CHENNAI: Monsoons have made its presence in the city, no doubt. While the rainy season brings with it a series of hair problems, dandruff is the most common among them. Scientifically put, dandruff is a pathological condition affecting the hair by causing white flakes of dead skin cells to separate from the scalp.
The white flakes you spot on your clothes are nothing but matured dead skin cells, which is commonly referred as dandruff. Skin cells on the scalp mature for every person. However, in exceptional cases, the skin cells have a tendency to mature and shed in two to seven days which is severe. One of the common causes of the skin cells to mature is the fungus known as Malasesezia.
While the common conception is that dandruff is a hair problem, it goes much deeper than that, quite literally. An unhygienic scalp, dry skin, mental stress, excessive consumption of fat, sugar and junk food are some of the common causes of dandruff. Contrary to popular belief, dandruff does not cause baldness and is not contagious. But it does lead to increase in hair fall which makes your mane appear thin and brittle.
Natural ways of hair care and a healthy diet helps bring back a healthy texture to the hair and induces growth. Here are some homemade packs to treat dandruff with key ingredients that are readily available at every household.
Rice water treatment
Literature on Ayurveda states that rice water is capable of inhibiting the growth of dandruff-causing fungi. While cooking rice, take out the excess rice water and use it for your hair. After applying shampoo on wet hair, wash it off with the rice water and leave it on for 10-15 minutes. Gently massage the scalp and rinse with regular water. The rice water allows the growth of Bacillus Cereus which produces antibiotics Zwittermicin A and Kanosamin to treat dandruff. Besides adding shine and strengthening the roots, rice water treatment with regular use helps the scalp recover from dandruff.
Neem treatment
One of the most convenient treatments for any hair problem has to be Neem. Besides adding sheen to your hair, neem leaves have in them the supplements with antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory effects. An ideal way to tackle dandruff is the combination of neem and curd. Take roughly about a handful of neem leaves to a make a paste and add it to a bowl of curd. Now apply this mixture all over your scalp and let it rest for 10-15 minutes. Rinse it off with regular water. The anti-fungal properties of neem combined with the soothing effect of curd help treat dandruff without compromising on the health of the hair.
Lemon juice treatment
Kiss goodbye to dandruff with the benefits of lemon juice. With about 5% to 6% citric acid, lemon juice is considered as an anti microbial spectrum against bacterial infections and fungi. The acidic effect of the juice has high potential to inhibit fungal growth. Whisk together the white of one egg and one tablespoon of lemon juice and apply it on the scalp. Rest the pack on your hair and scalp for 10- 15 minutes and rinse it with a mild shampoo. With the lemon acting as a disinfectant, egg white is excellent for conditioning the scalp.
Shikakai pack treatment
In addition to its traditional value, shikakai also contains saponins, which is an effective hair and scalp cleanser. The variety of herbs blended in a shikakai pack acts as antioxidants, preventing scalp infections and induces hair growth. Make a pack of shikakai, methi powder, amla powder, neem leaves, fenugreek, reetha, hibiscus leaves, henna Leaves and tulsi leaves. Mix with water to make a thick paste. Use this paste without any lumps and apply on your hair and scalp. Wash hair immediately with warm water.
(The writer is principal scientist at CavinKare R&D)