Dandruff is an infection of the scalp which results in shedding of dead skin cells that are in form of scales or flakes, usually white or greyish in color. It is a very common condition and is considered harmless as the body continually has to renew its cells, however, it becomes a nuisance if the shedding of these cells is excessive.
The most cause of dandruff is attributed to a malassezia fungus found on the scalp. It feeds off sebum (oil) produced by glands, which are intended to moisturize, maintain and protect the scalp from infections. When the scalp is no longer protected, it becomes inflamed, dry and irritated causing massive formation of flakes. Infrequent or frequent hair washing can also trigger dandruff, either by causing accumulation of dead cells or not allowing the scalp to recuperate its lost oils from too much washing thus causing dryness. The influx use of hair products especially those containing sodium lauryl sulfate may also irritate the scalp and cause dandruff. Diseases like parkinson's, seborrheic dermatitis and HIV. HIV in particular, weakens the body's immunity to fight diseases, making it prone to even the slightest infection. Some cases have also shown that stress could potentially cause dandruff.
White or grey flakes or scales may be seen on the scalp, their shapes and sizes are irregular and may differ from one individual to another. Some may be in powder form, some maybe loosely attached to hair follicles or just found in strands of hair, some may even fall easily and could be spotted on the shoulders, forehead and on the eyebrows. Itchy, reddish and inflamed scalp.
Some of the remedies that can control dandruff and its symptoms are;
-A balanced diet: food rich in omega3, zinc and vitamin B can prevent dandruff, this includes tuna, salmon, sardines and oysters. Meat and poultry. Vegetables like green peas, spinach and parsley, dairy products milk, eggs and yoghurt etc. Pasta, whole grain cereal, walnuts, flaxseed.
-Coconut oil and lemon juice: mix the two together, apply to scalp and massage for a couple of minutes, leave in for 20-25 minutes, and then rise with Luke warm water. Do this three times a week. You may choose to one of the two depending on what is available, lemon juice can be massaged into the scalp and then rinsed off but this should be done daily. And the same with coconut oil but it shouldn’t be daily, 3 times per week preferably.
-Garlic: crush it, to make paste and apply onto the scalp, rinse off after 2 minutes. Honey can be added to the paste, as garlic it has a strong scent.
-Aloe Vera: helps in cooling the scalp thus minimizing the itch, apply and rinse off after 2minutes.
-Apple cider vinegar and tea tree oil: mix two tablespoons of the vinegar, 20 drops of tea tree oil, and water. Apply onto the scalp, massage and leave it in for 3 minutes and rinse. Repeat this remedy 3 times a week.
-Indian lilac: boil and let it cool before you use it as a rinse. Use 3 times a week.
Please note that scalp sensitivity differs from one individual to another. If you are uncertain of what you are allergic to, try on a small area before applying to the whole head, in doing so you avoid irritating your scalp.