Dandruff- causes, remedies

What Causes Dandruff?

No one is really sure what causes dandruff. It's probably caused by a fungus. Hair follicles and oil glands make an oil called sebum, which may be a breeding ground for yeast or fungus. This fungus usually lives on your skin, but too much fungus may lead to dandruff. Too much sebum also may cause dandruff. Not drinking enough water or being exposed to a lot of dry air can cause skin to dry out and flake, which can look like dandruff.

Dandruff Triggers

Dandruff tends to be worse during dry months. Cold, dry winter weather in particular can make dandruff worse. Stress or fatigue can trigger or aggravate it, too.

Conditions that Lead to Flaky Scalp

Skin problems like acne, eczema, and psoriasis can cause a build-up of dead skin cells on the scalp. People with serious medical problems such as epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, and HIV are prone to developing dandruff. And, for unclear reasons, people recovering from a stroke, heart attack, or head injury are also more likely to have dandruff.

Dandruff Impostors

Sometimes what seems like dandruff can be an entirely different condition. Head lice are itchy and lay eggs that look like dandruff, but they're harder to shake off or brush out. Or your scalp could be itching from ringworm, a fungus that causes dandruff-like flakes. With ringworm, you might also have round patches of hair loss and blistered, scaly areas on your scalp.

Babies and Cradle Cap

When babies have seborrheic dermatitis, it's called cradle cap. The brown or yellow scales may be itchy. You may find it on the skin of baby's scalp, eyelids, nose, and groin area. Cradle cap normally clears up on its own by the time baby is 8 to 12 months old. Try putting mineral or vegetable oil on baby's scalp for 10 minutes, then washing with a mild baby shampoo. Talk to your health care provider if it doesn't go away.

Is Dandruff: Harmful or Just Annoying?

Although having dandruff can be embarrassing, it's harmless. It doesn't mean that you're not clean. It's not contagious: You can't catch it or pass it along to someone else. Dandruff doesn't directly cause hair loss, but scratching your scalp a lot could cause temporary hair loss.

Natural Dandruff Remedies

Some research supports these natural dandruff treatments, but there's no proof they work consistently.

Aloe. Using aloe on the scalp may help reduce itchiness and scaliness.

Tea tree oil shampoo. Using a 5% tea tree oil shampoo may reduce dandruff and that itchy feeling.

Lemongrass shampoo. Washing with a 2% lemongrass shampoo may help fight fungus that causes dandruff.

Some safe sunlight helps to clear dandruff

Spend a little time in the sun to fight dandruff. Sunlight helps suppress the fungus that causes dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis. Just make sure to protect your skin -- including any exposed scalp -- by wearing sunscreen that has an SPF of 30 or higher.

When to consult the Dr.

If you've been using a dandruff shampoo for several weeks but still have dandruff, it may be time to see a doctor. You should also see a doctor if your scalp is swollen or red, or if you have a red, scaly rash on other parts of your body. You may need prescription-strength dandruff shampoo, an anti-fungal product, or a steroid cream for your scalp or other parts of your body.