#HealthBytes: Dandruff- Causes and treatment
Dandruff is frustrating and embarrassing, but unfortunately, pretty common - one in every two individuals gets affected by it. Characterized by an itchy scalp and flakiness, it happens due to skin dryness, allergy to certain hair-products, or fungi growth. Downright dangerous for your long-term hair and skin health, dandruff should be done away with, as soon as it appears. Here's more.
Causes: Dry skin, Infrequent washing, Irregular brushing
Dry skin: If you have a dry skin or suffer from medical conditions such as eczema, it might lead to your scalp becoming dry, itchy, and flaky. Infrequent washing: Not shampooing your hair frequently will lead to build-up of oils and skin cells on your scalp, thus leading to dandruff. Irregular brushing: This leads to build-up of dead skin on scalp, thereby inviting dandruff.
Causes: Heat, Pollution, Diet, and Stress
Heat: Excessive heat (read hair dryers) will dry up the scalp, and worsen your dandruff. Pollution: Harmful pollutants and chemicals floating in the air may cause irritation or allergic reactions on the skin and scalp, thus leading to dandruff. Diet: Eating an unhealthy or unbalanced diet also worsens dandruff. Stress: Stress curbs your immune system, thus making you more prone to dandruff, other skin-conditions.
Dandruff symptoms: Flakes, itchiness, and dryness
White flakes: The most common sign of increasing dandruff is the appearance of tiny, while flakes on your scalp, hair, shoulders, or clothing. Itchiness: Dandruff leads to skin dryness and inflammation, which further causes itchiness. Dry scalp: Dandruff damages the natural moisture barrier of the skin, and makes essential moisture to leak out, thus leading to skin dryness and tightness.
How to get rid of dandruff
Through proper and regular care, dandruff can be dealt with. It is advisable to use an anti-dandruff shampoo, on a regular basis, every other day, in order to cure flakiness, oiliness, and dead skin build-up. However, if it still refuses to go away, seeking medical attention is recommended. The doctor will examine the scalp, and accordingly prescribe ointments, creams, lotions, and shampoos.
Home remedies to cure dandruff
Though there are many ready-made dandruff treatment products available- natural, home-made remedies should be preferred. Some of the best home-remedies to treat dandruff include curd, orange peels, coconut oil, baking soda, and apple cider vinegar, among others.
