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A Great Home Remedy For Dandruff I Just Found There are simple home remedies for dandruff (a scalp disorder also known as scurf or pityriasis simplex capilliti) which can control dandruff and quite easily restore your hair to its full status of being your crowning glory. Pityriasis simplex capillitii (commonly known as dandruff) is the shedding of dead skin cells at a rate much faster than the normal rate at which skin cells are shed. The normal rate is roughly every 27 days. Dandruff develops in large oily clumps when shedding takes place at a rate of between 2-7 days. The exact cause of the scalp condition is not known; other causes of dandruff may be any of the following:
Hair not brushed/combed enough: regular brushing/combing assists in removing the dead skin cells from the scalp
Dry skin: skin generally is drier during the winter months due to cold air and heated rooms; these extreme temperatures subsequently are commonly the cause of itchy and flaky skin. People with dry skin will find that dandruff flakes are not oily.
Seborrheic dermatitis is an inflammatory skin disorder which typically affects the face, scalp and upper body. The disorder presents itself in skin that is itchy, flaky, scaly and red. People with this skin disorder are very likely to have dandruff.
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How do you get rid of dandruff? Since dandruff essentially is harmless you do not need a prescription to treat it; the severity of your dandruff condition may however require a different approach to the dandruff home remedies discussed in this article…
Shampoos aren’t all equal. When dandruff persists, even with regular brushing and shampooing, it may be time to switch to anti dandruff shampoos. The best over-the-counter anti dandruff shampoos will contain at least 2 of the following ingredients:
a) Coal tar brings relieve to an itchy head and slows down cell production. Brand names with coal tar include Alphosyl 2 in 1, Neutrogena T-Gel and Pentrax. Remove any odor from this type of shampoo by rinsing your hair with either a conditioner or lemon juice. If you have a sensitive skin, coal tar shampoo may irritate and inflame hair follicles – rather opt for a milder anti dandruff shampoo. b) Ketoconazole is an antifungal agent in anti dandruff shampoo which largely prevents the growth of fungus. Brings relieve from the itching, flaking and scaling typically associated with dandruff. Probably the best shampoo for itchy scalp. Brand names include Nizoral and Nizoral AD shampoos. c) Salicylic acid is a great ingredient when looking for dry scalp treatment. It increases the moisture in the skin which softens and loosens scaly skin, essentially aiding the removal of dead skin cells. Brand names are Salex, Keralyt Scalp, Selsun Blue Naturals and Neutrogena T/Sal d) Selenium Sulfide is an anti-infective agent which brings relief from itchy and dry flaky scalp by removing the dandruff. Brand names which contain selenium sulfide include Head & Shoulders, Selsun Blue Medicated, Selsun Blue 2-in-1, Selsun Blue Normal to Oily and Selsun Blue Moisturizing.
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Home remedies for dandruff I came across which is more than adequate to remove dandruff include:
Apple Cider Vinegar is another way to stop dandruff. Massage 3 tablespoons ACV into your scalp and wait a few minutes. Rinse and wash as normal.
Aloe Vera’s antifungal and antibacterial properties makes it great for dandruff control. Apply either fresh aloe vera juice or aloe vera gel to your dry hair. Leave on for a few minutes and shampoo with a mild shampoo. To keep dandruff under control, repeat this home remedy for dandruff twice daily.
Baking soda (once again!) to the rescue. A dandruff cure as simple as wetting your hair and rubbing a handful of baking soda into your scalp vigorously. Rinse well and dry your hair. This replaces your normal hair washing routine, so do not use shampoo. Initially your hair may get very dry; after a few weeks though, your hair will start to produce natural oils leaving it soft and free of dandruff. If preferred, you can add baking soda to your regular shampoo and wash as normal.
Essential oils: mix 7 drops cedar wood oil, 10 drops cypress and 10 drops juniper essential oils in 50ml carrier oil. Massage into the scalp thoroughly and leave on for 1 hour. Now rub a mild shampoo into your hair and wash out with warm water. To prevent dandruff in future, stir the above quantities of oil into 600ml of warm water and use as a final rinse when you wash your hair.
Fenugreek Seeds. Soak 2 tablespoons fenugreek seeds in water overnight. Grind to a paste in the morning and apply the paste to your scalp. Leave on for at least 30 minutes and shampoo your hair thoroughly with a mild shampoo (baby shampoo is ideal). For that extra punch, rinse your hair with the water in which the seeds were soaked in. For severe dandruff, repeat the remedy twice a week, otherwise just weekly for about 4 weeks to get rid of dandruff.
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Lemon juice as an itchy scalp treatment is hard to beat. Lemons contain acids which get rid of the yeast which causes dandruff. For hair that smells lemon-fresh with no more itching, do the following daily until your dandruff clears up: massage 2 tablespoonfuls of lemon juice into your scalp, and then rinse with a mixture of 1 teaspoon of lemon juice stirred into a cup of water. You may also want to consider mixing 4 tablespoons witch hazel with 1 tablespoon water and 2 tablespoons lemon juice in a small jar or bottle so you can store what is left over. Wash your hair as normal. Pour a small amount into the palm of your hand and massage into your scalp while your hair is still damp. That’s it.
Salt is great for getting rid of dandruff flakes before you shampoo. Shake some salt onto your scalp and start massaging it for a while. Wash out and shampoo as normal.
Olive oil, almond oil and coconut oil. Essential oils are generally favored for many other skin care related problems; no surprise then that it is also one of the ways to cure dandruff. Heat up your preferred oil until it’s warm and massage into your dry scalp. Wrap a towel around your head for 30 minutes. Brush/comb out your hair to remove all the flakes and shampoo as normal. Doing this twice weekly will eventually get rid of dandruff.
Tea Tree Oil added to your shampoo can effectively treat dandruff. Just add 1 drop TTO for every oz of your regular shampoo. Alternatively, massage a few drops into your scalp just before you wash your hair.
Thyme to get rid of dandruff. Add 4 tablespoons dried thyme to 2 cups of water and boil for 15 minutes. Strain and allow it to cool down. Take some of the solution and massage into your scalp thoroughly. Wait 5 minutes and repeat process. Leave the solution on your hair for at least 2 hrs; 3 hours is better.
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White vinegar is one of the best ways to control and treat dandruff. You will however need patience with this natural dandruff treatment as you may have to apply it regularly for quite a while in order to obtain desired results; also every application takes time which means you need to schedule time to do it properly. Wash your hair with a solution of 1 part vinegar and 3 parts water. Rinse with clean water.
Yogurt is something I’d rather eat, but here goes…Wash and rinse your hair as normal. Rub plain yogurt into your scalp and leave on for 10-15 minutes. Rinse your hair and wash with as little shampoo as is really necessary. Rinse, or prepare an infusion of thyme with 2 tablespoons vinegar for the final rinse.
Hey there, my name is Sonia. I research minor conditions and illnesses, striving to bring you the best treatment solutions which won’t cost you an arm and a leg. For the full article on home remedy for dandruff as well as on some of the best treatment options for a hangover, acne, sore throat, overactive bladder, canker sores, constipation, morning sickness, toenail fungus, etc. visit sicknessnhealth.
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