Effective home remedies for dandruff
Contrary to popular belief, dandruff actually is not related to your hair or how you maintain it. Instead, dandruff is a condition of your scalp. While the dry flakes of skin that fall on your collar or shoulders are harmless, they can be itchy and embarrassing. The real problem is the skin cells that are growing too fast and dying. While it is unclear what causes it, medical experts believe that a commonly found fungus, known as Malassezia, is responsible for dandruff. Most adults have this fungus on their scalps without noticing it at all since it is harmless. A number of factors can make dandruff worse, including common illnesses and changes in temperature. However, dandruff is a condition that can be self-treated at home as well; these home remedies for dealing with dandruff are as follows:
Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil has been known to treat issues like psoriasis and acne, making it a powerful and beneficial remedy for skin conditions. It has also shown potent anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties. This may help you manage dandruff, but you should know that tea tree oil can lead to irritation if you have sensitive skin. Hence, the best way to use tea tree oil is by diluting it with a few drops of carrier oil instead of applying it directly.
Coconut oil
It does not come as a surprise that coconut, along with its many health benefits, also serves as a natural remedy to manage dandruff. Coconut oil can help in rehydrating the scalp. A recent study researched the impact of mineral oil and coconut oil on a type of eczema that shows inflammation and itching as its main symptoms. This condition can also affect your chances of dandruff. In this study, it was found that coconut oil succeeded in reducing the symptoms by 68%.
Minimize stress
Stress is known to have a bad effect on numerous parts of your health, and it ranges from chronic physical issues to mental wellbeing. Even though stress is not directly the reason for dandruff, it can worsen symptoms such as itching and dryness. Facing too much stress for a long period of time may decrease the potency of the immune system. In the case of dandruff, due to fungal infection, a weak immune system cannot help you fight off infections and skin conditions that facilitate dandruff.
Baking soda
Available in the kitchen of every house, baking soda is probably the quickest and most convenient home remedy for treating dandruff. Baking soda is known as an exfoliant for the purpose of removing dead skin cells and decreasing itchiness. If you are looking for the best possible results, it is advised to directly apply baking soda to wet hair and then massage the scalp with it. After letting it sit for one or two minutes, you can continue with shampooing.