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Dandruff Signs and symptoms white, oily-looking flakes of dead skin that dot your hair and shoulders and an itchy, scaling scalp. many conditions cause excessive skin scaling, including: | • | Dry skin. Simple dry skin — the kind you get in winter when the air is cold and rooms are overheated — is by far the most common cause of itchy, flaking skin. But flakes from dry skin are generally smaller and less oily than those caused by dandruff. | | • | Seborrheic dermatitis. This condition, a frequent cause of dandruff, is marked by red, greasy skin covered with flaky white or yellow scales. Seborrheic dermatitis affects not only your scalp but also other areas rich in oil glands, such as your eyebrows, the sides of your nose and the backs of your ears, your breastbone, your groin area, and sometimes your armpits | | • | Psoriasis. This skin disorder causes an accumulation of dead skin cells that form thick silvery scales. In severe cases, your skin cracks, bleeds and may be quite painful. Psoriasis commonly occurs on your knees, elbows and trunk, but it can also extend from your scalp onto your forehead and neck. | | • | Cradle cap (seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp). This disorder, which causes a scaling, crusty scalp, is most common in newborns, but it can occur anytime during infancy. Although it can be alarming for parents, cradle cap isn't dangerous and usually clears up on its own by the time a baby is a year old. | | • | Scalp ringworm (tinea capitis). This highly contagious fungal infection occurs primarily in children younger than age 10. Ringworm starts as a red sore around a hair shaft — usually on the scalp but sometimes in the eyebrows or eyelashes. Within a few days, the sore turns scaly and spreads outward in the ring pattern that gives the infection its name. The hair in the affected area usually breaks off just above the surface. Unlike dandruff, ringworm usually causes a red, inflamed scalp as well as hair loss. | | • | Contact dermatitis. Sometimes sensitivities to certain hair-care products or hair dyes can cause a red, itchy, scaling scalp. |
Self-care You can't prevent dandruff, but you can take steps to reduce your risk: | • | Wash your scalp properly . washing your scalp is very essencial for healthy hairs.improper washing and excessive oil on the scalp can cause dandruff and fungus.one should wash the hairs twice or thrice in a week. | | • | manage stress factor. Stress affects your overall health, making you susceptible to a number of conditions and diseases. It can even help trigger dandruff or exacerbate existing symptoms. | | • | Shampoo often. If you tend to have an oily scalp, daily shampooing to remove the excess oil may help prevent dandruff. | | • | Products which can be a cuase. Hair sprays, styling gels, mousses and hair waxes can all build up on your hair and scalp, making them oilier. Some people may even develop allergies to various hair-care products. | | • | Eat a healthy diet. For overall good health, include plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and small amounts of lean protein in your diet. | | • | Get a little sun. A little sunlight may be good for dandruff. |
When to seek medical advice Most cases of dandruff don't require a doctor's care. But if you're still scratching your head after several weeks of experimenting with over-the-counter (OTC) dandruff shampoos or if your scalp becomes red or inflamed, see your doctor or dermatologist. Treatment with anti dandruff sampoo [OTC products] | • | Zinc pyrithione shampoos (Suave Dandruff Control Shampoo, Head & Shoulders). These contain the antibacterial and antifungal agent zinc pyrithione, which has been shown to reduce the fungus that causes dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis. | | • | Tar-based shampoos (Neutrogena T/Gel, Tegrin). Coal tar, a byproduct of the coal manufacturing process, helps conditions such as dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis and psoriasis by slowing cell turnover. But coal tar has an "earthy" smell, can give light-colored hair an orange tint and may make treated skin more sensitive to sunlight. | | • | Shampoos containing salicylic acid (Ionil T). These "scalp scrubs" help eliminate scale, but they may leave your scalp dry, leading to more flaking. Using a conditioner after shampooing can help counter dryness. | | • | Selenium sulfide shampoos (Selsun, Exsel). These shampoos help prevent cell turnover and may also reduce the number of malassezia. Because they can discolor blonde, gray or chemically colored hair, be sure to use them only as directed and to rinse well after shampooing. | | • | Ketoconazole shampoos (Nizoral). The newest addition to the dandruff armamentarium, ketoconazole is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent that may work when other shampoos fail. It's available over-the-counter as well as by prescription. |
Home Remedy. | • | Squeezed lemons can be soaked overnight and the water can then be used to clean the hair. | | • | Two tablespoons of fenugreek (methi) seeds soaked overnight in water. The softened seeds should be grounded into a fine paste in the morning and applied over the scalp & left for half an hour and then washed thoroughly. This is highly effective to remove dandruff. | | • | Apply yogert on entire scalp than leave it for half an hour.than wash it with suitable antidandruff sampoo. | | • | Make a paste of triphala powder with yogert.apply the paste on entire scalp.leave it for 1 hour than wash it off. | | • | Application of Neem oil [overnight application] once in a week ,it is very popular treatment to control dandruff and fungus. |
| These remedies take time to show a visible change but are effective for some people. The best point concerning a home remedy is that you have many options and, if you think that a particular ingredient does not suit you, you can try an alternative. You should give each remedy at least a week before trying another. | | Note - Information in this article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or mitigate any disease. If you have a medical condition, please consult a health professional. |
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