Dandruff Remedies: Home remedies for Dandruff - The Natural Way to Tackle Dandruff

Dandruff - the age-old, white flakes on the shoulders problem! Dandruff remedies and home remedies do exist which help to treat or prevent dandruff.

Before looking at dandruff remedies lets first try to understand the cause of dandruff. There are several reasons that are cited by researchers as causing dandruff:

1. A superficial fungus, or yeast, called Pityrosporum ovale which if present in excess leads to an increased turnover of dead skin cells, as the body's natural defenses against the yeast is to produce more skin cells and therefore shed an increase of dead skin cells, which are considered to be dry dandruff. This is sometimes accompanied by an itchy scalp. This is one of the most common scalp problems and is called Pityriasis capitis.

2. Oily dandruff is a white or yellow coloured scale, and is usually a result of Seborrhoeic dermatitis. It can be accompanied by red, itchy patches on the scalp. Moreover, it can appear on other areas of the body, such as the backs of the ears, eyebrows, or the sides of the nose. If the condition is severe it is best to consult a doctor or dermatologist.

Shampoo

The most obvious remedy for dandruff is shampoo. There are different types of shampoo that can initially help control dandruff rapidly. These shampoos are based on anti-fungul and anti-bacterial agents, such as zinc pyrithione, ketoconazole, or selenium sulfide.

Shampoos containing coal tar or salicylic acid (often used in treating acne) are also beneficial for controlling dandruff.

Shampoo powders containing camelia seeds can help mild cases of dandruff.

If a shampoo loses its effectiveness after a while, changing to use a different shampoo based on an alternate antifungal or antibacterial ingredient can help. Then continue alternating them to increase dandruff prevention. If these shampoos are too harsh alternate them with a regular shampoo.

It is also recommended to avoid using other hair styling products that dry the scalp such as hairsprays, gels and creams.

Natural Dandruff Remedies

Where shampoo helps control dandruff rapidly, natural remedies are effective but take a bit longer and require consistency. Among the many natural and herbal remedies for dandruff there are:

1. Sunlight or sun exposure is considered to be good for dandruff prevention due to its anti-inflammatory effect on dry skin conditions. Dandruff is often less severe in the summer months as opposed to winter months. However, do not sunbathe, it is important to avoid over exposure to the sun.

2. Vitamin E oil massaged into the scalp relieves itching and reduces scaling.

2. Garlic or Oil of Oregano capsules are very effective in the combat against dandruff as is the vitamin B6 found in eggs, cabbage and yeast.

3. Apple cider vinegar and lemon juice are two agents that help restore the chemical acid/alkaline balance of the scalp.

4. Ginger, coconut oil, rosemary, thym, tea tree oil are all elements used to make different remedies to get rid of dandruff.

For more information on the above remedies and how to combine them to produce home remedies for dandruff why not look at an eBook on the various dandruff remedies.