Dandruff on the head is not an independent disease of the scalp. It is one of the signs of disturbances in the functioning of the human body. The problem is characterized by such manifestations as peeling, periodic itching, a slight burning sensation, specific spots on the scalp, and in the future leads to hair loss.
According to statistics from the World Health Organization, about 70% of people experience seborrhea. Many are interested in how to remove dandruff at home. Let's figure out which folk remedies help to cope with the problem and which medical cosmetics to choose.
Causes of Dandruff
Dandruff makes a person feel considerable discomfort. Some hope that this cosmetic problem will disappear by itself. However, this is wrong; inaction can only aggravate the situation. Before you learn how to remove dandruff at home, you need to determine what it appears from.
Among the most common factors, the following should be highlighted:
- The main causative agent of dandruff is the pathogenic yeast Malassezia furfur. This is part of human microflora. He takes an active part in the process of regeneration of skin cells. Secretion of sebaceous glands is disrupted due to the influence of adverse external and internal factors. Poor ecology, all kinds of infections, constant stress, vitamin deficiency and even climate change can lead to aggressive fungal behavior and the formation of dandruff. As soon as the microorganism begins to multiply intensively, the cell growth cycle is significantly reduced. As a result, the number of flakes exceeds normal values, and they become noticeable even to the naked eye.
- Frequent temperature changes and dry air contribute to dehydration of the skin, which leads to its changes and the appearance of dandruff.
- Hypersensitivity to the composition of cosmetic products intended for hair care and styling is also considered a common cause. The abuse or use of inappropriate or low-quality paints, foams, sprays, gels and other products disrupts the sebaceous glands.
- Weakened immunity can cause not only life-threatening diseases, but also dandruff.
- The problem can be caused by exacerbations of chronic skin diseases (psoriasis, seborrhea, dermatitis), disturbances in the endocrine system, lack of vitamins and allergic reactions.
- Taking medications.
- Improper nutrition.
Types of Dandruff
Dandruff is divided into 2 types:
- Dry.
- Oily.
To learn how to remove dandruff from the head quickly in a particular person, you need to determine its type.
Dry seborrhea
Dry seborrhea is caused by insufficient secretion of sebum, due to its texture - excessive viscosity. Most often found in adolescence in boys and girls. In the presence of certain diseases, it can also be observed in adults. They all become interested in how to remove dandruff at home.
Symptoms of manifestation:
- overdried scalp, its hypersensitivity, severe flaking, itching;
- the formation of intense small-plate dandruff begins;
- hair looks weak, thinned, falls out more than normal, split off.
Dead scales of the epithelium are connected to each other. They form crusts on the scalp, cause discomfort in the form of tightness and irritation of the skin.
As noted by trichologists, the restoration of dermal tissue occurs in a month. The dead layer of cells exfoliates and is removed in the process of washing the head. The fungus takes part in the regeneration, it is located on the epidermis and feeds on skin secretion.
If for some reason a failure occurs in the human body, living fungi multiply intensively, from two to five days are spent on regeneration. Dead scales begin to accumulate, stick together in large flakes and appear on the hair in the form of dandruff. This gives the person considerable discomfort, and he begins to look for information on how to remove dandruff at home.
Greasy dandruff
Fatty type of dandruff is often found with pathological greasiness of the scalp. If the glands of external secretion work too intensively, a film forms on the surface of the epidermis. It closes the pores, has an irritating effect on the nerve endings, preventing the cells from receiving the amount of oxygen necessary for normal development.
Symptoms of manifestation:
- excessive greasy skin;
- the formation of dandruff in the form of large plates;
- increased hair loss;
- itching
Fatty dandruff can occur as a result of psycho-emotional overload, a genetic predisposition, an increase in the level of male hormones, and insufficient hygiene of the scalp and hair.
Oily seborrhea in the puberty period is often manifested. Sebaceous gland dysfunction occurs due to an imbalance in the body's balance between male and female sex hormones. Teens are more often than others interested in how to quickly remove dandruff.
A high indicator of androgens reduces the bactericidal properties of sebum and leads to a strong secretion. Active propagation of the yeast-like fungus and clogging of the glands occurs. The sebaceous film formed on the surface of the scalp interferes with the breathing of pores, disrupts the microcirculation of blood and the nutrition of hair follicles.
