CAUSES OF DANDRUFF:-
Although the cause of dandruff is not fully understood, it is currently believed that one of the main causes is a breakdown of the scalp's natural lipid barrier, making it more susceptible to infection by microscopic yeasts commonly found in the scalp. When the yeast overgrows, it leads to an inflammatory reaction that rapidly kills the scalp cells, which in turn peel off in the form of sticky patches and flakes.
What is Dandruff?
In dandruff, what we see as white flakes are skin cells. Our skin regenerates every month. New cells travel from the bottom of the skin layer up in a month, and dead cells are shed. These are so microscopic and their quantity is small that we do not notice this loss of cells. With dandruff, this shedding increases. So these dead cells with skin oils form white flakes or we can see them.
The condition is identified by:
– White or clear scales on scalp, hair and clothing.
– Itchy scalp that may be red and inflamed.
Some young teens develop dandruff when they hit puberty because their hygiene habits haven't changed to meet the challenges of newly accelerated sebum production.
Stress, poor hygiene and poor diet can make the scalp more prone to dandruff. Foods high in sugar, in particular, are known to make yeast infections worse.
Hair should be brushed regularly to loosen scales and stimulate blood flow to the scalp, which will speed up the natural immune response to infection.
TREATMENT OF DANDRUFF:-
There are few habits that you can form and natural treatments that you can use to treat dandruff.
Nutrition: Excess sugar in the diet can make any yeast infection worse. Try to reduce your intake of all sugars and refined starches while treating dandruff.
Cleansing: When shampooing, massage your scalp thoroughly with your fingertips. Wash your hair every day until the infection is cured.
Conditioning: Use the protectant only on the ends of the hair. Avoid applying conditioner to the scalp, where it can clog pores and interfere with skin healing.
Other treatments:
– Massage: Massaging the scalp several times a day with just the pads of your fingers stimulates blood flow to the hair follicles and helps loosen dead skin flakes.
– Brushing: Daily thorough hair brushing will help loosen and remove dead skin flakes, increase the smooth flow of sebum along the hair shaft and increase blood flow to the hair follicles.
– Wash your hands after brushing and styling your hair: Fungal skin infections are highly contagious and can easily be reinfected and spread to other areas of the body. That's why it's important to wash your hair daily and comb out any loose flakes of dandruff - to avoid infection of healthy areas of the scalp. Washing your hands after brushing, massaging and styling your hair will also help prevent reinfection or cross-infection.
The following herbs and nutrients have been shown to reduce dandruff infections:
Natural internal treatment for dandruff
Chromium are natural blood sugar regulators. It can help prevent infection by keeping blood sugar levels normal.
Olive Leaf and Oregano Leaf are natural systemic antifungal agents.
Natural external treatment for dandruff
The following herbs can be used as a tonic to reduce fungal infections on a topical basis. Extracts from these herbs or a few drops of their essential oils dissolved in aloe vera gel or witch hazel can significantly reduce the symptoms of itching and flaking of dandruff.
Clary sage
Desert sage
Eucalyptus
ginseng
Grapefruit seed extract
Grapefruit essential oil
Grape seed extract
Juniper berry essential oil
Lavender essential oil
Lemon grass
Myrtle
Oregano
Eggs
Nice article
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