DANDRUFF – A PERSONAL ISSUE?

Peeling out of dead cells on the surface of scalp of head is dandruff. It is neither germ or bacteria but nonliving stuff. A collection from wikipedia about dandruff says, “Dandruff (also called scurf and historically termed Pityriasis capitis) is the excessive shedding of dead skin cells from the scalp. Dandruff can also be caused by frequent exposure to extreme heat and cold. As it is normal for skin cells to die and flake off, a small amount of flaking is normal and in fact quite common. Some people, however, either chronically or as a result of certain triggers, experience an unusually large amount of flaking, which can also be accompanied by redness and irritation. Excessive flaking can also be a symptom of seborrhoeic dermatitis, psoriasis, fungal infection or excoriation associated with infestation of head lice “.

The term dandruff generally refers to the condition of the skin wherein shiny, silvery scales separate from the scalp and collect amidst the hair. The condition can become troublesome when the skin gets infected. Often there is itching as well and the scalp may become red from scratching. The main causes of dandruff are impairment of general health, development of a toxic condition mainly due to taking of wrong foods, constipation, and a low vitality due to infectious diseases. Other factors contributing to this disorder are emotional tension, harsh shampoos, exposure to cold, and general exhaustion.

Typical ingredients of a shampoo:

The following table gives a typical formulation of a shampoo:

The alkyl content (caustic soda) of shampoo removes oil and dirt in the hair as well oil on the scalp, after this hair becomes oil free, fluffy and free falling. Oil less scalp induces itching and promotes the process of peeling out of the top layer of the scalp. Continuous use of shampoo would keep the dandruff issue alive and one has to use shampoo life long.

Multinational companies with the intension of making money launching different kind of formulation of shampoos and spend huge money on advertisements in TV, Magazine and books. Even medical professionals help indirectly those companies to boost their sales. It is needless to show concern and worry about dandruff.

There are various methods given for the treatment of dandruff. Some are given under:

The use of fenugreek seeds is one of the most important remedies in the treatment of dandruff. Two tablespoons of these seeds should be soaked overnight in water and ground into a fine paste in the morning. This paste should be applied all over the scalp and left for half an hour. The hair should then be washed thoroughly with soap-nut (ritha) solution or acacia concinna. The use of a teaspoon of fresh lime juice for the last rinse, while washing the hair, is another useful remedy. This not only leaves the hair glowing but also removes stickiness and prevents dandruff. A valuable prescription for removal of dandruff is the use of green gram powder. The hair should be washed twice a week with two tablespoons of this powder mixed with half a cup of curd. Beets have been found useful in dandruff. Both tops and roots should be boiled in water and this water should be massaged into the scalp with the finger tips every night. White beet is better for this purpose. The juice of snake gourd has been found beneficial in the prevention and treatment of dandruff. The juice should be rubbed over the scalp for this purpose. Dandruff can be removed by massaging the hair for half an hour with curd which has been kept in the open for three days, or with a few drops of lime juice mixed with indian gooseberry juice every night, before going to bed. Another measure which helps to counteract dandruff is to dilute cider vinegar with an equal quantity of water and dab this on to the hair with cotton wool in between shampooing. Cider vinegar added to the final rinsing water after shampooing also helps to disperse dandruff.

Most useful and cheap way of dandruff free head is oiling the scalp and hair with gingelly oil / sesame oil and coconut oil everyday. Head Oil bath either weekly or fortnightly will surely stop dandruff issue over a period. To clean hair from dirt nutmeg powder can be used whenever head bath is taken. Oil in the hair attracts fine dust from the atmosphere, which with oil becomes dirt and settle on the scalp of the head. Oiling the hair is avoided for this reason by many but not recommended. Oiling the hair/head is not only stops dandruff but also keeps the hair together. Oiling is being practiced from time immemorial for the reason to nullify the anti static electricity caused by the hairs.