Dandruff is a bothersome problem sometimes thought to be associated with inefficient hair care. Nothing could be further from the truth - anyone who has dandruff knows that!

If you're troubled by dandruff, that snowy, dust-like stuff that falls from scalp to shoulders, you're not alone: Nearly everyone has dandruff to some degree. But care must be taken not to confuse simple dandruff with other conditions that also cause flaking of the scalp, such as seborrheic dermatitis or psoriasis.

Dandruff occurs when the scalp sheds dead epidermal (skin) cells in large clumps. Dandruff scales appear dry, white or grayish, appearing as small, unsightly patches, especially on top of the head.

Causes for hair dandruff

Dandruff isn't caused by too much shampooing or dry skin. It is triggered by overactive oil glands, food allergies, stress, excessive perspiration, or harsh shampoos.

Dandruff may be caused by several different factors, but the exact underlying cause of dandruff is unknown or is at least not agreed upon by the medical establishment.

One possible cause of dandruff may be sensitivity to, or overgrowth of, a fungus present on the scalp.
Another possible cause may be overactive oil glands on the scalp which cause an increase of the natural skin shedding process.
Another possible cause may be clogged oil glands on the scalp. These clogged pores can lead to over-drying and flaking of the skin.
Poor diet, poor hygiene, genetic disposition, hormonal imbalances and infections may all possibly contribute to dandruff.

Symptoms for hair dandruff

Three Main Symptoms of dandruff's

Flaking - The most obvious sign of dandruff, and perhaps the most embarrassing, is flaking. It's a key signal that the skin cells on your scalp are shedding and being replaced at an accelerated rate. You can spot the white translucent flakes, in various shapes and sizes, on your scalp, in your hair, on your shoulders and especially over your favorite black sweater.
Itching Most - people regard the itching to be a result of the actual flakes, but that's really not the case. The itching is a result of minor inflammation of your scalp caused by the Pityrosporum ovale (P. ovale) fungus. This is the fungus that actually causes dandruff by irritating the scalp and accelerating the rate at which old skin cells are shed and replaced.
Redness - In this case, redness is a visible signal of inflammation of the scalp. While the inflammation and redness is generally found on the scalp, it can also appear in the area around the eyebrows, cheeks, behind the ears or on the chest

Treatments for Dandruff

Dandruff can disappear suddenly without treatment or may take multiple weeks of treatment to improve.

Prevention of dandruff may be achieved by shampooing regularly with a mild, non-medicated shampoo. The scalp should be massaged gently to loosen flakes and the hair and scalp rinsed thoroughly.
Anti-dandruff shampoos containing coal tar, pyrithione zinc, salicylic acid or selenium sulfide are available without a prescription. (Specific products may be recommended by a physician or pharmacist.)
Stronger anti-dandruff shampoos and lotions are also available by prescription.
If the flaking skin is isolated in one area or in multiple areas, then the condition may be a skin problem other than dandruff and a physician should be notified.

Home remedies for dandruff

Using lime juice to wash hair.
aloe vera dandruff cure - with aloe vera gel . About 10-15 minutes before you wash your hair, rub a lot of aloe vera gel into your scalp. leave it on for 10 minutes, and shampoo your hair like you regulary do. if you do this everyday the dandruff will stay away.
Boil a handful of neem leaves in 4 teacups of water. After cooling and filtering, use for rinsing hair.
oil your hair with pure warm coconut oil and apply juice of half a lemon onto the scalp.

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