Dandruff - The Flaky White Menace
There is nothing more embarassing than to have someone brush white
flakes off your new black sweater or denim jacket, or that fantastic
black dress you are wearing. But dandruff is such a widely prevalant
condition that most of us are likely to have gone through this embarassment.
What is Dandruff?
Clinically, one description of dandruff is seborrhoea capitos or
excessive sebum production of the scalp. Today it is mostly agreed
that dandruff is associated with a tiny fungus called pityrosporum
ovale or P.ovale. This fungus lives on our bodies and scalp all
the time, usually without causing a problem. Unfortunately, for
some people, it can get out of control....... leading to dandruff.
Causes of Dandruff
- Hormonal Imbalance
- Poor Health
- Poor Hygiene
- Allergic hypersensitivity
- Lack of rest
- Emotional stress
- Excessive consumtion of sugar, starch
- Improper nutrition
- Heredity predisposition
- Excessive use of hair sprays and gels
- Improper use of hair -colouring products or excessive use of
hot air curlers or curling irons.
- Cold weather and dry indoor heating
- Stress and anxiety
- Infrequent shampooing of the hair or inadequate rinsing of the
scalp and hair.
People resort to anti-dandruff shampoos and home remedies. However,
both these methods will need to be used continuously, as once they
are discontinued, the dandruff returns witha venegance. Also most
anti-dandruff shampoos contain chemicals that have side effects
that range from local irritation of the scalp, irritation of the
eyes to causing cancer in certain cases.
Anti-dandruff diet prescription
1. Nutrition plays a big part in controlling dandruff.
2. To counteract the inefficient carbohydrates and fatty acid metabolism,
which can cause dandruff, include plenty of B-vitamins in your diet.
3. Nutritional yeast and raw wheat germ are two excellent sources
of B vitamins, particularly vitamin B6 which plays an impotant role
in controlling dandruff.
4. Eggs and cabbage provide vitamin B6 and sulphur which is nature's
beauty mineral for the scalp.
5. The good fats, found in nuts and flax seed benefit the body
and promote healthy scalps.
6. Garlic and oil of oregano are also excellent for fighting dandruff.
You can take it internally or externally depending on what seems
to work best for your situation.
How to treat dandruff
1. Treating dandruff using essential oils and herbs can be effective.You
can opt for the various home remedies. A mxture of coconut oil and
leon juice is equally effective as treatment with apple cider vinegar.
2. Avoid using shampoos with harsh chemicals if you have a bruised
scalp. Applying shampoos containing such chemicals on broken skin
may cause irritation.
3. Washing your hair regularly is important. If you find washing
your hair gives you frizzy or dry ends, the little secret to handle
that is to take some conditioner and add it to the ends of your
hair before washing it normally. Then condition it after shampooing,
if you like to use conditioner.
4. Another mistake that many people make it to put gelin their
hair. It's okay to put gel in your hair if that is your styling preference.
But it builds up and cause dandruff.
5. You can also mix one egg yolk with a squirt of lime juice and
a few drops of camphor and apply to your scalp for ten minutes.
This will reintroduce missing protein to your scalp. Rinse with
warm water.
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