Dandruff - An Unsightly Mess

Dandruff - An Unsightly Mess - Dandruff is a skin condition that affects the scalp. It causes a lot of itchiness and the skin flakes off causing an unsightly mess. The skin on our scalps is layered many times with cells which grow from the dermis, or the bottommost layer, to the top layer which is actually dead cells.You cannot even see most of the dead cells if your scalp is healthy. Simply brushing your hair gets rid of them. When the scalp becomes too dry or is being attacked by fungus they become visible. The skin cells grow more quickly and the dead cells end up mixing with oils in our hair. This is when dandruff becomes visible.You can self diagnose dandruff by taking a close look at your hair and noticing if there is an itch. Look in a mirror while scratching your head and look for white flakes popping up into the air. There are other more serious conditions that can be confused with dandruff. Seborrheic dermatitis causes your skin to become red and you will notice yellowish scales that have unclear margins. Psoriasis causes silver scales and defined plaques. These two conditions are normally diagnosed by a dermatologist rather than being diagnosed at home.Changes in hormones, a recent stroke or heart attack, compromised immune system, stress and certain neurological disorders can all make an individual more likely to acquire dandruff. Some people are extra sensitive to the fungus that often leads to dandruff. Dandruff usually shows up during the teenage years and does not go away until a person is of middle age. Men are also more likely to have dandruff than women because they have larger oil producing glands that produce an oil called sebum.Dandruff will not go away on it's own but there are quite a few options that can help you control it. There are both over the counter and prescription shampoos that are shown to be quite effective. People with extra sensitive skin might have a reaction to the chemicals in some of the prescription shampoos, though.If you are looking to stick with a natural remedy then you are in luck because there are several available. Natrium Muriaticum works really well in getting rid of an itch and rashes. Trifolium Pratense can detoxify your body and offers improvements on the lymph functioning. Using a shampoo that has tea tree oil in it, on a daily basis, can help to stop dandruff. Talk to a homeopath in your area to make sure that you are using the best herbs for you. Also, make sure that you keep your doctor informed if you plan to stop using a medication that they have prescribed for you.

Dandruff - An Unsightly Mess