How To Prevent Dandruff?

Dandruff is an embarrassing condition that affects many people. More than 60% of people experience dandruff at some point in their life and estimates show that as much as 97% of the population of the United States at some point in their lives have a form of dandruff. Having dandruff may cause a lack of confidence and self-esteem. People affected by dandruff tend to avoid dark clothes in the fear of getting exposed. If you’re troubled by dandruff, the snowy, dust-like stuff that falls from the scalp to the shoulders, you’re not alone. Nearly everyone has dandruff to some degree. While the exact cause of dandruff is not yet commonly agreed upon, there are some things that you can do to reduce your risk of getting it and effective treatments are available for those who are already having dandruff. Understanding what dandruff is and the conditions that can cause it are the first steps in treating and preventing it.

What is dandruff?

The term dandruff generally refers to the condition of the skin wherein shiny, silvery scales separate from the scalp and collect amidst the hair due to excessive or normal branny exfoliation of the epidermis. The condition can become troublesome when the skin gets infected. When the hair is combed or brushed, or when the scalp is scratched, the scales from the scalp fall like snowflakes and settle on the eye brows, shoulders, and clothes. These scales sometimes appear as lumps or crusts on the scalp. Often there will be itching as well and the scalp may become red from scratching.

Apart from the skin of the scalp, dandruff can affect beard, nose, eyebrows, behind the ears, external ear, neck, shoulders etc.

Myth and fact about dandruff

There is a common misconception that dandruff is caused by a dry scalp, or the drying effect of excessive shampooing. There is a difference between dandruff and dry scalp. Dry scalp is just lack of either moisture or natural oils on the scalp which may indeed lead to small, dry flakes, as well as itchiness or tightness of the scalp whereas dandruff is believed to be caused by a microscopic organism on the scalp called Malassezia furfur (also known as Pityrosporum ovale or Pityrosporum orbiculare). Dandruff flakes are medium to large in size and are usually white or gray and look oily.

What is the cause of dandruff?

The most common cause of dandruff (also known as scruff, seborrheic dermatitis or seborrheic eczema) is believed to be the fungus Malassezia furfur. This fungus is found naturally on the skin surface of both healthy people and those with dandruff. The fungus likes fat and is consequently found most on skin areas with many sebaceous glands which include the scalp, face and upper part of the body. When Malassezia furfur grows too rapidly, the natural renewal of cells is disturbed and dandruff appears with itching. Other fungi may have a similar role in causing dandruff, as may certain bacteria.

The other causes can be classified into two, internal and external. The internal causes include hormonal imbalance, poor health, poor hygiene, allergic hypersensitivity, lack of rest, emotional stress, improper nutrition (deficiency of B-complex vitamins or omega-3 fatty acids and other such vitamins), heredity predisposition, development of a toxic condition mainly due to taking of wrong foods, constipation, low vitality due to infectious diseases, excessive consumption of sugar, fat, starch, etc.

The external causes that contribute to dandruff are harsh shampoos, extreme weather and exposure to cold, dust and wind, excessive use of hair gels, hair sprays or other chemicals such as hair coloring agents.

Also the factors UV light exposure, excessive perspiration, use of alkaline soaps, yeast infections etc., can contribute to the cause.

Still a lot of causes can be listed and you may come across many different things about its cause while there is no commonly agreed upon theory about what actually causes this condition.

Who can get infected with dandfuff?

Dandruff can happen at any age but is most commonly found in people between the ages of 12 and 80. It is more common in men and more likely to occur in people with oily skin, Parkinson’s disease, and immunodeficiencies, as well as those who don’t wash their hair often and those undergoing illness, stress, or hormonal changes. A form of dandruff known as cradle cap occurs in newborns and infants.

Is dandruff contagious?

No, it’s not contagious. The culprit, Malassezia furfur, is present on almost all human beings while its action differs from person to person. So you needn’t get to be infected by the fungus/yeast from someone else.

How is dandruff diagnosed?

