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Is Dandruff Contagious? The Truth About Dandruff !!

If you avoid wearing dark colours while going out to a party due to the fear of dandruff, then maybe it's time for you to treat this problem rather than find alternatives to hide it. In this article, we are going to brief you about the causes, symptoms and home remedies to treat dandruff.

Now let us quickly get down to business and show you the way to a dandruff-free scalp!

What is Dandruff?

Firstly, let's clarify your basics about Dandruff! It is a scalp condition characterised by the appearance of skin flakes. You might also experience itching.

Almost everyone experiences dandruff at some point in their lives, but it is more common from the teenage years up to your midlife.

Talking about causes, there can be numerous. Right from seborrheic dermatitis, allergic reactions, psoriasis, and eczema. Several other factors increase the risk of developing dandruff, including your age, weather condition, tension levels, medical conditions, and even your choice of hair products.

You might be surprised to know that poor hygiene is not a factor, but the flakes might be more visible if a person does not wash or brush their hair often. People often also feel self-conscious about dandruff, but help is available.

How is Dandruff Formed and is dandruff contagious?

Dandruff often starts with your teenage years as your hormones start to change, which causes you to produce more scalp oils for the dandruff-causing germ Malassezia to thrive on. But it can also occur at other times when your hormones change such as in old age or during a time when you are under any type of tension.

Dandruff is a common scalp condition that causes peeling of the skin. It is not contagious or dangerous. However, it can be humiliating and difficult to treat. Mild dandruff can be addressed with a mild wash regularly.

Some factors that can directly affect dandruff on your hair are mentioned below.

1) Age -

Dandruff usually begins in the young teenage years and continues through middle age.

2) Being Male -

Some experts believe that male hormones may be one of the biggest reasons for dandruff because more men have dandruff.

3) Certain illnesses -

Parkinson’s disease and other illnesses that affect the nervous system might also be one of the many reasons for dandruff. Your weakened immune system might also make you more susceptible to dandruff.

What are the Symptoms Of Dandruff?

There are various ways by which you can identify hair dandruff. Some of the most common ways of detecting dandruff in your hair are to look for the symptoms. You can read on to find out some common symptoms of dandruff.-

1. Flakes:

Visible flakes are the most common symptom of dandruff. They are excessive scalp skin cells shed from your scalp as a result of your oleic acid sensitivity. The dead skin cells build up into clumps to create visible white and reddish dandruff flakes.

2. Itchiness:

Whenever you see somebody scratching their head it could mean only two things. They are either in deep thought or simply suffering from the problem of dandruff. In most cases, the latter stands true. All of the buildup on your scalp create discomfort and itching.

3. Dryness:

Just like the skin of any other part of your body, your scalp skin can also feel dry too. Dandruff often breaks the essential moisture-holding barrier that causes the skin to dry out too quickly and for the natural oils of the scalp to leak and dry up.

4. Redness:

The sheer irritation on your skin and possibly the regular scratching of the skin can cause redness and irritation on your scalp. This is also a sign that confirms that you’re going through a problem with dandruff.

Can Dandruff Cause Hair Loss?

Many people ask whether dandruff can cause hair loss. Well, Dermatologists consider Seborrheic dermatitis problem as the usual cause of dandruff. This condition is an inflammatory skin disorder that is generally caused by a type of yeast called Malassezia.

This skin disorder can flare with tension, changes in the environment, and medical problems. Over time, the inflammation may cause damage to your hair follicles, causing the hair to transition prematurely from the growth phase to telogen, the phase in which hair follicles rest and your hair fall out.

Prompt treatment of dandruff might be of great help. If this treatment does not work, it may be because something else is causing the hair loss problem in you.

How to get rid of Dandruff at Home?

We have mentioned some amazing methods through which you can get rid of dandruff at your home!

Wash Your Hair with Vinegar

Vinegar is very much effective against dandruff. If you want to get rid of any existing dandruff, you can simply mix an equal amount of vinegar with water to wash your hair. However, this is not going to solve your problem permanently unless you work on the steps given below.

Use Neem Leaves

In Asian nations, neem leaves are commonly used to treat scalp disorders such as itchiness, lice, and dandruff. These leaves are known to have antiseptic qualities and can moisturize your hair and scalp.

Once you have these leaves, you can crush them together in a bowl to create a paste and then add water to make the paste slightly runny. Apply this paste to your hair and scalp before rinsing it away with warm water.

You should repeat this process at least four times a week for the best results.

An alternative is to place neem leaves in boiling water for about half an hour and then strain the entire water to wash your hair with it.

