7 Lifestyle Changes to Help Banish Dandruff
Dandruff is a common problem of the scalp that makes the skin flaky. The condition arises due to several causes, including dry skin, seborrheic dermatitis, poor hygiene, cold weather, stress, and more. The problem may also trigger due to a fungus known as Malassezia, which usually survives in the scalp area, but may overreact in some people and cause excess dandruff. However, making simple lifestyle changes to treat dandruff can work wonders to treat the condition and prevent its aggravation.
Follow a Nutritional Diet
The consumption of fresh vegetables and fruits offers a good amount of vitamins, minerals, protein, biotin, and fiber to the body. Moreover, the inclusion of foods like spinach, oily fish, eggs, and banana also helps the body achieve a good amount of zinc, Omega-3 fatty acid, and Vitamin B. These nutrients help in nourishing the scalp and keeping the hair healthy.
Reduce Processed Foods and Sugar
The list of lifestyle changes to treat dandruff includes lowering the intake of processed foods and sugar . These foods cause a rise in cholesterol level and insulin, leading to an imbalance of hormones and overproduction of oil in the scalp. Furthermore, the presence of yeast in processed foods also elevates fungal growth in the scalp aggravating the symptoms.
Frequently Wash Your Hair
The presence of dust and dirt in the air often leads to the deposition of oil and dead skin cells on the scalp. Undertaking regular hair wash with mild shampoo helps in removing these impurities and reducing the build-up of white flakes.
Get a Head Massage
Making lifestyle changes to treat dandruff even involves massaging the hair and scalp with natural oils like almond, coconut, and jojoba. Additionally, you can also prepare a mixture of oils in equal quantities to provide hydration to the scalp and break up the flakes.
Relieve Stress
Leading a stressful life can often aggravate dandruff condition as stress weakens the natural immune response of the body. Undertaking regular exercise in the form of yoga, getting enough sleep, and having a nutrient-rich diet can help in keeping stress at bay.
Avoid Hair Color
The presence of chemicals in hair color eliminates the protective sheath of the oil from the scalp. This makes the scalp exposed to damage from fungus-like Malassezia globosa, which consequently aggravates the problem of dandruff.
Avoid Direct Heat Exposure
Excess heat makes the scalp dry and flaky, so styling products like hairdryer and hair straighteners should be limited to prevent dryness and retain the natural oil of the scalp.
Making lifestyle changes to treat dandruff forms as the best method to treat the condition as it doesn’t lead to any serious side-effects and proves easy to apply. Furthermore, you can also try out natural ingredients like onion and garlic that are known for their anti-fungal properties to keep dandruff under check.