Winter is here, an this is the time of year when people are most afraid of dandruff and itchy scalp. Due to cold weather and warm showers, it is optimum during the winters. Dandruff affects the hair of the roots, making it faint, resulting in split ends and a fall of hair.
Dandruff dries the roots completely and triggers blandness. It is very necessary that you moisturize your hair during the cold season. The key causes of dandruff are overheated baths, rare hair bubbles, cold air and no moisture.
Dr Ritika Dhingra, Founder at The luxe clinique, shares tips on how to treat dandruff during the cold weather with the readers of the HealthWire.
What factors are responsible for dandruff in winter?
- Age– The cause of dandruff may be due to age. You are more likely to notice people between the ages of 16 and 30 with a dandruff problem. This is because the sebaceous glands have reached their height during this age group.
- Dryness caused by hair products– If you have a dry scalp problem, you can already feel flaccidity and itchiness in some places more than others. But if the hair is overwashed or not oiled, the dry scalp would lack moisture, which could contribute to dandruff.
- Inefficient cleaning of hair– You can experience dandruff if you stop washing your hair. If you do not shampoo daily, the health of your scalp is compromised. You should wash your hair at least twice a week or even thrice if appropriate if your scalp appears to get oily. If your scalp and hair are not washed regularly, it can lead to dead skin cell build-up and oil build-up, which is just the right condition for the appearance of stubborn dandruff.
- Excessive oil production– If you normally have an oily scalp, you can experience dandruff more frequently if you don’t take good care of your hair. Excess oil production on the scalp is a dandruff breeding ground because the oiliness encourages yeast growth, which is a bacterium that causes dandruff that leads to a fungal infection.
- Some other factors that are responsible- Insufficient brushing of the hair, hair product residue, stress and improper diet, pH imbalance of the skin.
How To Treat Dandruff This Winter
What are the right hair care home remedies one can use to prevent and treat dandruff during the winter?
- Coconut Oil– To get rid of dandruff, coconut oil is said to be effective. It has antimicrobial properties that will help combat the fungus. It will keep your hair nourished and promote the hydration of the skin and avoid scalp dryness. It is also useful for alleviating eczema symptoms, which are said to lead to dandruff.
- Yoghurt– Yoghurt and herbal hair remedies have proven results in taming of skin and hair issues, from doing a lot of good to gut and overall wellbeing. You should combine with a variety of ingredients to fix and clean up unique hair problems.
- Fenugreek seeds- Fenugreek is a commonly used home remedy for water treatment of dandruff Soak fenugreeks. Drain the water and paste the seeds. Apply to the skin and let the paste stay for an hour there. With a mild shampoo, rinse it off.
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Is it true that oily foods and too much sugar in diet cause dandruff?
Too much oil on the scalp is the cause of dandruff, which causes skin cells to build up and then shed. Sometimes, a fungus that lives on your scalp called Malassezia causes dandruff as it causes skin cells to grow faster than normal. Some individuals may have too much of this fungus on their scalp, which may contribute to dandruff.
There are foods that can induce a dandruff flare-up, while foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, proteins, zinc and biotin can help retain the right scalp and healthy hair. We have described some foods below that should be avoided to prevent or minimize dandruff.
In determining our scalp health, diet plays a significant role. Opt for food rich in probiotics (a fermented food) such as kanji, idli, dhokla, yoghurt, home-made pickles. Your diet includes fish, flaxseeds and walnuts. Include garlic, onions and scallions in your diet which contain allicin. Allicin is an antibacterial compound and helps fight dandruff.
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What are the lifestyle changes one can do to fight dandruff and when to see a dermatologist?
Few lifestyle changes can help you avoid dandruff flare-ups, but the truth is that dandruff is a chronic condition that doesn’t have a true ‘cure.’ Nevertheless, anti-dandruff shampoos and conditioners may help prevent dandruff from reappearing, with active ingredients that protect your scalp from dandruff triggers between washes.
So the key is to always keep your scalp and hair clean. Also, take a healthy diet, use anti-dandruff products, change pillow cover regularly. See a dermatologist for dandruff that does not respond to dandruff shampoo or other treatments.