Types of Fat Dandruff
Trichologists distinguish between two types of oily seborrhea - thick and liquid.
With a thick form, the strands are very hard and dry to the touch, hair is hard to put in the hairstyle. The scalp loses its former elasticity and becomes denser, acquires a grayish tint. When pressed on it, thick contents may be released.
In advanced cases, the so-called epidermal cyst forms on the head. It is filled with a thick mass. Atheromas often become inflamed, leading to an increase in body temperature. Affected areas of the skin become painful.
Treatment that is not started in a timely manner can lead to complications: baldness, furunculosis and other diseases of a purulent nature.
People with a liquid form of seborrhea suffer from a characteristic greasy shine on their hair. The strands look dirty or wet, despite constant hygiene procedures. After washing the hair on the same day, large flakes of yellow dandruff appear on the skin, the curls become sticky, the hairstyle looks stale. Hair falls out, a person is worried about severe itching of the scalp. The lack of proper treatment leads to the appearance of sebaceous cysts, partial or complete baldness occurs.
Liquid seborrhea can lead to pustular lesions of the epidermis, abscesses, furunculosis. No need to run the problem, it is important to learn in time how to effectively remove dandruff.
Salt peeling
Of course, it is best to start the treatment of dandruff after consulting a trichologist. The remedies presented in pharmacies designed to get rid of the problem in a matter of days most often have a temporary effect.
To get rid of dandruff, you can use the proven folk method. This simple method of treatment, according to reviews, is considered one of the most effective. It is even used by those who are looking for a working way to remove dandruff from a child.
The procedure should be performed after each shampoo. First you should clean your hair and skin from dust, grease and styling residue with a suitable shampoo. Then you need to take table salt in your palm and distribute it along the partings with neat massage movements. Of course, it will not work to completely remove dandruff at a time. Regularity is important in treatment.
For the procedure, you need ordinary kitchen salt of a fine fraction or sea, crushed in a coffee grinder. You can also take iodized, pink Himalayan and enriched with valuable minerals.
Five-minute massage will act as a gentle peeling and an excellent stimulator of blood circulation. The salt particles will gradually dissolve, therefore, with gentle movements, trauma to the epidermis is excluded. During the manipulations, the dead skin layer exfoliates, and salt water kills fungi and microorganisms.
After the first procedure, dandruff will become less. Repeat massage should be no more than twice a week. The course is 1 month.
With the salt method of treating dandruff, owners of dry brittle hair should be careful. After massage, it is recommended to apply a moisturizing mask over the entire length of the curls, so you can save them from dehydration. Thus, the use of salt is one of the answers to the question of how to quickly remove dandruff.
Apple vinegar
Organic acids, which are part of apple cider vinegar, have a cleansing effect and help in the treatment and prevention of dandruff. The use of this product normalizes the acid-base balance of the scalp, eliminates the fungus that provokes seborrhea, restores strength and health to the hair.
In addition to the cleansing and tonic effect on the scalp, vinegar benefits the hair structure because it provides a conditioning effect. Scales after rinsing with a solution are closed, tightly adjacent to each other. Hair becomes incredibly shiny in appearance, easy to comb.
Apple cider vinegar has useful properties:
- Improves nutrition of hair follicles. This is possible due to its rich composition: B vitamins, retinol, ascorbic acid, minerals, organic acids, pectin.
- It neutralizes the effect of free radicals, carefully removes dead skin cells, has a restoring effect on the epidermis, speeds up the healing of small scratches, cleanses the skin of toxins, dust and other impurities.
- Tones up and refreshes, stops reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms.
You can purchase a product of various concentrations at any grocery store. Natural apple cider vinegar has a fruity aroma and a golden hue. In order to remove dandruff from the head quickly, many people start using this proven product.
Vinegar can be used in several ways:
- Rinse. For 1 glass of water you need to take 4 tbsp. l vinegar.
- Wiping. Diluted in water in proportions of 1: 1 vinegar is applied directly to the scalp by parting. After 15 minutes, you need to wash your hair in the usual way.
