There is a natural cycle of skin renewal that can be caused to speed up, leading to patches of dead skin forming on the surface of the scalp. What causes the skin renewal cycle to speed up is not always clear, but below you will find the typical culprits.
Seborrheic Dermatitis
This is a common condition that causes oily skin, and people with it are very prone to dandruff. This can also affect many areas of the skin, including the backs of the ears, the breastbone, eyebrows, the sides of the nose and anywhere where skin folds together, such as the armpits. It causes red, greasy skin that's covered with flaky white or yellow scales.
Fungus (Malassezia)
Malassezia is a fungus that lives on everybody's scalp, and typically causes no issues at all, but it can grow out of control. It feeds on the oils our hair follicles secrete, then causes the scalp can become irritated and produce extra skin cells. These extra skin cells die and falloff, then mixes with the oil on the hair and scalp. Reddish, scaly plaques may also appear in the eyebrows, on the forehead, in the ear canal, on the folds of skin that extend from the nostril to the lips. Although the skin affected may feel and look dry, this is not the case.
These two issues are thought to be interlinked, as the presence of the fungus on skin may provoke an abnormal response from the immune system, which can then cause skin to become oily. Then the oiliness of the skin encourages more growth of the fungus, which then triggers dandruff.
Yeast
People who are sensitive to yeast have a slightly higher risk of having dandruff. These yeast-sensitive people find that it gets better during the warmer months and worse during the winter. UVA light from the sun counteracts the yeast. The skin is drier due to cold air and overheated rooms during the winter, making dandruff more likely. So, it is sometimes not that easy to know whether it is yeast or just dry skin.
Certain Skin Conditions
People with psoriasis, eczema and other skin disorders tend to get dandruff much more frequently than other people. Other conditions like the cold winter air, combined with overheated rooms is a common cause of dandruff because it creates dry skin that presents itself as small flakes of dandruff, that are not oily.
Diet
Certain foods in your daily diet might be the cause of your dandruff problem. From food allergies to nutritional deficiencies, there are many potential diet-related causes of dandruff. Some experts say that people who do not consume enough foods that contain zinc, B vitamins, and some types of fats are more prone to dandruff.
Foods That Help
- Step Up Your Zinc Intake: Clinical trials have shown zinc supplementation to be effective at controlling sebum production. Zinc requires vitamin B6 for proper absorption in the intestines, and is found in a variety of food like oysters, red meat, poultry, legumes, nuts, and grains.
- Add Allicin to Your Diet: Allicin is a potent health promoting compound found in garlic, onions and scallions, when these items are crushed or chopped. It has been shown to promote heart and cardiovascular health, prevent and treat cancer, and reduce high blood pressure, but it also helpful for people with dandruff due to its anti-fungal properties.
- Eat Plenty of Foods Rich in B Vitamins: If you are struggling with dandruff, eat plenty of foods rich in B vitamins. Evidence shows that B6 (pyridoxine) and B12 (riboflavin), can help reduce dandruff. It has been suggested that inefficient metabolism of carbohydrates and fatty acids could be one of the underlying causes of dandruff, and B-complex vitamins are known to play a crucial role in metabolic processes. Vitamin B6 can be found in a variety of foods like beans, meat, poultry, fish, and some fruits & vegetables.
Foods To Avoid
- Reduce Sugar Consumption: A diet high in sugar that rapidly raises blood sugar levels can make dandruff worse in some people. Dandruff is often attributed to the Candida yeast, and sugary foods promote the overgrowth of this yeast in the body. Sugar also depletes the body of B vitamins, which are a key component of any anti-dandruff diet. A high intake of sugar also impacts the levels of antioxidant vitamins C and E in the body.
- Eliminate Food Allergens: Food allergies to dairy products or to wheat can cause dandruff in some people. What causes an allergic reaction in one person, however, may not cause a reaction in another. An elimination diet can be used to identify which foods worsen dandruff in an individual. This means removing any food or that is suspected of causing an allergy or intolerance from your diet for two to four weeks. If dandruff has disappeared or reduced significantly, the suspected foods and substances can be re-introduced to the diet, one food at a time. Systematically going through all the suspected allergens one by one, by consuming a suspect food or substance several times a day and then returning to the elimination diet for a few days. If symptoms re-occur or worsen during this time, the person could be allergic to the food or chemical that was re-introduced.