In most cases, dandruff does not require a physician’s diagnosis but if the dandruff is severe and/or the scalp is irritated, your physician can perform a physical examination and, if necessary, order some tests to diagnose the cause of the condition.

How to prevent dandruff?

While it’s difficult to completely get rid of dandruff forever or find a 100% dandruff cure, we can definitely contain it. The culprit, yeast, is present on everyone’s scalp, although it doesn’t always cause flakes. There are effective ways to treat it when it does occur. Shampoos containing the ingredients zinc pyrithione, selenium sulfide, salicylic acid, sulfur or coal tar inhibit the growth of the yeast. If these fail, shampoos containing ketoconazole may be helpful. Use these anti-dandruff treatment shampoos once a week to start with; if problem persists, increase the frequency of use.

• Shampoo often. The foremost consideration in the treatment of this disorder is to keep the hair and scalp always clean so as to minimize the accumulation of dead cells. If you have an oily scalp, daily shampooing to remove the excess oil may help prevent dandruff.
• Learn to manage stress. 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. (Stress can lead to heart attack too!). Have adequate sleep of 7-8 hours.
• Cut back on styling products. Hair sprays, styling gels, mousses and hair waxes can all build up on your hair and scalp, making them oilier while hair dryers, artificial hair coloring agents etc., too pose a potential threat by drying the scalp. Natural alternatives like henna may be of help for hair coloring.
• Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet. Stay healthy. A diet that provides enough zinc, B-complex vitamins and essential fatty acids may help prevent dandruff. Adopt a well-balanced diet, with emphasis on raw foods, especially fresh fruits and vegetables. Short periods of an all-fruit diet for three days or so may be helpful at monthly intervals until the skin’s condition improves. Some may find that reducing the intake of foods containing sugar and yeast can help control dandruff.
• Get a little sun. Sunlight may be good for dandruff. Do not expose your skin too much to sun because its rays could harm the skin and the hair texture as well the exposure to ultraviolet light for a long period of time can increase the risk of skin cancer, hence don’t sunbathe. Instead, just spend a little time outdoors, may be in the morning or at evening, a couple of days a week, about 5-10 minutes (sunlight exposure aids in producing vitamin D too by your skin).

Are there any home remedies?

Emu Oil
Massage some pure emu oil into your scalp. It’s highly moisturizing and great for getting rid of dandruff.

Fenugreek seeds
The use of fenugreek seeds is one of the most important home remedies in the treatment of dandruff. Two tablespoons of these seeds should be soaked overnight in water and ground into a fine paste in the morning. This paste should be applied all over the scalp and left for half an hour. The hair should then be washed thoroughly with soap-nut solution (reetha) or gum acacia (shikakai).

Lime
The use of a teaspoon of fresh lime juice for the last rinse, while washing the hair, is another useful remedy. This not only leaves the hair glowing but also removes stickiness and prevents dandruff.

Green gram powder
A valuable prescription for removal of dandruff is the use of green gram powder. The hair should be washed twice a week with two tablespoons of this powder mixed with half a cup of curd.

Others
Dandruff can be removed by massaging the hair for half an hour with curd which has been kept in the open for three days, or with a few drops of lime juice mixed with Indian gooseberry juice every night, before going to bed. Another measure which helps to counteract dandruff is to dilute cider vinegar with an equal quantity of water and dab this on to the hair with cotton wool in between shampooing. Cider vinegar added to the final rinsing water after shampooing also helps to disperse dandruff.

For very difficult cases of dandruff, a dermatologist can prescribe a stronger shampoo, or provide you with anti-inflammatory corticosteroids to help clear up the condition.

You may come across even tons of advice/tips over the internet or by word of mouth or from health articles/books on home remedies. Whatever mode of treatment you choose to adhere, it is important to be persistent on those dandruff remedies. All methods of treatment take time. When you discover the right treatment for you, stick to it and follow thoroughly the recommendations. Dandruff does not have to cause lack of confidence and self-esteem and keep you back from going out wearing dark clothes.

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