All You Need To Know About Dandruff
Dandruff is a very common problem that affects every second or third person.
You know you have dandruff when you see excess skin flakes on your hair and on your clothes. The flakes are especially visible in dark coloured clothes.
What Is Dandruff?
A fungus normally lives on the scalp but doesn’t cause problems for many people. In some people, however, it grows immensely and causes itching and flaking. These flakes are just dead skin cells that are shed in large, oily clumps.
What Causes It
Experts believe that the exact cause of dandruff is unknown. However, these are some of the factors that contribute to it.
Dry or greasy scalp
Eczema
Psoriasis
Certain hair products
Lack of hygiene
Using hair gels, sprays or creams too frequently on the hair
Hair treatments, like straightening, can irritate the scalp
An improper diet and a diet lacking in zinc, vitamin B and some types of fat
Certain illnesses like Parkinson’s and other neurological diseases
People who are sensitive to yeast seem to have a predisposition to dandruff
Those recovering from heart attacks and strokes seem to get dandruff more easily, probably due to their weak immune system
Stress is believed to be one of the causes of dandruff, but it’s not yet been proved scientifically. After all, stress is a relative term and hard to analyse.
Stress definitely aggravates dandruff—a tensed person has a weaker immune system and can’t fight the condition as effectively as a normal person.
How You Can Treat Dandruff
There’s no known cure for dandruff, but you can try the following remedies:
Wash your hair every day with a mild shampoo if you have oily skin. If your skin is dry, don’t wash it as often.
If your dandruff doesn’t go away, try using an antifungal or anti-dandruff shampoo.
Try some natural remedies.
Don’t use a hair dryer as it irritates the scalp.
Reduce your stress levels by engaging in physical activity, yoga, deep breathing, etc.
Brush your hair well as it stimulates the production of cells in the scalp.
Get a good night’s sleep.