Annoyed by those white flakes falling off your shoulder and that itching sensation?

Dandruff is a common condition affecting the scalp due to excessive shedding of dead scalp skin. Small flaking is normal as skin cells from the scalp, causing it to flake off in both men and women. However, in few conditions, the flaking can become unusually rapid and sometimes even become a cause of embarrassment.

Do not worry. Ayurveda offers a number of home remedies as well as treatments that are proven to be highly effective in treating dandruff.

Causes of Dandruff:

Below listed are the probable and most common causes of dandruff in your scalp:

  • Dry skin
  • Improper nourishment and poor health
  • Mental stress
  • Sensitivity to certain hair products such as shampoos, conditioners, hair colours
  • Increased intake of dry, cold, oily, spicy foods
  • Excess oil, Yeast/ fungus
  • Environmental allergens such as dust, sunlight, cobwebs, certain fabrics, pollution
  • Excessive usage of hair curlers
  • Allergic to certain types of food

Home Remedies To Cure & Control Dandruff:

1. Camphor with coconut oil

Here's one from the grandmother's recipes. Mix a small amount of camphor in coconut oil and apply it regularly. Apply the mixture every night before going to bed, if you can, for a couple of days. The mixture not just reduces dandruff effectively but also cools down your scalp.

2. Lemon with coconut oil

Lemon is the key and common ingredient that is used in households to treat dandruff. Try mixing lemon in warm coconut oil and apply on the scalp and leave it for at least 30 minutes before you wash it off. Follow this procedure for 2-3 weeks for effective results.

3. Neem leaves with lemon

Neem leaves with lemon is a great mixture that can help you get rid of dandruff from your scalp. Make a paste of neem leaves, mix the juice of half a lemon to the paste and apply the mixture to your scalp. Leave it for at least 30 minutes before you rinse it off. For best results, use this home remedy twice a week.

4. Fenugreek Seeds

Soak fenugreek seeds in water overnight and make a paste of these seeds next morning. Apply the paste to your scalp and leave it for 30-40 minutes before rinsing off with plain water. This is proven to be highly beneficial in not only treating dandruff but also for curing other scalp and hair fall issues.

5. Amla Paste

Here is a simple and effective anti-dandruff hair pack that you can prepare yourself at home. Make a paste of amla powder, mix it with tulsi leaves and water, apply this mixture thoroughly on your scalp and let it remain for 30-40 minutes before rinsing off.

Ayurvedic Treatment for Dandruff

Ayurveda offers a number of treatments and remedies for the effective cure and control of dandruff. According to Ayurveda, dandruff occurs due to an imbalance in the bodily doshas. The primary doshas involved are Pitta and Vata, both producing impurities which are dry, rough and hot in nature that accumulate in the deep tissues of the scalp and contaminate them. Your Ayurveda physician will guide you through a personalised herbal remedy and treatments that can be undertaken to get effective results and get rid of the problem.