- Mask. Other components are included in its composition - medicinal herbs. It is recommended to take chamomile (has a calming and anti-inflammatory effect) or peppermint (gives a tonic effect). To prepare the mask take a glass of herbal decoction and 2 tbsp. l vinegar. A warm mixture is applied to the skin and throughout the hair sheet. Then you need to wrap your head with polyethylene and put on a special warming cap or wrap a towel. The duration of the procedure is 30 minutes, after which the mask is washed off with clean water. The course of treatment for seborrhea is 2 months, the procedure must be repeated 2 times a week.
Paste "Sulsena"
Sulsena paste and shampoo were created by specialists of the Ukrainian cosmetic company Amalgama Lux specifically for the treatment and prevention of dandruff. Products based on selenium disulfide normalize the functioning of the sebaceous glands and stimulate the processes of skin self-renewal.
To get rid of dandruff, paste "Sulsena" (2%) is used 2 times a week for three months. A paste with 1% of the active substance is used to prevent the appearance of dandruff only once a week, and a 2% concentration of selenium is used as a medicine once a month.
The use of paste "Sulsena" course allows you to maximize strengthen the hair follicles, normalize the condition of the scalp and remove dandruff in 5-6 months.
In rare cases, when using the product, irritation and an allergic reaction may appear. In people with sensitivity to one of the components of the product, as evidenced by reviews, hair may begin to fall out. Sulsen paste should be discarded for allergy sufferers and pregnant women.
How to remove dandruff from the head in men and women with this tool? It is necessary to apply it according to this algorithm:
- Wash your hair with shampoo. To achieve a quick result, it is recommended to use shampoo of the same series.
- On wet skin you need to evenly apply the paste, gently massage it with rubbing movements and leave to act for 10 minutes.
- Rinse the paste with water at a comfortable temperature.
You cannot find this remedy in stores and are still thinking about how to remove dandruff? In Russia, you can buy the product of the same name, which produces the domestic scientific and production company Mirroll.
Sulfuric ointment
How to remove dandruff at home quickly and for a long time? Use sulfur. It has a pronounced antiseptic and antiparasitic effect. These properties can successfully eliminate dandruff provoked by fungi.
Sulfur ointment is often used to treat seborrhea, psoriasis, and even scabies.
Apply the drug in an external way. It is rubbed into the skin and left to act for 5-7 minutes for exposure, then rinsed thoroughly. The procedure must be repeated daily for a week.
The sulfur concentration in the ointment is 10%, so it can cause irritation on sensitive skin. Reviews confirm this. For this reason, it is not used for children.
Further treatment of seborrhea involves the use of medical cosmetics with a lower concentration of active ingredient.
How can a man remove dandruff if there is no sulfuric ointment in the pharmacy? As an alternative to solve the problem, you can buy sulfur-salicylic or sulfur-tar ointment.
Tea Tree Essential Oil
If for a long time it is not possible to remove dandruff from the head of a woman or a man, they often resort to using tea tree essential oil. The effectiveness of this natural remedy is due to its antiseptic, disinfecting and anti-inflammatory properties. When using this product to care for oily scalp, the work of the endocrine glands is normalized.
To care for hair prone to dandruff, it is recommended to use tea tree essential oil, adding it to your favorite shampoo. This will help prevent white flakes and fungal diseases.
For permanent care of dry hair prone to dryness, essential oil can not be used, since you can dry them even more - fragility and split ends will appear.
Tea tree essential oil performs the following tasks:
- calms the scalp, heals small wounds, relieves inflammation;
- fights dandruff, eliminating fungus;
- strengthens hair follicles, nourishes them, and also enhances blood circulation between epidermal cells.
How can I remove dandruff with this tool? There are several effective ways to apply the oil:
- For washing your hair. It is necessary to enrich the usual shampoo with oil, thereby ensuring the prevention of dandruff during the usual procedures. For one serving of shampoo you need to take two drops of oil. Then it is necessary to foam it and apply to the skin with massage movements. Wash off with water. You can use this method several times a week, but care must be supplemented with softening and moisturizing balms for the length of the hair to prevent their brittleness and dryness.
- For the mask. Castor, olive or sea buckthorn oil should be taken as a base. For a better effect on the skin, it must first be warmed up a little. Then you need to add four drops of tea tree and lavender essential oil. The mixture is rubbed into the hair roots and left for 20-30 minutes, then washed off with shampoo.
If you are not allergic to these funds, you can use these recipes to remove dandruff. Reviews about them on thematic forums are mostly positive. To get rid of white flakes on your hair forever, of course, be patient.