Understanding Dandruff
Although there is only one issue here "dandruff" you will notice it in two forms, oily or waxy dandruff and flaking dandruff. Of course the flaking dandruff is the one your friends notice and this is the one everyone is concerned with most of the time. But waxy dandruff still causes noticeable issues like Grease looking hair, odour and brush and comb build up.
Dry Flaking Dandruff - Small, dry, flakes of skin that are noticeable in your hair or on your clothing particularly around your shoulder area. As you can see in the photo at the top there are large flakes at the scalp that flake off into the hair and then because of the itchy scalp, scratching then flicks it onto your clothing.
Waxy Dandruff - An accumulation of dry skin mixed with sebum, the oily matter that the scalp produces to protect your hair. This creates a waxy build up at the scalp and shows up in your brush or comb.
Another more sever dandruff is seborrheic dermatitis which is a chronic, non-contagious skin disorder that causes very noticeable redness, scaling and flaking on the scalp and usually requires prescription medication although some of the home remedies for dandruff that I list for you will help relieve these symptoms also.
Dry Flaking Dandruff - Small, dry, flakes of skin that are noticeable in your hair or on your clothing particularly around your shoulder area. As you can see in the photo at the top there are large flakes at the scalp that flake off into the hair and then because of the itchy scalp, scratching then flicks it onto your clothing.
Waxy Dandruff - An accumulation of dry skin mixed with sebum, the oily matter that the scalp produces to protect your hair. This creates a waxy build up at the scalp and shows up in your brush or comb.
Another more sever dandruff is seborrheic dermatitis which is a chronic, non-contagious skin disorder that causes very noticeable redness, scaling and flaking on the scalp and usually requires prescription medication although some of the home remedies for dandruff that I list for you will help relieve these symptoms also.
What Causes Dandruff?
Basically dandruff is our skin shedding which is normal and washing our hair will typically remove the shedding skin. Where it can become an issue is when there is too much shedding, this is called a high cell turnover rate. The normal turnover rate for our scalp skin is once every 30 day approximately and a high turn over rate can be as soon as 2 or 3 days.
Dandruff is caused ultimately by the sebum oil being or not being produced from the scalp but wait let's not point fingers just yet! You see what happens is... not enough sebum dries the scalp causing a dry skin and the bodies reaction is to replace the dry dying skin with fresh new skin increasing the turn over rate.
Another common cause is the presence of a fungus called Malassezia globosa and believe it or not most of do have this fungus growing on our scalps and we don't realize it. The sebum reacts with the fungus creating oleic acid, which then soaks into the scalp causing an inflammatory response from the scalp, and the body immediately reacts by producing new skin again increasing the turn over rate.
Some other main causes of Dandruff are:
- Too much shampooing: this goes without saying...you wash away the sebum the scalp becomes dry and flaky. Also some hair products can cause scalp irritation, which will inflame the skin increasing the turnover rate.
- Stress: Not only will this cause changes in the body but it can cause hair loss too.
- Other common skin conditions like psoriasis can cause allot of dry skin around the effected areas.
- Hormones: For example puberty triggers oil glands on the body specifically in males creating more sebum and as stated above will react with the fungus called Malassezia globosa creating oleic acid. Fact is more men will have dandruff then women.
Dandruff is caused ultimately by the sebum oil being or not being produced from the scalp but wait let's not point fingers just yet! You see what happens is... not enough sebum dries the scalp causing a dry skin and the bodies reaction is to replace the dry dying skin with fresh new skin increasing the turn over rate.
Another common cause is the presence of a fungus called Malassezia globosa and believe it or not most of do have this fungus growing on our scalps and we don't realize it. The sebum reacts with the fungus creating oleic acid, which then soaks into the scalp causing an inflammatory response from the scalp, and the body immediately reacts by producing new skin again increasing the turn over rate.
Some other main causes of Dandruff are:
- Too much shampooing: this goes without saying...you wash away the sebum the scalp becomes dry and flaky. Also some hair products can cause scalp irritation, which will inflame the skin increasing the turnover rate.
- Stress: Not only will this cause changes in the body but it can cause hair loss too.
- Other common skin conditions like psoriasis can cause allot of dry skin around the effected areas.
- Hormones: For example puberty triggers oil glands on the body specifically in males creating more sebum and as stated above will react with the fungus called Malassezia globosa creating oleic acid. Fact is more men will have dandruff then women.
Top 10 Ways To Naturally Stop Dandruff
1. Mix up to 1/4 cup of almond and olive oil (50/50) add a tablespoon of lemon juice and apply to scalp, wrap head with towel, leave in for five minutes, then was your hair.
2. Boil four tablespoons of dried thyme in half a litre of water for 10 minutes. Once cooled you need to strain it into a bowl. Massage into your scalp no more then three times a week. You need to leave it in your hair and wash it out with your next regularly scheduled hair wash.
3. Add two table spoons of cosmetic vinegar and six table spoons of hot water together. Using a cotton swab apply to the scalp, once dry leave it on your scalp over night. Wash out in the morning.
4. Henna is very good for the scalp and hair loss - Crush a beet root and henna leaves into a paste and apply to the scalp, leave in for at least 60 min. Repeat this at least 3 times per week.
5. Mix 3 table spoons of beet root juice, cider vinegar and ginger juice together and apply to the scalp 2 hrs. before you wash your hair.
6. Boil equal amounts of amla and shikakai powder in water for 3-5 min then let cool. Now mix in henna powder a small amount of fenugreek and roasted clove powder, a little lemon juice and egg creating what we call "Processed henna". Apply directly on the scalp and leave it in for at least 60min and no more then twice a month.
7. After you wash your hair rinse it with fresh lemon or lime juice or cider vinegar, this will not only end your dandruff issues but you will notice your hair is very shinny and healthy looking.
8. Add two tablespoons of water and two eggs together. Beat the mixture together and apply to the scalp then message it in for at lease 15 min and wash out with cool water or you will look like an omelette head like me when I did it.
9. Soak two tablespoons of fenugreek seeds overnight in water and grind them into a fine paste in the morning. Apply the paste to you scalp and leave in for 30min. Wah it out thoroughly.
10. Switch all your shampoos to those that contain one or all of the following, Zinc Pyrithione, Coal Tar, Salicylic Acid, Selenium Sulfide. These are key ingredients for killing any fungus, slowing turn over rate and removing dead skin with the washing of your hair.
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