Dandruff can be a chronic problem, or brought on by particular triggers—for instance, extreme temperatures. More serious illnesses may also cause dandruff, including psoriasis, fungal infections on the scalp, seborrheic dermatitis, or an infestation of head lice. These are all what causes excessive dandruff flakes.


Research shows that even lifestyle problems like stress or diet, especially food that is extremely salty, spicy, or sweet as well as too much alcohol consumption can make dandruff worse.

The causes of dandruff in women may be skin that is too dry or oily, coupled with the use of the wrong shampoo products or not using shampoo often enough. In both women and men, psoriasis, eczema, or a yeast known as malassezia can cause dandruff to spiral out of control.




The causes of dandruff in children, though, may be slightly different. Kids sometimes get it when they reach puberty, which brings about hormonal changes. For younger kids, dandruff is most often caused by bad hygiene, as kids sometimes don’t wash their heads enough. This causes a buildup of dead skin, which can become quite noticeable over time. In some cases, the weather, diet, lack of rest, and stress may also be what causes dandruff in kids. Some children rapidly shed dead skin and are prone to dandruff. The pieces of dead skin may sometimes be as big as one to two centimeters. For kids with dandruff, itchy scalp and hair loss is a particularly worrying concern, and can be a result of regular scratching. It’s a good idea to treat kids as soon as possible.

Dandruff can happen to a person of any age but it is found in people between the ages of 10 and 70. Dandruff is a sign of skin disease which can be categorized as fungal infection. There is constant itching and flaking of the scalp which many times can be controlled by shampoos. Having dandruff will also be termed as not taking care of your hair properly.

There are different types of dandruff depending upon the skin type of the person as well as on the basis of personal hygiene. They appear to be white, yellow, patches of dead scales, sometime small and sometimes big lumps of it. Many believe that dandruff is due to dry hair but it is the opposite which is true i.e. generally people who have oily scalps suffer most from dandruff.

Dandruff is mainly caused due to a fungus called Malassezia furfur (or also known as pityrosporum). This is generally and naturally found on the skin surface of all people. When this fungus grows out of proportion then the renewal of cells gets imbalanced making the scalp itchy. This fungus feeds on the oil which is released by the hair follicles leading towards an increased cell turnover.

Symptoms of Dandruff
The most common symptom of dandruff is telltale white flakes in your hair or on your scalp. These flakes are easily seen on dark clothes, and often fall onto a person’s shoulders. In some cases of dandruff, itchy scalps are also noticed. The symptoms of dandruff include:

• Tiny white flakes on the head and in the hair

• Flakes may have an oily appearance

• Tightness and itchiness of the scalp, known as dandruff itch

• A tingling sensation on the scalp

• Soreness of the head

• Greasy, flaky ,or red patches on the scalp, known as seborrheic dermatitis in adults

• Infants may sometimes have a scaly or crusty rash on the scalp. This is a kind of seborrheic dermatitis for babies, known as cradle crap.

Treatment of dandruff
Dandruff does not normally require a visit to the doctor. Most often, over the counter (OTC) lotions or shampoos are enough for dandruff or itchy scalp treatment. Creams that are cortisone-based can help to lessen inflammation and stop yeast buildup. Some dandruff and itchy scalp remedies include:

• Anti-dandruff shampoo: Many OTC shampoos are available that control dandruff. These may have ingredients like tar, zinc pyrithione, salicylic acid, ketoconazole, or selenium sulfide. All these have been shown to help in getting rid of dandruff.

• Creams: Creams that have cortisone can help to reduce inflammation and help with a dandruff itchy scalp. These are readily available, and can be used twice a day. Antifungal creams may also help, especially if the dandruff is caused by a yeast infection. These include clotrimazole (1%) and miconazole (2%), and can be applied one or two times a day until the dandruff and itchy scalp subside.

• If these dandruff remedies don’t work, consult your doctor. He or she can prescribe creams and shampoos similar to those available over the counter, but of a much stronger concentration. Your doctor can also address the underlying cause of the dandruff, rather than just treat the symptoms.

Home remedies for dandruff removal
There are many ways of getting rid of dandruff naturally. These include:

• Fenugreek seeds: Two tablespoons of fenugreek seeds, soaked in water overnight and ground into a paste, can be applied on the scalp in the morning. Leave on for an hour and wash off with herbal or ayurvedic soap, available at health stores.

• Getting rid of dandruff with lemon juice is also a good option. While shampooing, use the juice of a fresh-squeezed lemon after rinsing your hair. This will help with dandruff and will also make the hair shinier and cleaner.

• Apple cider vinegar as a dandruff remedy is also great. After your shampoo, mix one part apple cider vinegar with one part warm water and gently massage into you hair. Let it soak for a few minutes, and rinse out with water. Of all the natural dandruff cures, vinegar is the most popular.

• Another one of the popular dandruff remedies is baking soda, which encourages your scalp to produce more oils. Just rub a bit of it into your scalp, let it stand, and rinse out. At first it may seem to dry the scalp more, but will eventually make it better.

• Two tablespoons of green gram powder mixed with half a cup of yogurt can be used to wash the hair twice a week. This is a good home treatment for dandruff.

• Snake gourd juice also helps to fight dandruff; just rub it into your hair before or during a shower.

• The juice of beets, made from boiling beets, can be applied to the scalp before going to bed.

• Oil therapy is also a good dandruff remedy. Olive oil, wheat germ oil, or coconut oil can be warmed and massaged into the scalp. This can be regularly done, even when dandruff is not a problem, and is one of the best natural dandruff cures.

In some cases the skin cells may die and is replaced fortnightly, as opposed to around once a month which usually is the case in healthy people. There are many reasons which trigger the immense amount of flaking and sometimes cause redness and irritation due to constant itching. By having a healthy living and persona; hygiene one can have beautiful and lustrous hair.