Itchy scalp and tell-tale flakes on your shoulders? That’s dandruff and you don’t want that on your head! It is extremely itchy and it is quite annoying to scratch your head over and over especially when you’re with company or even somewhere public.

Though shedding of dead skin on your scalp is pretty normal, an unusual amount is quite worrying. A person may experience this when they use the wrong shampoo or conditioner, irritation from various hair products or even from exposure to extreme and varying temperature. Dandruff can be a symptom of a fungal infection as well, so it’s best to get it checked and find the cause of it.

Not only is dandruff very itchy and an inconvenience, but it is also embarrassing! It makes a person self-conscious if the flakes drop from the scalp to the shoulders or are all over your hair. The dandruff flakes are gray to white and it becomes more pronounced on dark clothing.

Common cases of dandruff reveal that it doesn’t go away by itself or disappear eventually, so that’s why dandruff treatment is essential. There are shampoo and leave-on treatments for it. Though it is very rare to have a serious disease from dandruff alone, and it’s not really contagious, it is something that we’d rather not have in our hair if we can help it.

WHY DO WE HAVE DANDRUFF?
Our skin changes constantly, without us even knowing. It is only when our skin peels off that we do. This is the same for the scalp as well, as it is part of our skin only covered with a full head of hair. The skin has an epidermal layer that replaces itself over time and the scalp usually does this periodically. However, there are certain triggers and conditions that can cause a more rapid development and shedding. This is what people with dandruff are experiencing.

As mentioned before, it can be a fungal infection, an inflammatory response and results in dandruff. But more and more cases have shown that dandruff is also caused by chemicals that we put in our hair that doesn’t sit well on the skin. As people use lots of hair products, the higher the chances of product chemicals settling on the scalp and on the roots of the hair.

When a person has dandruff, they mostly tend to buy whatever available anti-dandruff shampoo that’s currently popular in the market. There are a whole lot of brands offering relief from dandruff, but most of them take too long to take effect, usually after 2-3 months of usage. There are also medicated creams and gels but you still should be careful of what you put into your own scalp as it might just trigger it more and you are left with more flakes than before.

THE WAY TO NATURAL DANDRUFF TREATMENT
Strategies for dandruff control are vast and expensive. Some products do remove the flakes but do not get to the root of the problem. The total removal of the fungal infection is even more difficult. Here are tried-and-tested natural ways to help you alleviate dandruff problems:

1. Tea Tree Oil – a simple oil that has been regarded as very useful when trying to revitalize the skin. It is also found to be very useful when zoning in on the fungal infection without affecting and damaging the hair and roots around it like what most fungal creams would do. The application is very simple. Just wipe a generous amount on the infected area after washing your hair or before going to sleep.

2. Virgin Olive Oil – a home remedy that has been passed down from generations. Olive oil is a popular home treatment all over the world because it has been proven to cure dandruff. Not only is this very affordable since you can find olive oil in your kitchen, the application is as easy as the tea tree oil as well.

3. Apple Cider Vinegar – This supposed “cure-all” also helps people with dandruff. A half cup of ACV is all you need, diluted in water to wash your hair in. Some people swear by ACV and they also practice swiping a cottonball dipped in vinegar and leaving it on the scalp overnight to be rinsed out in the morning bath.

4. Beer – Rich in Vitamin B, beer is a great cure for dandruff because it helps clear up the dry, scaly patch. Normal usage is a bottle of ordinary beer, drizzled all over your head. Massage the scalp and rinse off with water. Beer is also a hair revitalizer, so don’t be surprised if your hair feels softer and shinier after rinsing!

Dandruff is one of the most common hair problems and you shouldn’t stress over it too much. With the right treatment, even the most stubborn dandruff will go away! So remember to not overdo it with styling products you love so much. Take it easy on the hairsprays and gels, use mild and cleansing shampoos to get rid of the build up in hair and when necessary visit a doctor or a specialist.