Dandruff and its management

Diet also plays a big role in preventing the occurrence of dandruff in many individuals. Eating food rich in vitamin B controls dandruff because it counteracts inefficient carbohydrates and fatty metabolism. Examples of such foods are eggs and cabbage. These two also gives the body some amount of sulfur, which is considered as the mineral for a healthy scalp. However, if eggs cause some skin allergies, it should be minimized but should be replaced by other food rich in vitamin B6. Avoid hair products that contain alcohol like gels and hair sprays. They are known to be one of the major causes of dry scalp.

We suggest something else. Natural treatments. Such as vinegar. Wash your head with it, or even better, make yourself a massage with vinegar at the hair roots, and try to sleep with the solution over night with your hair wrapped in a towel. Don’t get scared of that awful smell, it will go away, and I say it’s worth it, for a shiny beautiful hair, and most of all, with NO dandruff.

Whatever you do, do not use your nails! You can hurt your scalp and that is a big problem if you have dandruff.

Some cases you may not be able to eliminate dandruff, but you can take steps to lower your risk by doing the following:

• Manage your stress. Stress negatively impacts your overall health and makes you more vulnerable to conditions and illnesses. Stress can also aggravate existing conditions, such as dandruff.

• Shampoo regularly. By shampooing often you can reduce the oil released by your hair follicles that causes dead skin to clump into dandruff. Avoid styling products. Hair sprays, gels, mousses, can cause oil to build up on your scalp, and increase your flakes.

• Maintain a healthy diet. A diet with sufficient zinc, vitamin B, and essential fatty acids may help treat dandruff.

• Get some sunlight. Sunlight gives off vitamin D, and may help get rid of dandruff. But, don't sunbathe because exposure to ultraviolet can harm your skin. Just remember to use sunscreen on your face and body as you get a little sunlight to reduce the risk of skin cancer.

Complementary Home Remedies

• Tea Tree Oil: Tea tree oil extracted from the Australian tea tree has served as an antiseptic, antibiotic and antifungal remedy for centuries. Shampooing with tea tree proves effective in combating dandruff.

• Vinegar Wash: Vinegar wash has been promoted as one of the best home remedy to shaking away the flakes. To make vinegar solution: mix two teaspoons of vinegar with six teaspoons of water and massage into scalp before bed. In the morning apply the same vinegar solution and rinse hair with water.
Remember whatever anti-dandruff treatment you choose, never scratch your scalp. Since scratching may irritate your scalp or cause wounds on your scalp that may worsen your condition.

These are some ways in which we can get rid of dandruff.

Tips 1: Keep the scalp clean. Oil hair on alternate days and shampoo.

Tips 2:

Mix 2 tspns of Brandy in 1 cup of water. Apply with the fingertips to the roots of hair. Wash after ½ hour with shampoo.

Tips 3:

Mix 1 egg with 1 cup of yogurt and apply on the scalp. Leave for ½ an hour and wash.

Tips 4:

Mix 1 tblspn of Olive oil with 1 tspn of limejuice. Apply well on the scalp and cover the head by tying an old scarf. Keep it on overnight and shampoo the next morning.

Tips 5:

1 tspn of Fenugreek seed powder mixed with an egg. Apply and leave for ½ an hour before shampooing the hair.

Tips 6:

1 tspn fenugreek seed powder mixed with 1 cup of yogurt. Apply and leave for ½ an hour before washing.

Tips 7:

Take 2 tblspns of Beetroot juice and add 1 egg and 1 tspn limejuice to this. Apply and leave for ½ an hour before washing.

Tips 8:

Oil hair well before going to bed. Next morning mix 1 tspn limejuice with ½ tspn salt. Rub this on the scalp with the peel of a lime turned inside out. Leave for 1 hour before shampooing.

For Dry Dandruff
* Properly mix lemon juice and a tablespoon of sour yogurt.
* Apply this mixture on your hair.
* After 15 minutes rinse it with shampoo.
* Gently massage the scalp with a few drops of cedar wood oil.
* Increase the intake of essential fatty acid supplements.


=============================================

For Oily Dandruff
Oily dandruff is the result of internal oil secretion. To control oily dandruff take zinc and vitamin B6 supplements.


===>>> To reduce dandruff take hi-frequency infra-red treatment from your hair salon. It will improve blood circulation in your scalp.

