We all like our hair to look its best. Unfortunately, no matter how great your hairstyle, dandruff can get in the way. The all-to-common scalp condition is characterized by flaky skin. While having dandruff is not dangerous, the white flakes can be unsightly and embarrassing. If the thought of using commercial products to treat dandruff doesn’t appeal to you, here are some home remedies to get your scalp in order.
Wash Your Hair Often
Shampooing your hair often can reduce skin oils and dead skin on your head. Conversely, if you don’t wash your hair often, these can accumulate on your scalp, causing dandruff. Ideally wash your hair at least a few times a week or even on a daily basis.
To prevent irritating your skin, try to not to scratch your scalp while washing your hair. While the itchiness is caused by the dandruff, scratching your head will only increase the irritation. While scratching your head is definitely a big no no, you can try to gently exfoliate your scalp with an exfoliating glove or brush.
Use Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is an antiseptic and an antifungal. As such, it can have a number of benefits when applied to the skin, including reducing dandruff. Firstly, it can help to reduce malassezia, or the fungus that lives on the scalp and can lead to dandruff if it becomes overgrown. And secondly, tea tree oil can reduce itchiness, soothing the skin.
Tea tree oil can now be found in some over-the-counter shampoos, particularly those sold in natural health stores. For best results, opt for one that contains five percent of tea tree oil. Alternatively, you can mix a few drops (between five and ten) of tea tree oil with your normal shampoo. According to other studies, aloe vera may also be an effective treatment for seborrheic dermatitis, the condition that causes dandruff. You can even grow it indoors by making use of the affordable LED grow lights.
Mind Your Diet
Not many people realize that diet can have a huge effect on your scalp. Eating foods high in sugar can activate the sebaceous glands, producing more sebum, or skin oils, that can contribute to dandruff. In addition, foods high in carbohydrates can lead to a glycogen build up, attracting organisms such as yeast, that can also lead to dandruff.
We talked to the owners of www.supplementnation.ca, who said that people with dandruff are often deficient in a number of vitamins, including vitamin B3, B2, B6, zinc and niacin. In fact, a study has found that just under a half of Canadians take nutritional supplements to keep themselves healthy.
Two other substances that have been found to have a positive effect on dandruff include omega-3 fatty acids and probiotics. Omega-3 promotes skin hydration, which can help prevent dry hair and skin, both of which can lead to dandruff. Meanwhile, eating probiotics can improve immunity, which can reduce fungal infections.
