Dandruff can be caused by a various factors that include dry skin, chemical rich hair products; and skin conditions like psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, or eczema. In addition, environmental pollutions are one of the main causes for this chronic condition. The overgrowth of yeast called malassezia can cause dandruff. This yeast grows on your scalp due to high stress levels, hormonal imbalance, excessive oil on the scalp, or any problems with the immune system.
Due to dandruff, dead skin cells are formed continuously on the scalp and it falls on your face and shoulder, thereby causing redness or acnes on your skin. On the other hand, oil from the scalp make the dead skin cells to chunk together and appear as white flakes.
Symptoms and Complications of Dandruff
The symptoms of dandruff include
White flakes of dead skin in the hair
An itchy, red, or scaly scalp.
In some severe cases, yellowish scaling appears on the hairline, in and around the ears.
The final stage of seborrheic dermatitis can also cause skin problems in other parts of the body.
Treatment
Dry scalp can be treated by using natural ingredients such as apple cider vinegar rinses which is widely known for dandruff treatment. It is powerful in restoring the pH on your scalp and clears away the build ups left behind by shampoos, conditioners, and etc. You can also go with a light scalp message using essential oils such as extra virgin olive oil, jojoba oil, etc. Yogurt and honey hair mask or avocado natural hair masks helps hydrate your scalp and bring moisture to your scalp, thereby work well to combat dry scalp as well. In more severe cases, take expert advice from your doctor who recommends a medicated shampoo or any medicine that controls dandruff.
Internal Causes of Dandruff
- Excessive consumption of fat and starch
- Bad form of Nutrition
- Heredity predisposition
- Allergic hypersensitive
- Lack of rest
- Depression
- Hormonal imbalance
- Poor health
External Causes of Dandruff
- Excessive use of Styling Tools
- Usage of hair-coloring products or excessive use of chemical based hair shampoos and serums
- Cold weather and dry indoor heating
- Anxiety
- Infrequent washing of the hair or inadequate rinsing of the scalp and hair