Homemade Dandruff Remedy

Avoid maximum of fried foods and aerated drinks, fats, sugars, salts, choclates, sea food nad peanuts and lastly dairy products.
Apply curd on your hair leave it for about half an hour and then wash it with shampoo. Apply curd on your hair leave it for about half an hour and then wash it with shampoo.
Try to have atleast one egg daily. Also include whole grain cereals like wheat flour, millets and legumes in your diet as these are high in proteins and micronutrients. Yogurt is a wonder food for your hair.
Warm 4-5 tablespoons full of wheat germ oil, olive oil or coconut oil. Massage well into the scalp. Wrap a warm towel around your head. Leave it on for 30 minutes. Rinse your hair thoroughly with water, to which lemon juice has been added. Massage well as you rinse. This is the most commonly known cure for dandruff. This will helps to get rid of dandruff.
Grind raw onions to fine paste. Rub this paste into your scalp. Leave it on for an half hour. Wash thoroughly. Rub in some lemon juice into your scalp and hair to rid your self of the onion smell.This will helps to get rid of dandruff.
• Try medicated shampoos: As seborrheic dermatitis prominently affects the scalp, medicated shampoos are the first step in seborrheic dermatitis treatment. Shampoos containing selenium sulfide, tar, pyrithione zinc, salicylic acid or ketoconazole have anti-dandruff functions. So pay attention to the ingredients when you choose shampoo. In addition, you should shampoo daily until your symptoms are controlled.
• Anti-fungal cream may be helpful. An over-the-counter antifungal cream can be used to prevent inflammation, as well as alleviate the symptoms. Daily application of this kind of cream is really a good choice for those suffering from seborrheic dermatitis.
• Avoid scratching. People are used to scratching wherever it itches, not realizing that the scratching can often leave scars.
• Wash your face with soft soap and be sure to rinse the soap completely off your body.
• Do not wear tight clothes. Smooth-textured cotton clothes can help you avoid irritation.
These tips are useful for fighting seborrheic dermatitis; however, when you are so uncomfortable that you can't sleep or your skin feels painful, and you have tried self-care tips but without success, you'd better see your doctor. Treatment varies and depends on your skin type, the severity of your condition and where the symptoms occur. The definite causes of seborrheic dermatitis are still unknown, though most cases are attributed to certain yeast infections and B vitamin deficiencies. Vitamins, herbs and natural supplements form a natural treatment of seborrheic dermatitis and have been proven effective. Give natural treatment try and you may just be able to get rid of seborrheic dermatitis completely.

Lifestyle and home remedies
By Mayo Clinic staff
The following over-the-counter treatments and self-care tips can help you control and manage seborrheic dermatitis.
 Shampoo daily. Use an anti-dandruff shampoo that contains selenium sulfide, tar, pyrithione zinc, salicylic acid, ciclopirox or ketoconazole as the active ingredient. If you don't see results, try a shampoo with a different active ingredient.
 Use an over-the-counter antifungal cream. Daily application of nonprescription clotrimazole (Lotrimin) may be helpful.
 Apply an anti-itch cream or lotion to the affected area. A nonprescription hydrocortisone cream, containing at least 1 percent hydrocortisone, can temporarily relieve the itch.
 Avoid harsh soaps and detergents. Be sure to rinse the soap completely off your body.
 Wear smooth-textured cotton clothing. This will help you avoid irritation.
 Shave off your beard or mustache. Seborrheic dermatitis can be worse under mustaches and beards. If this is the case for you, shaving might ease your symptoms.
 Avoid scratching whenever possible. Cover the itchy area with a dressing, if you can't keep from scratching it. Trim nails and wear gloves at night.
Cradle cap
Cradle cap usually clears up on its own within a few months. In the meantime, wash your baby's hair once a day with mild baby shampoo. Loosen the scales with a small, soft-bristled brush before rinsing off the shampoo.
If the scales don't loosen easily, rub a few drops of mineral oil or olive oil onto your baby's scalp. Let the oil soak into the scales for a few minutes, and then brush and shampoo your baby's hair as usual. If you leave the oil in your baby's hair, it may allow more scales to accumulate on your baby's scalp.
If cradle cap persists or seems severe, your doctor may suggest a medicated (antifungal) shampoo, lotion or other treatment.

Homeopathic Remedies

1. Thuja occidentalis: This medicine is used for white, textured dandruff with dry hair and flakes that keep falling everywhere. In this condition, itching is very common and usually bad for the patient as well.
2. Natrum muriaticum: Patients who take this usually have dandruff and an oily and sleek scalp. Dry eruptions occur, particularly on the edges of the scalp. Alopecia as well as tingling and blazing of hair follicles happens.
3. Kali sulphuricum: This remedy is usually effective in the later stages of dandruff where there is a lot of swelling and inflammation. The dandruff in this condition has yellow scales and gets worse under warm conditions and during the evening. However, it is better in the cool.
4. Graphites: People use this when they experience dryness of scalp, or a sticky and itchy sensation on the scalp, which gives a foul smell. Patients who are somewhat stout with a fair complexion and are prone to skin disease and constipation, tend to take this solution as well. It builds up the skin and encourages re-growth.
5. Phosphorus: Itching of the scalp, dandruff and hair fall in huge bundles are all cured by this medicine. Hair loss at certain areas in patches is also why phosphorus is taken. It is usually consumed by tall thin people with a reasonable skin, fragile eyelashes, blonde or red hair and an extremely delicate nature. Youngsters who grow too quickly usually get anemic, which causes a lot of dandruff.
6. Carboneum sulphuratum: Chronic skin diseases with much itching are cured by it. It is extremely useful for patients separated by abuse of liquor.
7. Sulphur: Dry scalp, excessive hair fall and dandruff due to continuous washing of hair are fixed by this solution. People with anxious personalities, fast motion, hot temper and sensitive skin are recommended this cure.

Few of the medicines that are most effective for dandruff are:

1. Kali Sulph: used for yellow scaly and oily dandruff
2. Thuja: used for white scaly dandruff
3. Sanicula: used to treat scaly dandruff
4. Badiage: Used for sore, dry and scaly dandruff