Woman’s Passions

According to statistics, every 5^th inhabitant of our planet is acquainted with such trouble, like dandruff. “Snowfall on shoulders” worries not only lower-income citizens, who cannot afford themselves buying an efficient remedy or expensive shampoo, but also those, who leave fabulous sums of money in beauty shops and drug-stores. Is there any efficient remedy to struggle with this “disease of our civilization”?

 

Sometimes appearance of dandruff is connected with excessive dryness of scalp. In fact, most often this disease strikes greasy scalp - you know, the reason is in incorrect work of oil-bags. Dandruff is considered a skin disease and in most serious cases they diagnose seborrheic eczema, but while any diagnosis fungus Pityrosporum ovale is considered a main reason of our sufferings.

It would seem that struggle with some fungus is so easy due to modern achievements of chemistry and biology. But the matter is that Pityrosporum ovale is presented in normal florula and brings no harm to a human, and only under certain conditions becomes a reason of dandruff appearance.

 

Scientists came to a conclusion that harmless existence of fungus finishes, when oil-bags suddenly become hyper-active. This happens when we sense strong stress, take antibiotics, when our immunity is lowered or we sense lack of vitamins, during exacerbation of chronic diseases and depressions. Have you just passed exams? Changed your work? Had a serious disease? Broke up with your husband? All these factors cause stress and provoke propagation of capricious fungus. So, when you start your struggle with dandruff, you should first of all remember general recommendations, which doctors and cosmeticians insist on: eat wholesome food, take polyvitamins, engage into yoga, rest more often. But firstly -

 

About treatment

 

It’s better to treat dandruff under expert’s guidance, but if you have no time to visit him or you are used to independence in these questions, then firstly determine your hair type - it’s important. Then carry out cleaning with help of gel - peeling for scalp. And only after this buy one of anti-dandruff remedies. Examine instruction closely. Most often you should pass a course of treatment: 3-4 times per week, and then take a break. Apply a shampoo on your hair using stroking motions and leave for 3-5 minutes. Then, after you wash hair with big quantity of water, don’t forget to massage scalp carefully - this improves blood circulation and medicinal effect will become apparent earlier.

 

Pay attention to composition of remedies and shampoos you buy. If a label says??¦

??¦ salicylic acid, selenium disulphide.

 

This remedy removes dandruff and prevents formation of new “flakes”, but won’t be able to cope with a reason of all troubles - cutaneous fungus.

 

They peel off and remove cells, so you should definitely use them on the first stage of struggle with dandruff.

 

… zinc pyrithione, climbazol, ketoconazole.

 

These substances really can liquidate results of destructive actions of Pityrosporum ovale on scalp.

 

… cyclopirox.

 

This is a pluripotential antibacterial agent having also antiphlogistic qualities and nowadays it’s considered one of the most efficient agent in struggle with dandruff.

 

If you think you don’t need such radical measures yet, you can try home cosmetics and recipes.

 

For greasy hair:

 

Mix one table spoon of castor or burdock oil with 10 table spoons of calendula extract. Rub in scalp twice a day.

 

Boil one table spoon of nettle leaves with a glass of boiling water, leave for 30 minutes and filter. After you wash you hair, rub filtered extract into scalp carefully, then cover head with elastic cap for 30-40 minutes. Don’t rinse. Repeat procedure 2-3 times per week.

 

For dry hair:

 

Mix 1 table spoon of pounded onion, 2 table spoons of vodka, 1 table spoon of castor oil and rub into scalp 1 hour before washing.

 

Pour 2 table spoons of punded burdock roots with 1,5 glass of boiling water, boil on weak fire, until initial volume becomes half and filter. Then put on a water-bath and add lard. Cover tightly and put in an oven for 3-4 hours. Rub this ointment 1-2 times per week during 2 months.

 

Owners of chestnut or red hair of any type can use onion peel decoction or extract to remove dandruff. It slightly paints hair in goldish color, strenghtens and stimulates growth, removes dandruff. It is prepared this way: pour a handful of onion peel with a glass of boiling water, boil for 2 minutes and draw for 15-20 minutes, then cool and filter. You should rinse hair with this decoction after every washing or rub into scalp daily.

 

If you are a blonde or raven-head, and “onion” color is useless for you, try coal-tar soap - it not only removes dandruff, but also strenghtens hair, makes them shining and silky.

 

In complicated cases treatment can be started with application of 10% sulfur ointment. Divide hair in thin locks and rub ointment in each one during 3-5 minutes, then rinse. Repeat procedure for 8 days and give your hair rest for 9th day. On a 10th day wash hair with boiled water and medicinal shampoos, containing selenium sulphide, zinc pyrithione, tar, ketoconazole.

 

To revent appearance of hateful “snowfall”, you can use prophylactic shampoos, but only once in two weeks. And best of all is to use essential oils, which not only affect general condition of hair positively, but also help in struggle with dandruff. Rosemary, eucalyptus, manuka oils help to remove dandruff on greasy hair, and cedar, cypress, lavender and chamomile - on dry.

 

When you get rid of dandruff, you do want to prevent its appearance again. So you should pay attention to

 

Risk factors:

 

- don’t use shampoos, regulating scalp florula too often: this can change natural pH of scalp, make it dry and sensitive to any troubles. You should use such shampoos only once in two weeks.

 

- Take care your head-dresses are clean. You know, in autumn and winter dandruff problem worsens not only because we start wearing caps and hair become greasy quickly, and scalp stops breathing.

Dandruff appears in cold season, because your head-dress can turn to be unwashed since last winter.

 

- Try to avoid stresses, spicy food and alcohol during and after treatment courses - all this can provoke new activization of oil-bags. Take courses of vitamins A and B - in case of their deficiency, no remedies can bring you result.

 

- pay attention to you hairdressings: if you have greasy hair - you should reduce hairdressings to minimum, if you have dry hair - choose thick creams and waxes.

 

If all your attempts to get rid of dandruff bring no result, then you will have to apply for doctors - trichologist and dermatologist. Probably, you will need a real treatment, but beautiful hair and self-reliance are worthy of it!