Some Illnesses
For reasons that are unclear, people with Parkinson's disease, neurological illnesses or severe head injuries are more prone to having dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis. Patients recovering fromheart attacks and strokes and some people with weak immune systems may have dandruff more often than other people. Some people who have weakened immune systems, such as those on chemotherapy or those with HIV disease or certain neurological disorders, may have very severe seborrhea. One study found that 10.6% of people with HIV have seborrheic dermatitis. There are also a variety of other inflammatory diseases that can produce excessive scaling and therefore dandruff, including psoriasis, fungal infection of the scalp skin (tinea capitis), and allergic contact dermatitis.
Mental Stress
Experts believe there is a link between stress and many skin problems. Stress causes the body to react to challenges and affects a person’s mental and physical well-being, which changes our hormones. These changes in hormones can cause an over-secretion of oil on the scalp, leading to dandruff. Keeping stress levels to a minimum and making subtle changes in lifestyle can reduce the likelihood of its occurrence.
Not Enough Shampooing or Hair Brushing
While poor hygiene is not the main cause of dandruff but it is one of the factors that worsen the condition. Infrequent shampooing and washing, along with the hot and humid weather or cold and dry weather, aggravate the occurrence of dandruff. Regular shampooing and using anti-fungal items, are proven to be an effective and safe way of controlling dandruff. Some people have found that if they don't shampoo enough, there can be a buildup of oil and dead skin cells. Also, those who do not comb or brush their hair regularly, have a slightly higher risk of dandruff because they are not aiding the shedding of skin that combing or brushing provides.
Reaction To Hair Care Products
Some people are sensitive to hair styling products, such that hairsprays, mousse, and gels may make things worse, as they can react with a red, itchy, scaling scalp. Many experts say that shampooing too often may cause dandruff as it can irritate the scalp. Hair styling products can cause excessive skin drying and flaking. In addition to that, excessive use of hair styling products may trigger intense allergic reactions.
Home Remedies For Dandruff
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is amazing and helps eliminate dandruff due to its fabulous anti-fungal properties. It also moisturizes dry scalp and provides relief from itching.
- Take some coconut oil and mix half the amount of lemon juice in it.
- Rub it on your scalp and massage for a few minutes.
- Wash your hair after.
- Do this two to three times a week.
Lemon Juice
Lemons contain acids that fight the fungi that can cause dandruff, and helps relieve itching on the scalp.
- Mix the juice of half a lemon in one-quarter cup of plain yogurt.
- Apply it on your hair and scalp, and leave it on for 20 minutes before rinsing it off and shampooing.
- You can also just massage your scalp with a few teaspoons of lemon juice mixed with a little water. Leave it on for 5 minutes before rinsing it out and shampooing your hair.
- Repeat either of these remedies a few times a week.
Apple Cider & White Vinegar
Treating dandruff with apple cider vinegar is effective, as it restores the pH balance of the scalp, and it inhibits the growth of yeast. It also works as a natural hair clarifier and helps clean clogged pores and hair follicles. White vinegar also works because it has acetic acid that prevents growth of fungi and relieves itching.
- Add one-half cup of vinegar to two cups of water.
- Rinse your hair with this mixture after shampooing your hair.
- You can also massage your scalp with a mixture of two parts white vinegar, one part olive oil and three parts water.
- After 10 minutes, rinse it off and shampoo your hair.
- Follow either of these remedies once or twice a week.
Olive Oil
Scalp dryness can be cured with regular use of extra-virgin olive oil, an effective natural moisturizer.
- Lightly warm some extra virgin olive oil.
- Massage it onto your scalp and then wrap your hair in a warm towel.
- Leave it on for at least 45 minutes or overnight and then shampoo and condition your hair.
- Repeat this remedy a few times a week.
Baking Soda
Because it's a mild exfoliant, baking soda helps remove dead skin cells and absorbs excess oil. It can also help balance pH levels on the scalp and reduce the growth of fungi that cause dandruff.
- Wet your hair and rub a handful of baking soda onto your scalp.
- After a couple of minutes, rinse hair well with warm water.
- Do not shampoo your hair after this treatment.
- Repeat once or twice a week for a few weeks.
Tea Tree Oil
This oil has strong anti-fungal properties, that makes it a good treatment for dandruff.
- Add a few drops of tea tree oil to your regular shampoo when you wash your hair. Add one drop of this essential oil per ounce of shampoo.
- You can also dilute the oil by adding a few drops of tea tree oil to a tablespoon of olive oil or coconut oil. Apply it on your hair, leave it on for at least 30 minutes or overnight and then wash your hair. Do this once or twice a week.
No comments:
Post a Comment