Treatment for Dandruff

AYURVEDA has an insightful and deep understanding towards the treatment of dandruff. One thing is sure, which every patient of dandruff should know, that dandruff may be a skin disease but it is not skin deep. Dandruff has deep roots and must be treated accordingly. Ayurvedic treatment prevents relapses and removes the tendency towards dandruff.

Ayurveda strongly believes in understanding the totalistic causative factors while handling skin diseases, whereby the study of skin, mind, genetic influences and immunological matters put together determines the line of treatment..

Ayurveda drugs are tested on healthy human beings before being applied to patients, hence they are very safe. Ayurveda treatment has a very scientific approach to skin diseases as a whole including dandruff.

Generally, Shampooing frequently to wash away flakes before they build up is the first step in treating dandruff. But it is difficult to shampoo enough to keep up with this extra shedding and most importantly shampooing may not stop the irritation or itching.

Steroid creams and lotions used in allopathy are merely short-term solutions adn their prolonged use will cause thinning of th skin. When used for a longer period this can lead to skin cancer, melanoma and so on. The above are the temporary solutions with furious and dangerous side effects.

There are 73 Ayurveda medicines which give great relief in dandruff (pityriasis capitis, seborrhea or scurf). However, the correct choice of remedies and the resulting relief is a matter of experience and right judgment on the part of the homeopathic doctor. The treatment is decided after thorough case taking of the patient. Thus Ayurveda treatment of dandruff is tailor made for each individual patient unlike allopathy in which all patients receive the same treatment.

Results are usually observed within 2 to 5 weeks of treatment whereby dandruff reduces considerably and eventually the problem of dandruff is eliminated with persistent treatment for about a year.

Last but not the least, Ayurveda is a highly effective treatment for elimination and total control of dandruff, which is one of the major reasons for hair loss.

What is Dandruff (Pityriasis Capitis or Seborrhea)?

A dark shirt and dandruff just simply do not go together. There is nothing more embarrassing than to have someone brush white flakes off your black dress.

Pityriasis capitis or seborrhea or what we call "dandruff," an itchy, annoying and persistent disorder of scalp, causes social or self-esteem problems.

In today's stressful world, it is becoming an increasingly common ailment. Dandruff is no longer a medical problem, it has a negative social connotation too.

Everybody's entire body surface continuously sheds dead skin cells. Infact all the cells of the skin are replaced every 24 days.

Dandruff (Pityriasis Capitis, Seborrhea or Scurf) is due to excessive shedding of dead skin cells from the scalp. As it is normal for skin cells to die and flake off, a small amount of flaking is normal and in fact quite common. Some people, however, either chronically or as a result of certain triggers, experience an unusually large amount of flaking, which can also be accompanied by redness and itching.

Dandruff can happen at any age. A form of dandruff know as cradle cap occurs in newborns and infants.

The number of people suffering from dandruff is rising steadily. About 75% of the people visiting beauty saloons, pharmacies and dermatologists suffer from it.

But there is no reason why you should be embarrassed by a condition that is completely treatable with Ayurveda

Causes of Dandruff (Pityriasis Capitis, Seborrhea or Scurf)

At one time or the another, dandruff causes have been attributed to dry skin, oily skin, shampooing too often or not often enough, a poor diet, poor hygiene, lack of rest, excessive consumption of sugar, fat, starch, improper nutrition, cold weather, dry indoor heating, excessive use of hair sprays, gels, hair coloring products, hot hair curlers or curling irons, hereditory predisposition, allergic hypersensitiveness.

Although some of these factors may exacerbate or contribute to scalp flaking, the real culprit may be a fat-eating, yeast-like fungus called Malassezia, formerly known as Pityrosporum ovale.

Malassezia lives on the scalp of most healthy adults without causing problems. But sometimes it grows out of control, feeding on the oils secreted by hair follicles and causing irritation that leads to increased cell turnover resulting in a large number of dead skin cells. As the cells fall off, they tend to clum together with oil from your hair and scalp, making them appear white, flaky and all too visible.

Symptoms of Dandruff (Pityriasis Capitis, Seborrhea or Scurf)

If you notice small, loose, whitish flakes on your scalp or trapped in hair strand with an itchy feeling, you have a dandruff problem. Signs and symptoms of dandruff are unmistakable.

But then it is not quite that simple, excessive flaking can also be a symptom of seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, fungal infection or excoration associated with infestation of head lice.

The type of flakes, whether they are oily or dry, hints at the cause of the problem.

Risk Factors of Dandruff (Pityriasis Capitis, Seborrhea or Scurf)

Almost any adult is a candidate for dandruff, but certain factors can make you more susceptible.

Age : Dandruff usually begins in young adulthood adn continues through middle age. That does not mean older adults do not get dandruff; however for some people, the problem can be lifelong.

Sex : Because more men than women have dandruff, some researchers think male hormones may play a role in dandruff. Men also have larger sebaceous glands that produce an oil called sebum.

Oily hair and scalp : Malassezia feeds on oils in your scalp which can lead to dandruff.

Certain illnesses : Adults with neurological diseases, such as Parkinson's disease adn patients with compromised immune systems are more prone to dandruff.

How Serious is Your Dandruff Problem?

Your dandruff could be an irritant; you will feel the odd itchiness and be embarrassed by the white flakes.

The problem becomes acute when the scalp reacts to the scales by secreting a fluid. This results in the scales sticking to the scalp, giving them a yellowish waxy appearacne. The dandruff may then spread to chest and back.

Diet and Nutrition in Dandruff

One should include plenty of vitamin B in the diet.

Nutritional yeast and raw wheat germ are two excellent sources of vitamin B, especially vitamin B6 which plays an important role in controlling the dandruff.

Eggs, cabbage also provide vitamin B6 in addition to supplying Sulphur which is nature's beauty mineral for the scalp.

Watch your diet. Dairy products, fatty foods, seafood, and excessive sugar have all been shown to make dandruff worse.

Home Remedies for Dandruff (Pityriasis Capitis, Seborrhea or Scurf)

Use an anti dandruff shampoo 2 to 3 times per week.

For mild cases of dandruff, alternate the anti dandruff shampoo with your regular shampoo.

A key point to remember is to select the mildest shampoo posible. Detergent based shampoos would clean the hair and scalp well but often cause drying and will make the flaking worse. Harsh shampoos would just cause the sebaceous glands to overcompensate by producing more oil than necessary. Be sure to rinse thoroughly; shampoo and soap residue can actually aggravate skin problems. Let your hair dry naturally instead of blowing it dry.

Briskly massaging your scalp with cocunut oil or tea tree oil will improve circulation of the scalp.

Improve blood circulation by alternating hot and cold water on the scalp.

Brushing your hair with a natural-bristle brush also proves beneficial. Brush your hair from your scalp outward with steady, firm strokes. This will carry oil from your scalp, where it can cause dandruff, along the hair strands, which need the oil to stay shiny and healthy.

Yoga headstand also helps with scalp blood circulation.

Excercising out in fresh air will also help with blood circulation of the scalp.