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How to Treat Dandruff with Home Remedies

By Tiffany Moore

It is embarrassing, annoying and sometimes uncomfortable. Those unsightly white flakes of dandruff that fall onto the shoulders of your dark clothing may send you straight into panic mode, but this scalp complaint is generally harmless and far more common than you think.

Many people may experience a certain degree of dandruff (Pityriasis Capitis) in their lifetime, from infancy (cradle cap) to old age, although it is most prevalent in teenagers and men.

The severity of dandruff varies from person to person, with some only having barely noticeable flaking that appear along the scalp, and others having more persistent and severe condition – seborrheic dermatitis – that causes greasy bran-like scale.

The exact cause behind dandruff is unknown, however, a number of factors have been associated with an increased risk of developing this non-contagious skin disorder. They include hormones, stress, seasonal changes, and excessive use of hair coloring products. Some medications like Rogainea (minoxidil) can also induce dandruff or make existing dandruff worse.

In addition, some hair care experts believe the overpopulation of yeast fungus – Pityrosporum ovale (or simply P. ovale) – leads to dandruff formation while others blame the dermatological condition on candida yeast.

And, contrary to widespread belief, people with oily scalp tend to be more susceptible to dandruff than those with dry scalp. Further, dandruff won’t cause baldness and it is not caused by poor personal hygiene.

Fighting dandruff is no walk in the park, and can become even more frustrating when there are loads of natural dandruff cures floating around the web that claimed to work miracles but failed to address the problem effectively. So what are the best ways to stop dandruff and keep it from coming back? Here you can find some tried and tested natural home treatments that have greatly helped me in my battle against dandruff.

Stop Dandruff Home Treatments

Olive Oil Dandruff Cure

Olive oil therapy is a popular and simple dandruff home remedy that helps control mild-to-moderate dandruff symptoms. It involves the use of heated olive oil to moisturize flaky scalp, and keep the scalp and hair in top condition .

Heat abour ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil in the microwave for 30 seconds or until it is warm to the touch. Gently massage the lukewarm oil onto your scalp, and wrap a towel over your head (optional). Then leave it to work for 20-30 minutes, or longer. You can use coconut oil in place of olive oil.

Comb your locks with a natural bristle hairbrush to loosen dandruff scales, and then rinse with a mixture of lemon juice and apple cider vinegar. Finally, wash off with a good quality shampoo. Both lemon and vinegar have acidic properties that deep cleanse scalp and hair shaft so that the follicles can “breathe” and better absorb essential nutrients required to avoid getting dandruff.

Apple Cider Vinger Treatment for Dandruff

If you find olive oil a bit messy and sticky, then use this vingear dandruff remedy comes in really handy. Vinegar helps control dandruff because of its ability to kill the yeast that causes dandruff, and also help break down sebum, which feeds the yeast.

Simply mix 2 teaspoons of vinegar with 6 teaspoons of water, and apply the solution on your scalp before going to bed.

Apply the same mixture in the morning before washing it off with a gentle shampoo like baby shampoo. If you want to take a step further, put a few drops of tea tree oil on your palms and lighlty rub it into your hair, and let it dry naturally. Try Thursday Plantation’s Tea Tree Oil.

Very importantly, remember not to scratch your scalp with your fingernails as it could cause an infection. To treat severe dandruff, use apple cider vinegar in its undiluted form. I use Braggs Raw Apple Cider Vinegar. Fresh mint leaves (crushed) may also be added.

Fenugreek Seeds Dandruff Remedy

The natural antimicrobial effects of fenugreek seeds make them highly effective as a natural dandruff treatment.

Soak 2 tablespoons of fenugreek seeds in water overnight in water and ground into a fine paste in the morning.

Now, apply this paste on your scalp and leave on for about an hour before washing it off. The paste not only helps clear away dandruff but will also moisturize scalp for healthy hair growth.

