Dandruff is not necessarily dreadful, but what the society thinks about it makes having dandruff a terrible experience. This is because having dandruff is equated with having inadequate hygiene practices. But dandruff is not necessarily being unhygienic. In fact, several people who are suffering from dandruff are careful to take a shower regularly and are meticulous with cleanliness.

Dandruff is actually considered a disease. Another name for this is seborrheic dermatitis/eczema and cradle cap, if the victim is an infant. Dandruff is considered an inflammation of the skin in the scalp or behind the ears. It is considered to be an inflammatory skin disease that causes flaky white scales. According to findings, dandruffs appear when there is overproduction of skin oil with the invasion of a certain type of yeast called malessizia. Anybody can be a victim of dandruff, but there is high tendency to get one if a member of the family has one. The findings also showed that there is high risk in developing dandruff if one has oily skin, if one is stressed, if one is located in places with extreme weather such as cold temperature, if the person is obese or if there is other skin disorders.

There are several ways to treat dandruff. Shampoos and lotions that contain ketoconazole and corticosteroids are the common medical regimen recommended for those with dandruffs. But there are actually natural ways to remedy this type of skin disease and they have been used by several people for centuries already.

1. Beetroot juicewith vinegar

   Another name for beetroot is garden beet or red beet. Either way, horticulturists calls the plant Beta vulgaris. Beets are widely used in many dishes. It can be cooked, sliced to add into vegetable salads or pickled. In some countries in Europe, it is the main ingredient of the popular dish called borscht. Not only are beets tasty, it is also highly nutritious. Beets are rich in antioxidant properties, including ant-inflammatory and detoxification support. Because of these properties, beetroots are being used as a treatment for dandruff. Decocting the juice of the beetroot with a small amount of vinegar and rubbing the mixture into the scalp has been shown to decrease dandruffs. By massaging the mixture daily, there are several claims that their dandruff is reduced.

2. Fresh apple juice

   There have been several hair and skin products that make use of apple. Apple is widely used because of its being an antioxidant. Using fresh apple juice for dandruff control will not only provide shiny and beautiful hair, it will also protect the hair and skin from the harsh chemicals that are contained in other products. To make a dandruff treatment made of fresh apple juice, slice green apples and place on blender. Together with small amount of apple cider vinegar, blend fresh apple until it becomes smooth. Rub the mixture into the scalp. The hydroxyl-acid combination can help in exfoliating the scalp, leaving the hair dandruff free and healthy.

3. Olive Oil and Almond Oil

   The mixture of almond oil and olive oil has been used as a home remedy for dandruff problems. Singularly, they are already potent as dandruff control care. But mixing both oils gives more dandruff control strength. The mixture is simple to prepare and use. Just mix same amount of olive oil and almond oil, rub on scalp and rinse after 5 minutes, or before burning sensation is felt. If not combined, olive oil may be applied to the scalp using cotton balls and left for an hour or a half. The oil is then rinsed from the scalp. The same procedure may also be done using almond oil. Almond oil is rich, not only in vitamins B and E, it also contains high amounts of monounsaturated and linoleic fatty acids that can control dandruff problems.

4. Fenugreek Seeds

   Fenugreek may be an herb or a spice. As a plant, it is an herb. As seed, it is used as spices in different cuisines. Fenugreek has been used as a medicine, especially for those who are suffering from arthritis and joint pains. It is also taken by those who have kidney problems and other types of pains. Fenugreek seeds have also found its way to skin and hair care products through its dandruff control properties. To use fenugreek seeds, soak about two tablespoon of the seeds in water overnight and mash it in the morning. Scrub the paste into the scalp and wait for thirty minutes. Rinse with natural soap or shampoo solution. For finishing touch, rinse with fresh lime juice to remove hair stickiness and prevent dandruff formation.

5. Cider Vinegar

   Apple cider vinegar as dandruff control formula is easy to use. Just mix one-fourth cup of the cider vinegar to one-fourth cup water. Spray the solution onto the scalp and hair and leave it be, or wrapped in towel, for thirty minutes to an hour. Wash hair afterwards. By doing the process once or two times a week, there is improvement in dandruff control. The reason for this is not just the acetic acid which is found in vinegars, but also the lactic, malic and citric acid that help exfoliates by balancing the pH of the skin and scalp.

6. Lime Juice

   Several people with dandruff problems made use of lime juice to eradicate the problem. Just a slice of lime rubbed into the scalp once a week has helped in lowering dandruff problems. But not only can it control dandruff, it can also make hair glow and can prevent that sticky look on the hair due to increase oil production. Lime juice has similar component as cider vinegar. Its acid content is beneficial to controlling the balance of acidity and alkalinity of scalp.

7. Coconut Oil

   Compared to medicated shampoo, coconut oil seems to be more effective in getting rid of dandruffs. According to studies, it is the coconut oils molecules that causes amalgamation through the skin and scalp that provides its soft texture. Because of this, dry, flaky and uneven skin is released. By simply massaging heated coconut oil onto the scalp and leaving it for fifteen minutes before shampooing with mild shampoo, dandruff control is assured.

Sources
natural-homeremedies.com
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
ehow.com
livestrong.com
altmedicine.about.com