Dandruff is the most common problem faced by all of us. No matter how much you nourish your hair, it will occur at least once. For some people, it is a never-ending problem. Regardless of the frequency of dandruff, using Tea tree oil removal shows effective results.
Technically, it is a skin condition characterized by shedding of dead skin cells from the scalp. Dandruff is highly noticeable and is very difficult to hide. The only way to get rid of the embarrassment due to dandruff is to eliminate it from the scalp. Usually, it is considered to be casual and is not taken seriously.
But, at times it can be severe too. The severe forms of dandruff are also known as seborrheic dermatitis or seborrheic eczema. In such cases of severe dandruff, a health care expert must be consulted for proper treatment.
The worst part is, it can be awkwardly embarrassing. It has no relation to personal hygiene and is a complete medical condition. Nevertheless, using skin care products that do not suit your skin can worsen the situation.
Listed below is the table of content.
- Causes and Symptoms of Dandruff
- Usage of Tea Tree oil for Dandruff
- Treat Dandruff with Tea Tree Oil
- Do’s and Don’ts
- Other Home Remedies
Types of dandruff
- Dry skin dandruff: It occurs mostly during winter. The primary causes behind it are dry and flaky skin. It is the most commonly experienced form of dandruff.
- Sebum dandruff: This type is also common and is produced by sebaceous glands. Even though sebum is needed for the body, excess amounts of sebum cause sebum dandruff.
- Fungal dandruff: It is the consequence of oily scalp and can be commonly seen in people. It is caused due to the fungus Malassezia globosa. This fungus grows very fast in oily skin.
- Seborrheic dermatitis: It is one of the worst forms and is also known as an inflammatory condition. It is unusually severe in mild climates.
- Psoriasis dermatitis: It can be mild and unnoticeable or severe and itchy. It can lead to temporary hair loss and severe infections. It is worse of the worst form of dandruff and must be avoided.
[Read: Essential Oils for Dandruff and Red Pacthy Scalp]
Causes of dandruff
The exact cause is still unknown. However, research has been able to show the conditions due to which the skin becomes more vulnerable to dandruff.
- Irregular hair brushing schedule: Not brushing the hair regularly stops the normal shedding of skin. It can further lead to dandruff. Therefore, hair must be regularly and adequately cleaned.
- Yeast sensitive scalp: Studies have shown that people with scalps sensitive to yeast have higher chances of being affected by dandruff than the people who are not. For the people with yeast sensitive scalp,it becomes worse during winters and is better during warmer days like summer.
- Dry skin: Skin which has low oil contents or is dry is more vulnerable to dandruff. Extreme climate contrasts like cold winter and heated rooms can extend its effect. They make skin itchy and flaky thus causing dandruff.
- Using skin care products: The skin care products must be used in the right amounts for nurturing the skin. Using excessive amounts or using decidedly fewer amounts of skin care products increases the chances of being affected by dandruff. Also, using skincare products that do not suit your skin can also be a significant cause for dandruff.
- Skin conditions: People with past skin disorders and the people who are suffering from some skin disorders are more vulnerable to dandruff than people with no skin disorders.
- Diet: An unbalanced diet that lacks vitamin B complex, zinc and certain fats can increase the risk of dandruff.
- Age: Many times it is just a result of age. Especially during adolescence, when the body experiences huge hormonal imbalances, the risk is the highest.
- Stress and fatigue: This also increases the risk of increased dandruff.
[ Read: Cure Dandruff with Apple Cider Vinegar ]
Symptoms of dandruff
It usually occurs in easily visible areas and thus is easily detectable. Just in case you are not sure, here are some symptoms which would help you confirm about it.
- The skin may become greasy or oily. The affected areas and the areas near it become oily and greasy.
- Large patches of skin may have plaques.
- Some dandruff affected areas may have mild redness.
- The skin becomes increasingly itchy. The itchiness is persistent.
- One of the most visible symptoms is increased hair loss.