Alternatively, mix powdered fenugreek seeds with honey, in a glass of milk and drink it twice a day. It is believed that this dandruff treatment helps by working from the inside.

The above natural home remedies are generally recommended to treat mild to moderate cases of flaking, and they tend to work much better if you are careful with what you eat. That means avoiding foods that cause dandruff and adding certain nutrients in your diet to cure itchy flaky scalp from the inside out so that the embarrassing hair woe won’t come back again.

Let’s start off with some examples of foods that may contribute to your dandruff problem, causing scalp to itch and flake.

We all know that consuming too much simple sugars can quickly lead to unwanted weight gain, but this sweet stuff also spells bad news for the scalp, and can actually worsen dandruff in some people. This is because dandruff is thought to be the result of a candida yeast infection of the scalp, and sugary foods (as well as foods that contain yeast) – cookies, cakes, pastries, beer and wine – are said to support the growth of yeast. So the more sugar (and/or yeast) you eat, the more it will grow, and the higher your risk of having dandruff.

That’s not the end of the story. A diet that has high amounts of sugar in it can also deplete your body of all the B Vitamins, which play a powerful role in dandruff prevention. In addition, the levels of antioxidant Vitamins C and E needed for healthy scalp are also negatively affected due to increased sugar consumption.

If you have a poor diet with a lot of saturated and trans fats – red meat, bacon, stick margarine and chips – then it’s also a good idea to cut back as fat-laden foods may be responsible for excess sebum production, which is turn triggers dandruff.

The other important thing to keep in mind when it comes to anti-dandruff diet is to eliminate food allergens if you think you have food sensitivities, such as allergy to dairy products or wheat. Chocolate, nuts, shellfish and citrus fruits like orange as well as grapefruit can set off dandruff and itching in some people.

Remove the suspected foods for somewhere between 2 to 4 weeks, and see if dandruff has cleared up during the elimination diet. Then reintroduce the foods back into your diet, one at a time, and see whether flaking returns after you start eating them again. Alteratively, have an food allergy test done at the doctor’s office for a small fee.

Now, what are some foods that are known to reduce dandruff and improve flaky scalp?

First, make sure to up your zinc intake since the mineral has been shown clincially to control sebum prodution. Overproduction of sebum on your scalp may bring on dandruff because an oily scalp is the ideal environment for the danadruff-causing fungus – Malassezia (previously called Pityrosporum ovale) – to grow and thrive. That explains why washing away excess hair oils is one of the quickest way and the most basic step to control itchy white flakes of dandruff.

Moreover, a lack of dietary zinc can show up as dry brittle hair prone to split ends, and even hair loss.

You can find naturally-occurring zinc in both plant (lima beans, chick peas, and pumpkin seeds) and animal (oysters and red meat) food sources although animal-based foods are more easily absorbed and utilized by the body.

Try adding garlic, onions, leeks, shallots and chives to your anti-dandruff diet. The reason for this is they contain allicin, which is a potent antibacterial and antifungal agent and therefore, will help treat and prevent dandruff.

According to experts from Penn State University, indaequate levels of Vitamins B6 (pyridoxine) and B12 (cobalamin) in the body can result in a variety of hair problems like dandruff, scaling scalp and hair loss. So include reasonable amounts of salmon and sardines along with goat’s milk, crimini mushrooms, and spinach.

Getting enough omega-3 fatty acids on a daily basis may also help to keep your scalp dandruff-free, thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties that fight off dry conditions which can cause dandruff.

Cold water oily fish, such as mackerel, lake trout, tuna and herring are abundant in omega-3s, or consider supplementing your diet with fish oil or krill oil capsules.

If you are struggling with severe dandruff, seek qualified medical advice on how to control your dandruff situation long term. Your doctor may recommend prescription-strength shampoos containing selenium, ketoconazole, or corticosteroids for very stubborn cases of dandruff.

Take note that chronic flaking can signal a more serious condition, such as psoriasis, or fungal infections.

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