Home Remedies for Dandruff, Tested!

You win some, you lose some. This principle holds true not only for economics but for human biology. For example, just as new cells perpetually form at the base of the skin and scalp, old cells slough off the surface. These cells comprise much of the dust in your house.

For some reason, we have a social stigma against visible accumulations of dead skin cells caught in our hair or dusting the shoulders of our clothes. In truth, it’s all relative. Some people simply have more exuberant cell turnover, which makes the process more noticeable. In fact, dandruff affects half of us.

Dandruff can also cause itching and redness of the scalp. Heat can worsen the condition. Men have it more often than women. For many people, the scalp becomes less flaky with age.

Seborrheic dermatitis causes more severe dandruff. The affected skin and scalp becomes inflamed, very flaky, and greasy looking. Cradle cap in infants is one form of seborrheic dermatitis. Other disorders—psoriasis, eczema, fungal skin infection, and head lice— can cause scalp flakiness. A particular fungus (Malassezia) has now been associated with dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, and cradle cap. It seems to thrive on excretions from the scalp’s oil glands.

RECIPES TO TREAT DANDRUFF

Sesame Asparagus 
1 bunch asparagus, thick ends removed 1 tablespoon (15 ml) sesame oil Freshly ground black pepper 1 teaspoon (3 g) sesame seeds  
PREPARATION AND USE:
Preheat the oven to 450°F (230°C, or gas mark 8). On a baking sheet, toss the asparagus spears with the sesame oil. Sprinkle with pepper to taste. Roast the asparagus for 5 minutes and then turn the spears and sprinkle with the sesame seeds. Roast for 5 minutes more until the asparagus is tender and just browned. Serve immediately.
YIELD: 2 Servings
How it works: Low body levels of zinc and certain B vitamins can trigger dandruff. Asparagus and sesame seeds contain both zinc and vitamin B. Leafy green vegetables are excellent delivery systems for these important nutrients, as well as nuts and seeds, including pine nuts, pecans, and pumpkin seeds.

Tea Tree Scalp Treatment 
2 to 3 drops tea tree essential oil ¼ cup (60 ml) flaxseed oil  
PREPARATION AND USE:Drop the tea tree essential oil into the flaxseed oil and blend. Apply the mixture liberally to your scalp before bedtime. Wrap your head in a clean towel or cover your pillow with the towel to protect it. In the morning, shampoo and rinse your scalp thoroughly.  
YIELD: 1 application
How it works: Tea tree oil has antifungal properties. Flaxseed oil contains omega-3 fatty acids, which reduce inflammation that can accompany dandruff. If you have the type of dandruff caused by dry skin, the oil may help.

Rosemary Scalp Wash
1 cup (235 ml) apple cider vinegar 2 tablespoons (3 g) fresh rosemary leaves  
PREPARATION AND USE: Place the vinegar in a small pan and heat until nearly boiling. Remove from the heat, stir in the rosemary, cover the pan, and steep for 10 minutes. Strain the mixture and discard the herbs. Pour into a clean empty jar or bottle to store. After every shampoo, mix ¼ cup (60 ml) of the solution with 2 cups (475 ml) of water. Use it to rinse your scalp thoroughly.  
YIELD: 4 applications
How it works: Vinegar contains acetic acid, which is antifungal. Rosemary is an excellent antibacterial and antifungal agent.

Tea Tree Oil Shampoo 
¼ cup (60 ml) liquid castile soap ¼ cup (60 ml) water ½ teaspoon olive or flaxseed oil 10 to 20 drops tea tree essential oil  
PREPARATION AND USE:Place all the ingredients in a sizeable, clean squeeze bottle with a secure top. Cap and shake to combine. Part your hair in small sections. Dab the shampoo onto one small area at a time. Massage the shampoo into your scalp. Rinse.
YIELD:: 4 To 6 applications
How it works: Tea tree oil is active against some species of Malassezia, the fungus associated with dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis. One study found that a shampoo containing 5 percent tea tree oil significantly improved dandruff relative to a placebo. Although this study did not reveal any side effects, some people are allergic to the essential oil of this plant. If this shampoo irritates your scalp, stop using it. Note: You can also use this mild mixture as a general skin wash.

