Dandruff

One of the most common problems of hair that most of us suffer with is dandruff.  People due to their ignorance; do not take this problem seriously and how dreadful this can become. The medical term of dandruff is pityriasis. This happens with the over production and concentration of dead skin cells.

The skin gets renewed; the top layers withers and comes out. This renewal may take approximately 2-3 weeks. For some others this renewal is faster. The scalp also increases and the creation of cells takes place. These get accumulated and cause redness and itchiness. They come out in form of white flakes.

Causes for dandruff:-
The reasons could be numerous. Some opine that it is due to fungi called malasezzia. These funguses live on healthy scalp, the natural oil and cholesterol. One can feel their presence in form of itchiness and the development of flakes.

Other reasons are the sebaceous glands, which become hyperactive. The scalp is oily and greasy. The flakes are soft and yellow in color. The scalp gets overproduced due to oil glands. Another reason is due to stress, some can trigger off due to food allergy and other hair products. If the scalp is left unclean then also it results in formation of dandruff.

Types of dandruff:-
There are basically two types of dandruffs.

Pityriasis capitis- the flakes are white and they are constantly falling from the scalp. Deficiency of vitamin and stress can be the reason for this dandruff.

Seborrheic dermatitis- this happens when the scalp is greasy. The dandruff here is thick, crusted and greasy.

Treatment- it is important to shampoo the hair frequently. The scalp should be clean. One should use anti-dandruff shampoos, conditioners and creams. The scalp can be massaged with cedar, lemon or rosemary. Use proper massaging technique for this. The herbs like amla, meethi, reetha can be used for treating the condition. And finally see that the diet is well balanced. Drink water, eat fruits and vegetables.

Dandruff is contagious. Keep the comb and other hair accessories separate. Under extreme conditions seek the help of dermatologists to fight the condition.