Dandruff is the dry, flaky skin on the scalp - is a common and annoying problem. The usual cause is a condition known as seborrhoeic dermatitis, which produces an itchy, scaly rash on the scalp. Sometimes other areas such as the eyebrows, beard, chest, back and even the groin are affected too, and the skin in these areas may look red and inflamed.
Both dandruff and seborrhoeic dermatitis are thought to be triggered by hypersensitivity to a yeast called pityrosporum. Everyone has small quantities of this yeast on their skin, but in people with scaly scalp problems, it may be present in large numbers.
You may also find it helpful to rub your scalp with a solution of seven drops of rosemary or tea tree essential oils diluted with 1 tablespoon (15ml) of carrier oil, before washing your hair. A shampoo containing the anti-fungal drug, ketoconazole, is available over the counter and highly effective.
Dandruff treatment with Fenugreek Seeds (mentya in Kannada)
The use of fenugreek seeds is one of the most important remedies in the treatment of dandruff. Two tablespoons of these seeds should be soaked overnight in water and ground into a fine paste in the morning. This paste should be applied all over the scalp and left for half an hour. The hair should then be washed thoroughly with soap-nut (ritha) solution or acacia concinna.
Dandruff treatment using Lime
The use of a teaspoon of fresh lime juice for the last rinse, while washing the hair, is another useful remedy. This not only leaves the hair glowing but also removes stickiness and prevents dandruff.
Dandruff treatment using Beet
Beets have been found useful in dandruff. Both tops and roots should be boiled in water and this water should be massaged into the scalp with the finger tips every night. White beet is better for this purpose.
Diet for Dandruff treatment
Diet plays an important role in the treatment of dandruff. To begin with, the patient should resort to an all-fruit diet for about five days and take three meals a day of juicy fruits.
After the all-fruit diet, the patient can gradually adopt a well-balanced diet, with emphasis on raw foods, especially fresh fruits and vegetables. Further short periods of an all-fruit diet for three days or so may be necessary at monthly intervals till the skin's condition improves.
Avoid strong tea/coffee, pickles, refined and processed foods:Meats, sugar, white flour, strong tea or coffee, condiments, pickles, refined and processed foods should all be avoided.
Hair should be brushed daily to improve circulation:
The hair should be brushed daily to improve the circulation and remove any flakiness. The most effective way to brush the hair is to bend forward from the waist with the head down towards the ground, and brush from the nape of the neck towards the top of the head. The scalp should also be thoroughly massaged everyday, using one's finger tips and working systematically over the head. This should be done just before or after brushing the hair. Like brushing, this stimulates the circulation, dislodges dirt and dandruff, and encourages hair growth. Exposure of the head to the rays of the sun is also a useful measure in the treatment of dandruff.
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