: Ketoconazole effectively kills dandruff. So that moisture is not stripped off your hair, use products containing Ayurvedic herbs for dandruff treatment like Aloe vera, Neem etc.
• Ayurvedic Treatment for Dandruff: Ayurveda reinvigorates the scalp through the use of herb-based oils and hair packs. The powerful compounds of herbs defeat dandruff-causing fungi, while hair strength is enhanced by their minerals.
• The best part is that these Ayurvedic remedies can be used for long term to bring back the lustrous hair.
• Ayurveda provides you with solutions that can be applied even for your natural curls or straight hairs.

Break the Chain: Prevention Tips for Dandruff

• De-Stress the Mind: For any dandruff treatment at home, it is important to have a calm mind. Bring down the stress by properly planning your day and other works well ahead in time.
• Supplements are must: The hair strengthening essentials like zinc, Calcium and Vitamin B’s are a must. Consuming them through food or dietary pills is your choice though. For a long lasting effect, throw in a bit of Vitamin C as well.
• Say No to Cosmetics: Try to avoid heat on hair. That means you say no to curlers, straighteners or any other device which uses heat. They damage the hair along with aggravating dandruff.
• Not too much Sun: Protect your hair from the harmful UV rays from the sun with a hair cover and your skin with a sunscreen. These rays inevitably provide a breeding ground for fungi.
• Probiotics: Probiotics reduce blood toxins and keep the gut healthy. They are an amazing defense against eczema and psoriasis symptoms. Don’t miss them even for a single day!

Things at Home: Some Home Remedies for Dandruff

• Coconut Oil: There can be nothing better for a healthy hair than coconut. Almost all natural ways to treat dandruff will surely have coconut as an ingredient. Coconut soothes, moisturises and rejuvenates the scalp with its natural antioxidants and minerals.It is one item that can treat dandruff from tip to roots.
• Aloe Vera: Side effects of dandruff include itching, redness, and pain in the follicles. Applying aloe vera directly on the scalp not only soothes it but also increases hair growth.
• Apple Cider Vinegar: The vitamin C in apple cider vinegar stops the spread of dandruff and moisturizes the scalp. Make a solution with equal parts water and ACV. Massage it on the scalp and then wash it off with water after 15 minutes.
• Green Tea: Applying green tea on the scalp also works. Use a brew of 2 sachets of Green tea in 2 cups of water to be applied on the scalp when cold. Remaining water can be used to wash the hair.
• Egg Yolk: Beat the egg whites for a runny consistency. Apply it on the full length of hair. Keep it covered for half an hour before washing it off.

Ayurvedic Magic Herbs for Dandruff

• Basil-Amla Paste: Mix Amla powder, Holy Basil leaves and water in equal ratio to form a paste. This is to be applied on the scalp for 30 minutes. Wash off with a mild shampoo.
• Neem: You can make a paste with neem powder or can use the juice extracted from the neem leaves. Apply it on the scalp for 15 minutes and rinse off. Ensure to apply some herbal oil post this pack as it causes dryness in hair.
• Herbal Henna: Want naturally coloured hair without the use of chemicals. Herbal Henna is your bae then! Along with dyeing it also moisturises the hair. Apply the paste of henna all over hair for 2-3 hours and rinse off. This can be safely done once a week.
• Fuller’s Earth Paste: Multani Mitti, as it is locally known, is a natural hair smoothener and anti-inflammatory agent. To curb dandruff in summer, this hair pack can be used weekly.

Yoga Poses for Healthy Hair

• Boost the effect of your home remedies to treat dandruff with Yoga.
• Yoga poses increases blood circulation rejuvenating the hair follicles and thus enhancing scalp health.
• Yoga for hair growth has a lot of positive effects on mental abilities.
• Some of the must try poses for your tresses are:
• Sirsasana (Head stand): Until you master it, take the support of a wall or stool to do this pose. It increases the blood circulation to the brain cells and also corrects the spine structure.
• Vajrasana (Thunderbolt pose): It builds up the immunity while relieving tension on brain cells thus increasing hair growth. It can be performed pretty easily.
• Ustrasana (Back Bending Camel Pose): Due to this pose, hair strands receive more nutrition. It tones the brain tissues to increase neural activity.