The skin is made up of cells. The unique characteristic of human skin is that new cells grow and push the old skin to the surface. This is a continuous process. For a person with dandruff, the process of replacing old skin cells on the scalp with new skin takes place at a faster rate. In medical terminology, dandruff is called Pityriasis simplex capillitii. It is also known as scurf. Shining silver colored flakes come out of the head. Those who are having oily skin suffer from what is known as oily dandruff, and those with dry skin will have dry dandruff. Therefore, treatment should be in accordance with the type of dandruff the person is suffering from.

What causes Dandruff?

Lack of nutrition, lack of zinc, yeast infection and an infection called Malassezia furur (also called a fungal infection) are some of the reasons for dandruff. Apart from this, excessive use of shampoo and alkaline soaps are also considered potential reasons for causing dandruff.

Although dandruff is not a serious ailment, it can create embarrassing situations for the patient when it causes infection of the scalp. It also causes itching on the face and on the forehead. Dandruff can be easily detected in respect of those having dry skin because the dead skin will come out in the form of snow-colored flakes which normally fall on the eyebrows, behind the ears, and even on the clothes. However, those who have oily skin will not have this problem and the dandruff can be seen when they comb the hair. It comes out in form of a lump formed on the comb.

Dandruff, if left unattended, can cause serious infection of the scalp. This is because, as said earlier, dandruff leads to itching and continuous scratching of the scalp can lead to infection.

Many home remedies for Dandruff are available. It is normally in the form of oral pills (to combat the infection) and medicines in the form of oils etc. At the same time, there are many natural remedies for dandruff which are found to be much helpful. Let us try to understand each of these treatment for dandruff:

1. Home Remedies
2. Other Remedies
3. Diet

Home Remedies for Dandruff

Fenugreek as a Home Remedy for Dandruff:

Properties: Largely grown in Asia, Fenugreek is one of the essential ingredients in most of their culinary dishes. It is used as a spice and also as a medicine. The leaves of this herb also have many medicinal values. According to researchers, fenugreek is rich in volatile oil, alkaloids and vitamins. It is known to control cholesterol, increase production of milk in nursing mothers and regulate blood sugar.

Home Remedies for dandruff using Fenugreek:

Take about two teaspoons of fenugreek and soak it in water overnight. In the morning, grind it into a fine paste. Apply this paste all over the scalp and after about 45 minutes, wash the scalp using soap nut. Alternatively, you can wash the hair using acacia concinna. The quantity of Fenugreek can be varied depending on the intensity of the dandruff. The water in which Fenugreek had been soaked can also be used after a shower. Similarly, paste can be made using green gram or green gram powder.

Beet as a Home Remedy for Dandruff:

Properties:Beetroot, as it is popularly called in India, is a leafy perennial herbaceous plant that is grown world-over in different varieties and in many colors. For example, the beets grown in India are somewhat red in color, but the beets grown in some other parts of the world are white in color. From time immemorial it has been used for treatment of various ailments like infection, fever, constipation etc. Rich in vitamins and minerals, beet is also found to be one of the best medicines to treat dandruff.

Natural Remedies for Dandruff using Beet:

Take some portion of the roots and some leaves of the beet plant and boil them. Allow this to cool. Apply this water thoroughly every day to the scalp. As a matter of precaution, properly cover your pillow and the bed with extra linen (preferably with an old linen because the dandruff may soil it).

Vinegar as a Home Remedy for Dandruff:

Properties:This is actually an acid procured by fermenting ethanol. Similarly, vinegars can be procured by fermenting fruits.

Using Vinegar as Treatment for dandruff:

Vinegar extracted from apples can be applied either by itself or by mixing it with shampoo. After about half an hour, wash the hair thoroughly with fresh water.

