Hair dandruff is among the top five hair care issues that almost everyone has to deal with at some point in time. You’ll notice yellowish, oily flakes falling on your shoulders every time you give your head a slight shake, or there will be an incessant need to scratch your scalp to get rid of the irritation. Either way, these symptoms of dandruff can make your everyday life difficult. While dealing with dandruff can be overwhelming, it is easily treatable. Most people often look to the Internet for answers, and the first thing that pops up in their mind is to look for home remedies. Among these, neem has been long considered a go-to treatment for dandruff. But, is it really effective? Let’s find out.
Causes of dandruff
One of the major reasons for dandruff is the fungus Malassezia Globosa, which lives on everyone’s scalp. The microbe is usually harmless and breaks down the sebum produced by your scalp. This process results in the release of a substance called oleic acid. About 50 per cent of the population is sensitive to oleic acid and reacts to this substance by directing the scalp to get rid of the irritant by shedding the skin cells on the scalp. This rapid shedding of skin cells can cause overcrowding of flakes on your scalp, which comes down when you scratch your scalp. These flakes are called dandruff. Other causes of dandruff include:
- Dry skin
- Oily scalp
- Reaction to certain hair products
- Certain skin conditions, like psoriasis and eczema
Does Neem help treat dandruff?
One of the most popular dandruff home remedies is to use neem. You will have to boil neem leaves in water and then rinsing your scalp and hair with it. Neem contains antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties that are believed to give you relief from constant itching and scalp irritation. While neem does possess incredible medicinal properties, which led it to be used in traditional home remedies, when it comes to treating dandruff, neem does not completely remove these pesky flakes from your tresses. You’ll need a proper anti-dandruff shampoo and conditioner to deal with dandruff.
There’s a common misconception that anti-dandruff shampoos can be harsh on your hair and just treat dandruff. However, the anti-dandruff shampoos and conditioners from Head & Shoulders not just get rid of dandruff, but give you healthy, strong hair as well. These shampoos are formulated using zinc pyrithione, which is an active dandruff-fighting ingredient. It targets the fungus directly, and relieves symptoms such as an itchy scalp, redness, irritation, and even controls sebum production so that the microbe doesn’t thrive. Apply the anti-dandruff shampoo to your wet hair and allow it to sit for a few minutes. Wash it off completely and follow it up with the anti-dandruff conditioner. It is essential that you use an anti-dandruff conditioner and not a regular one since the latter can diminish the dandruff-fighting power of the shampoo.
Dandruff is a common scalp condition and let’s all agree that it’s incredibly annoying. While home remedies are often considered the go-to option for treating the condition, you need an anti-dandruff shampoo and conditioner to remove dandruff permanently and get clean, flake-free hair.