Dandruff can be a condition that is caused by external or internal factors. Heredity can play a part in how often you experience dandruff. If you have a bad diet, or are in poor health over all, dandruff can be a symptom of a larger problem. However, most people suffer from dandruff due to environmental factors. They either irritate the scalp with hair and beauty products that are too harsh, treat their hair with dyes, hair sprays, and gels that contribute to the problem, or expose their scalp to dry conditions that make it itchy and dry.
These aren’t all the factors that contribute to dandruff, there are many more. Dandruff is a very common condition and so there are also many remedies out there. After you’ve looked at some of the causes, you should be aware of the different options you have for treating this condition.
Poor Health Or Diet
If diet or poor health is causing your problem, then you are going to have to treat the underlying cause before you can really see some improvement in the scalp condition. This may be difficult if you are suffering from a chronic ailment like diabetes or thyroid problems. However, it is not impossible. You need to be very patient and learn to modify your diet so that you can the nutrition you need while not aggravating your medical condition further. For diabetics, obviously avoiding sugars will do much to improve their health. Keeping a close eye on the glycemic index of all foods can help one to avoid high sugar foods while continuing to receive good nutrition. As the health of the body improves, the scalp condition improves too.
Harsh Chemical Treatments
If you have no underlying health issues, then your dandruff will be easier to treat. You might find instead that you can just stop over-treating your hair to alleviate the condition. Avoid hair dyes with ammonia and settle for more natural color treatments. Let your hair air dry instead of blow-drying it. Don’t use mousse or hair gel, unless it is for special occasions.
You will also want to include good conditioners and some dandruff fighting shampoos. There are a number of good hair products that were once prescription-based that are now available to the general public over-the-counter. Nizoral is one such product, and other tea tree oil natural scalp conditioners can work well too.
Avoid Dry Environments
If you are experiencing dandruff in the winter, your house may be too dry with low humidity. Adding a humidifier to your rooms or your furnace can help to change the environment and make your scalp healthier. The same is true of moving from one area of the country to another. If you are moving from a humid to a dry area, you will need to condition your scalp more after you wash your hair and you might need to change your hair care products to make up for the change in environment. What works well in one season and one locale, may not be enough to keep dandruff at bay in other areas of the countries.