Tea tree oil for dandruff
Tea tree oil is mainly prepared and is thus abundantly available in the market making it recommendable for use. Tea tree oil is entirely natural and is widely available in the market without any added chemicals. Its natural production process ensures that the users do not have to encounter the side effects of the harmful chemicals(1). Besides curing dandruff, it also has many other benefits like:
- Acne treatment: It possesses excellent antibacterial properties that help it cure acne.
- Aids hair growth: It not only aids hair but also makes the hair thicker and stronger.
- Skin moisturizer: It helps keep skin moisturized after recovery from a skin disorder.
- Foot care: It possesses strong antibacterial and anti-fungal properties that help it take care of the foot by effectively fighting against infections.
[ Read: 7 Causes and How to Use Coconut Oil for Dandruff ]
Why Tea tree oil ?
Since time immemorial, Tea tree oil has been used as a skincare product. Even today, it can be found to be used as a leading ingredient in many skin care products. It possesses excellent and unique antibacterial, anti-fungal, antimicrobial and moisturizing properties which make it efficient enough to cure any skin disorder and keep the skin nourished after recovery. Dandruff mostly occurs due to fungus(2). It possesses excellent anti-fungal properties which helps fight the fungus causing dandruff.
How to treat dandruff with Tea Tree Oil?
It is always advisable to use the purest form of Tea tree oil available at the drug store. The easiest method to use Tea tree oil for removal of dandruff is using it with a shampoo. Usually, the oil to shampoo ratio is one drop oil for 3 ml shampoo. The ratio may vary according to the skin type. Therefore, it is advisable to consult a health care expert or skin professional before using it.
Studies have shown that the activity of shampoo doubles when mixed with this oil. The combo should be applied once in 3 days or twice a week. It is a regular advisable application time and may vary as per the age, skin, and hair type and the amount of dandruff effect. Therefore, consulting a skin care expert is a must before using the same.
[Also Read: Natural Remedies for Dandruff]
Do’s and Don’ts
The oil is available in both organic and pure form of which the pure form is more recommendable. Choose proper oil from the drug store. Many brands are selling it claiming them to be the natural variant. But, not all brands sell a completely natural version.
Therefore, make sure you have chosen the right oil before purchasing it. Store it in proper storage conditions as mentioned on the pack. Keep it away from the reach of children. It is for external application only and must not be consumed. Make sure you perform a patch test before using it on dandruff affected areas. Allergic reactions to dandruff can increase troubles and make it itchier and more irritating. Therefore, checking allergies first is very important.
[ Read: Dandruff Vs Dry Scalp & All You Need to Know ]
Precautions:
- Always consult a skincare expert before choosing the tea tree oil for you. The skincare expert will analyze your skin and then suggest the one perfect for your skin.
- While choosing a shampoo for combining with Tea tree oil for dandruff removal, it is better to choose a mild and gentle one. The shampoo should not have any strong smell. It is better to choose some naturally prepared shampoo available in the market.
- Mix the oil and shampoo in correct proportion. Improper proportion can yield unexpected and undesirable results.
- Leave the shampoo for some-time after application as the oil needs some time to penetrate the scalp layers. After some time, the oil and shampoo mix can be rinsed.
Other Home remedies for Dandruff
If you are allergic to Tea tree oil, worry no more. There are other natural remedies too which would help you eliminate dandruff.
- Coconut oil and lemon mix: Lemon, which is acidic, cures dandruff. Coconut oil helps to restore the moisture in hair and nourishes the hair, making it smooth.
- Curd: Using it can be messy but it is a highly effective method for curing dandruff.
- Neem Juice: Neem possesses extraordinary antibacterial properties that help cure dandruff.
The allopathic medicines that you might be using do not offer any cure for the problem and only work to control the symptoms. But with the help of this oil, you can enjoy a trouble-free scalp for many years to come. Moreover, the above-mentioned home remedies are also very useful in controlling the spread of dandruff. Just ensure that you use these natural treatments in combination with a healthy lifestyle to get rid of this problem on the long run.
