Via Bella Kinks
Dandruff- those embarrassing flakes of skin that fall from your scalp occasionally – or persistently- can be treated and prevented in a variety of ways. The cause of dandruff is also varied, from overactive sebaceous glands to food allergies and family predisposition. See your doctor if the flakes are yellow and greasy and do not respond to over the counter or alternative treatments. Dermatitis or a localized fungal infection could also be the culprit to your discomfort, so be persistent with treatment and fight the flake.
There are plenty of over the counter medicated shampoos out there, but if you are more interested in a natural home remedy here are some great ideas.
Vinegar: White or Cider
Apply vinegar directly to scalp. Wrap a towel around your head and leave on overnight. Shampoo in the morning, and repeat once every two weeks as needed.
Tea Tree Oil:
Massage into your scalp to prevent flaking and protect against infection.
Olive Oil and Almond Oil:
Mix the oils together in equal parts. Massage into scalp and leave on 5 minutes after you feel a slight burning sensation (this is normal for this treatment.) Rinse well in warm water.
Dried Rosemary, or Sage:
Boil 2 tablespoons in one cup of water for 10 minutes. Strain and massage the liquid into clean hair. Do not rinse.
Aloe Vera Gel:
Massage Aloe Vera gel into your scalp and leave on 10 – 15 minutes prior to shampooing. Repeat routine daily to rid yourself of the flakes, and prevent their return.
Lime Juice:
Rinse hair in lime juice after normal shampooing.
Dried Thyme:
Boil dried thyme in 2 cups of water for 10 minutes. Cool and strain. Apply the liquid to your hair and leave on for a half an hour. Rinse.
Baking Soda:
Add 2 tablespoons of baking soda to your shampoo. Mix and leave on your hair until you feel a slight burning sensation. Rinse out completely.
Aspirin:
Crush two aspirins and mix with your normal amount of daily shampoo. Leave on for two minutes. Rinse well and repeat once a week as needed.
Witch Hazel:
Apply witch hazel with a cotton ball to affected areas or rinse your whole head as needed. Repeat every 2 – 3 days as needed.
As always preventing dandruff, or doing what you can to prevent a reoccurrence, is key to living flake free. As there are many causes of dandruff, a holistic approach might work to help align all aspects of your life that may be causing your condition.
Diet: Watch your diet for too much dairy, fatty foods, sugar or seafood intake. These specific food types have been known to aggravate the dandruff condition.
Supplements: Try supplemental vitamins like Vitamin B, Niacin, and Vitamin B12. These may help your dandruff by improving your ability to break down fatty foods- a common cause of dandruff.
Stress: Having dandruff in and of itself can be stressful, but some say that Stress can cause or aggravate the condition! Try meditation or relaxation techniques and daily exercise to help combat the effect stress is having on your health.
Massage: Massaging your scalp with the home remedy treatments or medicated shampoos will help increase the blood flow to your scalp, which can prevent the drying of the skin.
Brushing your hair: Use a natural bristle brush to help distribute your healthy hair oils throughout your scalp and hair.
Hair care: Shampoo your hair as needed to maintain a flake free scalp and allow your hair to air dry instead of using a hair dryer to eliminate excess scalp damage.
If your dandruff does not respond to these common treatments, see your doctor.
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Do you have any natural remedies to add? Please share below.
Until next time