Try Lemon Treatments

Lemon appears to be a natural cleanser of sorts, which removes dandruff, excess oils and dirt from your scalp. You can simply take two lemons and then squeeze them to extract their juice. Now you can add two parts of water to one part of lemon juice and apply it to your scalp.

You should wash your scalp with your shampoo after about 5 minutes to see a clean, dandruff-free scalp.

A mixture of coconut oil and lemon juice can also work wonders for your hair and scalp. You should mix 1 tablespoon lemon juice and 4 tablespoons of coconut oil in a bowl and then apply this mixture to your hair with the help of your fingers.

After applying the mixture to your whole head, you should wait about 30 minutes before rinsing it off with shampoo and warm water.

You can also create honey and lemon shampoo at home to get rid of dandruff. You will be required to take 5 tablespoons of honey and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice in a bowl and mix them well before using the mixture to thoroughly wash your scalp and hair.

Egg White and Natural Yogurt Mixture

Both egg and natural yoghurt have the essential nutrients that are required for a healthy scalp and hair. Since you may be lacking these nutrients in your diet, you can create a mixture of egg white and natural yoghurt to make up for them.

You can mix one egg white with 2 cups of yoghurt and apply the paste thoroughly onto your hair and scalp. Now, you should keep it on for at least 15 minutes before washing your hair with cold water, and then you will notice the difference.

Aloe Vera Gel

Several of Aloe Vera's natural properties might benefit your hair and scalp. Aloe vera gel not only soothes your skin but also has antibacterial properties important for fighting off fungal infections. Simply apply some Aloe Vera gel to your hands, rub them together, and then massage your scalp and hair. Now, you should let it stay for about half an hour before washing it for the best results.

Apple Juice and Honey

Just like honey and lemon, apple juice and honey are also a good combination and a remedy for dandruff. A paste may be made by combining two teaspoons of apple juice with five tablespoons of honey. Rub the paste onto your hair and scalp and let it sit for about 10 minutes before washing it.

Properly Use an Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

You might hear people telling you that anti-dandruff shampoos are mere marketing stunts, but that is not always the case. Several shampoos are known to reduce dandruff and hair fall.

You should usually wash your hair twice a week using lukewarm water and anti-dandruff shampoo. After some time, you should dry your hair before brushing lightly to remove any leftover flakes. We highly recommend the best anti-dandruff shampoo in India which is available online by GHC in the online marketplace.

If you follow this routine, your hair should remain dandruff free for at least 2 days.

How to Prevent Hair Fall?

Here are some home cures for hair loss:

1) Oiling your Scalp regularly:

Our elders swear by oiling to keep our hair healthy and shiny, choose a hair oil that suits your scalp and will not inflate hair fall further. Oiling seems like an easy task but trusts us you need to deeply nourish your scalp with a good massage which will eventually help in blood flow.

2) Using Aloe Vera on Head:

Aloe vera is a beautiful holy grail that is equally effective for our hair. Aloe vera contains anti-oxidants which are helpful if you deal with dandruff. Aloe vera has soothing properties and is good for cleaning out oil from our scalp.

3) Onion Juice for Hair:

One of the most effective and potent things that you can use during extreme Hair all is onion juice. All you need to do is blend and squeeze out the juice from the Onions and apply it to your scalp in a circular motion, leave it for about 20-25 minutes, and then wash your hair with a mild shampoo.

4) Fenugreek:

You can soak fenugreek overnight and then eat them in the morning on an empty stomach or you can boil Fenugreek in a cup of water and drink it, if you do not want to eat or drink you can soak them overnight and make a paste of them and apply it on your scalp for an hour or more. Fenugreek is a magical herb that promotes hair growth and helps repair damaged and weak hair follicles.

Take Away

All of the advice we have mentioned above in the article is successful for most people if used correctly and regularly, if your case of dandruff is severe and is not getting better even after using these methods to get rid of it, we would suggest you to consult a dermatologist.

If you want to buy dermatologist-recommended products like mino-xidil, Phi-nasteride, Biotin and many more then you can visit our website of Mars by GHC.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How long can dandruff last?

Dandruff lasts for several weeks.

2. Should I wash my hair daily if I have dandruff?

Yes, Shampoo your hair every day and alternate anti-dandruff shampoo twice a week.

3. Does hot water cause dandruff?

Yes, Washing your hair in hot water regularly can also cause dry skin and dandruff.

References:

Stephanie S. Gardner, MD, July 26 - WebMD, Dandruff: Learn The Basics

Remedies for Dandruff - WebMD
Javad Nematian, Mehrdad Ravaghi, Ali Gholamrezanezhad, Edwin Nematian, 2006

Increased hair shedding may be associated with the presence of Pityrosporum ovale