Neem leaves as a Home Remedy for Dandruff:

Properties:This mahogany family tree is called as Azadirachta indica in the botanical language. It is largely grown in many parts of Asia. Every part of the tree has medicinal value. The traditional Indian system of medicine, called Ayurveda, considers neem leaves as one of the best remedies for many ailments. It is said that neem leaves are the best remedy for more than fifty ailments.

Using Neem leaves as Cure for dandruff:

Take some neem leaves and boil them in water. When the water cools down, apply the neem-mixed water to the scalp. After about half an hour, wash your hair thoroughly. A word of caution: when you wash your hair, do not use any shampoo or soap. You can however, use soap nut.

Olive oil as a Home Remedy for Dandruff:

Properties: Olive trees are largely grown in Europe and olive oil is extracted from the leaves of the olive trees. Now, olive oil is being used throughout the world. Olive oil has many medical and curing properties.

Using Olive oil as Cure for corns:

Mix olive oil with sesame oil in equal quantity and heat the mixture. Now cool it to the required temperature and apply this mixture to the scalp overnight. On the next day, about one hour before taking your bath, take about two teaspoons of lime juice and mix it with an equal quantity of cosmetic vinegar and apply this mixture to the scalp. Now take bath and in the last rinse, apply hot water mixed with fresh lime juice. The relief will depend on the intensity of your dandruff. Those who do not have dandruff can also apply this medicinal bath and it acts as a preventive measure against dandruff. Experts are of the opinion that this is the best natural remedy for dandruff.

Almonds as a Cure for Dandruff:

Properties:Native to the Mediterranean region, the almond is known for its medicinal qualities. It is rich in many vitamins. Almonds contain starch of about 0.7% and about 6.3% sugar. It is considered to be most ideal diet even for those who are diabetic. It improves complexion, fights infection, cancer and is the best remedy for those having high LDL. Almonds are now grown in many parts of the world.

Using Almonds as Treatment for corns:

Mix almond oil and olive oil in equal quantities. Apply this mixture on the scalp and gently massage the scalp for about ten minutes. After about half an hour, thoroughly wash the hair.

Other Natural remedies for Dandruff:

Apply about two teaspoons of fresh lime on the scalp and after about ten minutes wash the hair thoroughly. This is one of the best home remedies for dandruff.

Keep about half a glass of curd in the open for about three days so that it is fully fermented. Apply this to the scalp and, after about half an hour, wash the hair thoroughly.

Experts’ advice that herbal shampoos should be used instead of chemical-based shampoos.

Take about three teaspoons of Indian gooseberry juice and about three teaspoons of fresh lime juice. Apply this mixture thoroughly on the scalp over night and wash the hair well in the morning as a natural remedy for dandruff.

Take about two teaspoons of cider vinegar and add about three teaspoon of water. Apply this on the scalp every day before going to bed.

The juice of the snake gourd, if applied to the scalp, will cure dandruff within a short span of time. This is among the best home remedies for dandruff.

Take some thyme leaves and put them in half a cup of water and boil it. When it cools down, apply it on the scalp and wash the hair after about half an hour.

Take a hot stream bath over the head. This is among the best home remedies for dandruff.

Mix two teaspoons of coconut oil and less than quarter teaspoon of black pepper powder and apply this on the scalp. Wash the hair after about one hour.

Immerse a peel of lime in coconut milk. Heat over a low flame. Alternatively, keep this mixture in the open when there is sunshine for about ten days. Now apply this mixture on the scalp and take a bath after one hour as a natural remedy for dandruff.

Diet For Dandruff:

Those suffering from dandruff are advised to desist from bananas, pickles, coffee and tea, white flour, tinned foods, meat, citrus fruits and stew, etc. At the same time, take a balanced diet consisting of fruits and vegetables as diet for dandruff.

Switch over to fruits for breakfast, lunch and dinner instead of taking your regular food. Let it be a diet of all types of fruits. Have this diet for about three days and the dandruff will disappear. But, remember that in these three days your entire diet is fruits and nothing more than that. There is no restriction on the quantity or the type of fruit, except citrus fruit.