Dandruff affects people up to 50 percent. The hallmark signs of this condition are an itchy scalp and flakiness, but it may also cause other symptoms on the scalp such as greasy patches and tingling skin. In this article, you will find the best and fast ways about how to get rid of dandruff.
The underlying causes of dandruff include dry skin, seborrheic dermatitis, hair sensitivity and development of a particular type of fungus that lives on the scalp.
While there are plenty of over-the-counter products for the treatment of dandruff, Natural remedies can be successful.
How To Get Rid Of Dandruff
Here are nine simple home remedies to get rid of dandruff naturally.
1. Coconut Oil
Use Coconut Oil Well-known for its many health benefits, coconut oil is also often used as a natural dandruff remedy. Coconut oil can help improve hydration of the skin and avoid dryness.
A small study of 34 people showed that coconut oil was as effective in improving skin hydration as mineral oil. Other research has found that coconut oil can help treat eczema, a skin condition which can lead to dandruff. Applying coconut oil to the skin reduced symptoms by 68% in eight weeks, compared to only 38% in the mineral oil group.
Coconut oil and its compounds have also been shown to have antimicrobial properties in some test-tube experiments, though the effects on the particular strain of the dandruff-causing fungus have not yet been studied.
2. Apply Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is a type of succulent that is often applied to ointments, cosmetics, and lotions on the skin. When Aloe vera applied to the skin, it is thought to help treat skin conditions such as burns, psoriasis and cold sores. It can also be useful in dandruff therapy.
According to one study, aloe vera’s antibacterial and antifungal properties may help protect against dandruff. Likewise, a test-tube study found that aloe vera was effective against several types of fungi and can help control fungal infections that causing hair loss from the scalp.
Test-tube experiments have also shown that aloe vera can reduce inflammation, which can relieve symptoms.
3. Minimize Stress Levels
Stress is thought to have an impact on many health and wellbeing aspects. From chronic conditions to mental health it can affect everything. Although stress itself causes no dandruff, it can exacerbate symptoms such as dryness and itching.
Long-term, high-stress levels can suppress the immune system’s activity. A weakened immune system may reduce your body’s ability to fight off some of the fungal infections and skin conditions that are contributing to dandruff.
4. Eat More Probiotics
Probiotics are some kind of beneficial bacteria that good for your health. There are many potential benefits of probiotics including allergy prevention, lower cholesterol levels and increased weight loss. Probiotics can also help improve immune function, which can help the body to fight the fungal infections that cause dandruff.
In addition, one study showed that taking probiotics in 60 people for 56 days considerably reduced the frequency of dandruff. Probiotics have also been shown to help reduce the symptoms of skin conditions such as eczema and dermatitis, especially in children and infants.
Probiotics in supplement form are available for a quick and convenient dose. In many types of fermented foods, such as kombucha, kimchi, tempeh, sauerkraut and natto, they can also be found.
5. Try Tea Tree Oil
Historically, tea tree oil has been used to treat diseases ranging from acne to psoriasis. This has also been shown to have strong anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties that may help to alleviate dandruff symptoms.
In addition, tea tree oil is successful in fighting the particular strain of the fungus, which can cause both seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff, according to one study. Another 4-week study examined the effect of tea tree oil on dandruff by treating 126 people with either 5 per cent tea tree oil or placebo in a shampoo.
At the end of the study, tea tree oil decreased symptom frequency by 41 percent and increased greasiness and itchiness.
Note: that in those with sensitive skin tea tree oil can cause irritation. The best way to dilute it is to add a few drops to a carrier oil such as coconut oil before applying it directly to the skin.
