HOMEO CURE FOR DANDRUFF

WHAT IS DANDRUFF
WHO IS AT RISK
CAUSES OF DANDRUFF
SYMPTOMS OF DANDRUFF
FOODS TO AVOID
WHAT TO DO
WHAT CAN HOMOEOPATHY DO
COMMON REMEDIES FOR DANDRUFF

“I have an interview the next Monday” thundered Sanjay, “My cousin’s wedding reception is slated for the weekend and with dandruff how do you think I can let my hair down?” pondered Shreya. The world is buzz about the stress and strain of infotech, business process outsourcing, management but have you thought a little about the deadlines Doctors get? More about that later.

Bad odour, bad breath and dandruff are considered the trio of specifications asserting lack of hygiene. Far from the truth as dandruff is surely not due to uncleanliness. It is more of a cosmetic problem than a medical one. The tiara on the heads of ilks of Sens & the Rais sits lightly and dandruff is taboo for all those along the beauty & social ladder. The cosmetic revolution in India is growing at fast ebb thanks to the shampoos to fight dandruff marketed as fast moving consumer goods keeping the top line growth of companies surging. Ask the “Levers & Nestles”.

WHAT IS DANDRUFF

• The itching, annoying persistent white flakes of the scalp is called Dandruff.
• The skin continuously sheds off dead cells and so does the scalp which also a part of the skin. The whole skin in our body is almost replaced once in 24 days. When the shedding of cells is faster and if the cells are still alive when shed it results in Dandruff.

WHO IS AT RISK

• Everybody of us at some point of lives would have dandruff with mild intensity at least. It occurs at any age but worries the adolescents the most.
• Nowadays infants also develop this called cradle cap dandruff probably to worry the young mothers further.
• It is generally worse during cold months and less severe in warmer months.

CAUSES OF DANDRUFF

The causes could be internal meaning a change of mechanism in the metabolism or influenced by external factors influenced by social characteristics.

Internal Causes:

• Imbalance of hormones.
• Poor health.
• Poor hygiene.
• Allergic hypersensitivity.
• Lack of rest.
• Emotional stress.
• Excessive consumption of sugar, fat and starch.
• Improper nutrition.

External Causes:

• Hair sprays and gels when used excessively.
• Hair coloring products.
• Hot air curlers.
• Cold weather.
• Stress and anxiety.
• Infrequent shampooing and non-application of hair oil can also cause dandruff.

One of the causes is due to a fungus called Pityrospyrum ovale which dwells in the scalp and does not cause any symptoms but in a few people can go out of control and cause Dandruff.

SYMPTOMS OF DANDRUFF

• White flakes of exfoliation from the scalp falling onto the shoulders is a strict no-no in the social circles the one Dandruff can cause.
• Itching scalp accompanies Dandruff.
• It could in the form of localized spots on the scalp or could be more generalized.
• The biggest fear due to Dandruff is HAIRFALL.
• For one this reason the treatment is important.
• Also it could inhibit new growth of hair on the scalp due to excessive production of sebum.

FOODS TO AVOID

• Try to limit the intake of pizza, naan etc.
• Avoid alcohol or yeast fermented brews like beer which tend to aggravate Dandruff.
• Fried foods, cheese and butter and very spicy curries.

WHAT TO DO

• Eggs and cabbage contain Vitamin B6 and Sulphur which is nature’s beauty mineral for the scalp.
• Eat a diet containing a percentage of raw vegetables and fruits.
• To increase the amount of water intake.
• To stay away from avoidable stress.
• Wash and shampoo the hair atleast twice a week and also rinse it with a few drops of vinegar after shampooing.
• Apply hair oil regularly more so in dry scalps.

WHAT CAN HOMOEOPATHY DO

• Homoeopathy can see that the dandruff reduces and the abnormal shedding of skin cells is corrected so that early exfoliation of cells does not take place.
• Homoeopathy also helps in reducing hair fall and improves hair growth too.

COMMON REMEDIES FOR DANDRUFF
CANTHARIS is for people who have dandruff due to exposure to heat of sun and perspiration.
CARBONEUM SULPH is for people with exfoliative dandruff with itching.
LYCOPODIUM will cure dandruff, hairfall and improve hair growth also premature graying of hair.
NATRUM MUR cures the greasy, oily skin of the scalp leading to dandruff and hairfall.
PHOSPHORUS cures the itching of scalp, falling of hair in large bunches.
STAPHYSAGRIA cures Seborrhoeic Dermatitis with itching behind the ears and dandruff.
SULPHUR cures the dandruff due to unhygienic condition of the hair.
THUJA cures the tendency for chronic dandruff.

Dr. Venugopal Gouri
Consultant Homeopath