Dandruff

                                                                       Dandruff                                                                            As a skin condition, dandruff generally affects the scalp and is very common with many people. This problem affecting the scalp has effects to all walks of life and thus affects all humanity regardless of their gender, age, skin colour etc.                                                                                                                

It is characteristics involve extreme itchiness and flaking, which at often times causes public embarrassment. The mostly affected groups are young adults, teens and children but at times the elderly can also be affected with it.                                                                                                                  

The good news is that this condition can be remedied so as to reduce public shame, mockery and its impact on one’s social life. Some of the recommended solutions begin with merging routine hair care that is highly effective with other simple solutions.

Signs                                                                                                                                                       

The symptoms of the above condition include the following:

·        Presence of white oily flakes of dead skin coming from one’s hair.

·        Extreme itchiness on one’s scalp.

·        Appearance of white oily flakes of dead skin in one’s clothes such as the shirt’s collar.

Causes                                                                                                                                                       The common reason for dandruff is as a result of excessive drying of the skin and having an extremely oily skin.                                                                                                                                                           Other reasons that cause this condition include:

·        Lack of adequate moisture in the surface of one’s skin that eventually causes drying.

·        Presence of a skin condition known as Seborrheic dermatitis which affects the oil glands and results to yellow and white scales that are flaky in nature.

·        Poor hygiene where there is excess accumulation of dead skin on scalp.

·        Presence of a skin defect called Psoriasis that forms thick scales on the scalp after gathering dead skin cells.

·        Skin’s sensitivity to certain hair products and its ingredients which causes itchiness and peeling of the skin.

·        Presence of yeast infections called Malassezia on scalp which causes skin irritations.

·        Hormonal imbalances merged with high amounts of psychological stress.

·         Low immunity brought by poor nutrition, including other reasons.

Remedies                                                                                   

Dandruff can be rectified by the application of the following products and practices:

·        Application of fermented yoghurt on the scalp, the yoghurt is then left for one hour then rinsed off with mild shampoo and clean water.

·        Apply a mixture of cosmetic vinegar and hot water to the scalp, leave it overnight then rinse it off with clean water and mild shampoo.

·          Application of Aloe Vera gel on the scalp, leave it overnight and rinse it off with water and shampoo.

·        Apply mixture of warm olive oil and ginger on scalp, leave it overnight and rinse it off with clean water and shampoo.

·        Application of oils from lavender, rosemary, eucalyptus, cypress, basil, clary sage, tea tree, thyme and Birch on scalp.