Honey Hair Mask 
½ cup (170 g) honey ¼ cup (60 ml) olive oil  
PREPARATION AND USE:In a small, microwave-safe bowl, mix the honey and olive oil. Heat the mixture in the microwave on high for about 10 seconds, and then allow it to cool. Gradually work the mixture onto your scalp until it is covered. You can also coat your hair with this mask to make it shine. Cover your scalp with a shower cap or warm, damp towel for about 30 minutes. Remove the wrap and rinse well.  
YIELD: 1 application
How it works: Honey inhibits Malassezia fungi, which means it may be helpful in treating dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis, although studies have yet to investigate that possibility.

Brush Up Relief 
A good brush  
PREPARATION AND USE:Starting at your scalp, brush from scalp through hair with firm strokes. Repeat until you’ve covered the entire scalp and corresponding strands.  
YIELD: Daily application
How it works: This brushing action carries oil from your scalp, where it causes dandruff, along your hair strands. While it fights dandruff, the repetitive brushing also brings out the shine in your hair.

Yogurt Boost 
1 cup (230 g) plain yogurt 1 tablespoon (15 ml) fresh lemon juice  
PREPARATION AND USE:In a small bowl, mix the yogurt and lemon juice. Thoroughly massage the yogurt mixture into your scalp. Cover your scalp with a shower cap or warm towel for about 30 minutes. Remove the wrap and shampoo.
YIELD: 1 application
How it works: If a case of dandruff is caused by a fungal infection, yogurt can help fight it. It contains friendly bacteria that discourage fungal infections such as Malassezia. The citric acid in lemon juice is also antifungal.

Cradle Cap Relief 
Pure castile liquid soap Mineral oil (optional)  
PREPARATION AND USE:Gently massage your infant’s scalp with your fingers to help circulation and loosen scaly patches. Shampoo with the castile soap, rinsing the head thoroughly. Do this daily until the scaly patches disappear; then shampoo twice weekly. If your child has a head of hair, brush it with a clean, soft brush after each shampoo and several times during the day. For stubborn scales: To help loosen especially stubborn scales, put mineral oil on your fingertips and massage it into your baby’s scalp. Wrap a warm, wet cloth around your child’s head for about an hour. (Alternate two cloths, changing one cloth for a warm cloth each time it starts to cool; you must keep the wrap warm to maintain the baby’s body heat.)  
YIELD: daily application until the scales disappear  
How it works: Gentle massage increases circulation for smooth skin and also helps remove the dead, scaly skin of cradle cap. The mineral oil and warm cloth helps soften especially stubborn scales. The key ingredient in castile soap is skin-softening olive oil combined with the alkaline sodium hydroxide. It has no harsh artificial additives to irritate the baby’s tender scalp. Note: Contact your doctor if the scales continue; you may need a prescription cream.

When Simple Doesn’t work
Try a medicated, antidandruff shampoo, available over the counter. The active ingredients vary from product to product. Most contain either selenium sulfide (slows the loss of old skin cells), coal tar (also slows skin turnover), zinc pyrithione (inhibits fungi and bacteria), octopirox (inhibits fungi), ketoconazole (a broad-spectrum antifungal), or salicylic acid (promotes removal of flakes). It may take some experimenting with various brands. Read the packages (noting that some products have undesirable effects on hair.) Follow the directions. Be sure to rinse thoroughly.

When to See the Doctor 
Make an appointment if your scalp has recently begun to flake, par ticularly if you also have itching and reddened patches of skin. It doesn’t hurt to get a diagnosis to find out whether you have a condition such as psoriasis, eczema, fungal infection, or seborrheic dermatitis. Even if it’s run-of-themill dandruff, your doctor might have ideas for treatment.