6 Quick Remedies To Help You Treat Dandruff

Dandruff is probably the most embarrassing of all beauty problems, next only to body odour. Dandruff is a scalp condition which is caused by a fungus, Malassezia, which feeds on sebum and the dead skin cells occur naturally due to formation of new skin. The fungus feeds on sebum, breaking it down into fatty acids that may irritate the scalp. Although the presence of microbe on the scalp is a natural thing, it becomes a problem when they cause dryness, itchiness of scalp and accumulation of visible flakes.

Dandruff can be a year-round problem, therefore, having simple and easy to use home remedies for treating dandruff can come in handy.

Here are a couple of home remedies which you can try to counter your dandruff problem.

* Vinegar

Vinegar helps in treating itchy, dry skin and also helps to kill dandruff-causing fungus and bacteria.The acidic content of vinegar is supremely beneficial to drastically reduce flaking. For effective treatment of dandruff, apply an equal quantity mixture of white vinegar with water on the scalp skin about half an hour before a head wash.

* Neem

For generations together, neem has been valued greatly because of its antibacterial and antifungal qualities.This age-old remedy for skin ailments can work effectively to counter the fungal colonization of scalp. Use neem water (neem leaves boiled in water and strained) to rinse your scalp for best results

* Tea tree oil

All anti-acne and anti-fungal medications boast of tea tree oil due to its exceptional power to fight fungal and bacterial infections. Add a drop or two of tea tree oil to your shampoo and wash normally. You will be surprised at the instant results.

* Baking soda

Exfoliation is essential to ensure there is no build-up of flakes on the scalp that make dandruff even more visible. Baking soda, can be used as a scrub to exfoliate the scalp gently, without irritating it and for removing dead skin cells.You can simply add some baking soda to your shampoo while washing hair to derive its benefits.

* Garlic

Garlic is a potent natural anti-fungal condiment. In fact, cloves also have the same medical benefits. Pound a clove or two of garlic and after mixing with water, use it on your scalp to see quick results. If the pungent smell of garlic or clove bothers you too much, you can mix in a little honey and ginger to neutralize the smell.

* Aloe vera

Besides having cool and soothing effect on your itchy scalp, aloe vera also works through its anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties.It is best to directly extract some from the aloe vera plant- it is transparent and has a thick consistency. It can be applied in the scalp and then washed off with a medicated anti-dandruff or mild shampoo.

While these are easy remedies to treat dandruff, if you wish to have dandruff-free scalp, there are also certain habits which you should alter. Letting oil sit in your scalp for long periods of time might actually add less to hair nourishment and more to dandruff.