Can Dandruff Cause Hair Loss? How To Treat It?

If you have dandruff, you may have experienced constant itchiness on the scalp. Some people with dandruff may also complain about losing hair. While the two are not directly related, dandruff can often lead to hair loss.

This common condition is known to cause the skin on the scalp to flake. That's because dandruff either dries out the scalp or produces excess sebum, making it extremely oily. As a result, your scalp gets inflamed and itchy.

Did you know that constant scratching and high inflammation levels can injure your hair follicles, leading to a certain amount of hair loss? Keep reading to gain a deeper understanding of how dandruff and hair loss are connected and how Ayurveda can effectively help you combat it.

Highlights:

• How Does Dandruff Cause Hair Loss?
• Ayurvedic Ways To Cure Hair Loss Due To Dandruff
• Home Remedies To Control Dandruff And Promote Hair Growth
• Shampoos To Control Dandruff

How Does Dandruff Cause Hair Loss?

Dandruff occurs due to an imbalance of the three doshas - Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.

When in an aggravated state, Vata and Pitta cause the production of certain impurities called Ama. These are dry and hot in nature and contaminate the tissues of the scalp. As a result of these factors, you may experience dandruff, itchiness, and hair loss.

On an oily scalp, dandruff appears when the Kapha dosha produces sebum in excess quantity. The sebum clogs the pores and hampers the hair follicles' blood supply, leading to hair fall.

Dr. Zeel Gandhi, Chief Ayurvedic Doctor at Vedix, says people with Kapha-Pitta doshas are more prone to oily skin conditions.

Other factors that cause dandruff include eczema, psoriasis, stress, poor hygiene, overgrowth of fungi, unhealthy food habits, hormonal imbalance, excessive use of chemicals, and low immunity.

Ayurvedic Ways To Cure Hair Loss Due To Dandruff

In order to get rid of hair loss, you first need to treat dandruff. For that, you need to balance your doshas. Here are some remedies recommended by Ayurveda:

1. Add The Right Nutrients To Your Diet

According to Dr. Zeel, spicy food can cause inflammation on the scalp, leading to dandruff. Also, consuming an excess of sweet, spicy, oily, and salty foods affect the Kapha-Pitta dosha levels. So, you should eat foods that nourish your scalp from inside and strengthen the hair follicles.

Some of the best foods for hair growth include coconut, amla, almonds, walnuts, green grams, buttermilk, raisins, pomegranates, fenugreek (methi) seeds, peanuts, and cucumber[1].

Now, let's take a look at some external therapies that Ayurveda recommends to fight dandruff:

A. For Dry Scalp

2. Practice Yoga Regularly

Listed below are some yoga poses that are beneficial for controlling dandruff and promoting hair growth:

A. Balayam Yoga (Rubbing Nails)

Nail rubbing improves the blood flow to the hair follicle, which strengthens it. Stronger hair follicles drastically help reduce hair loss.

B. Chin Mudra (Gyan Mudra)

Chin Mudra controls dandruff by fighting stress and balancing the dosha levels.

C. Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Dog Pose)

Adho Mukha Svanasana helps increase blood circulation in the scalp, thereby controlling dandruff.

D. Vajrasana (Thunderbolt Pose)

Vajrasana helps reduce dandruff by controlling stress levels and by improving blood circulation in the scalp.

E. Chakrasana (Wheel Pose)

It minimizes dandruff by supplying adequate oxygen to the scalp.

3. Ayurvedic Supplements

These supplements can help control dandruff naturally. However, you should only take them after consulting an Ayurvedic doctor.

• Neem Capsules
• Guduchyadi Taila
• Mahamanjisthadi Kadha
• Surakta Syrup
• Gandhak Rasayana
• Chalmogra Oil
• Arogyavardhini Vati
• Khadirarishta
• Kaishore Guggulu
• Amalaki Rasayana

4. Hair Masks

Hair masks help detox the scalp naturally and provide the follicles with essential nutrients. Below is a list of ingredients that you can use to create a naturally nourishing hair mask for your hair type.

Home Remedies To Control Dandruff And Promote Hair Growth

1. Manage Stress

According to Ayurveda, stress gives rise to Pitta dosha and weakens the immune system. “When one is stressed, the lowered defenses cause the proliferation of fungi. Also, circulating Pitta triggers excess sebum production, providing more food for the pathogens' growth," states Dr. Zeel. It’s essential to keep your stress levels under control to reduce dandruff and hair fall.

2. Avoid Excessive Use Of Hair Styling Products

Hairstyling products like gels or sprays make the scalp greasy and form oily dandruff. Also, hair coloring and blow drying can dehydrate the scalp leading to dry dandruff.

3. Get A Dose Of Sunlight

Direct sunlight makes follicles weak and dry, but a little exposure to the sun can help fight dandruff by killing dandruff-causing fungus.

4. Rinse With Baking Soda

Sodium bicarbonate or baking soda possesses antifungal properties. It helps soak up excess oil from the scalp and gets rid of dead skin cells. You can apply baking soda on your scalp and wet hair for a minute and rinse it off with a mild shampoo. Be careful while using baking soda as its high pH levels may damage the scalp.

5. Wash Your Hair Regularly

Irregular and improper washing can leave the scalp feeling greasy and oily. It also accumulates dead cells on the scalp leading to dandruff. While washing your hair, use a mild shampoo and always follow with a conditioner.

6. Clean Your Hairbrush

Using dirty combs or hairbrushes can bring all the oil and grime back to your scalp, leading to dandruff. It's essential to always keep your comb or brush clean. Ayurveda recommends using a neem wood comb.

Shampoos To Control Dandruff

There are numerous shampoos available in the market, and each contains different ingredients that can cure dandruff. Sometimes, a particular shampoo may fail to bring relief. In that case, try other anti-dandruff shampoos with different ingredients.

Always read the information on the back of your shampoo bottle, which includes its directions for use and ingredient list. A medicated dandruff shampoo must contain at least one of the following ingredients [2]:

1. Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is used as an antifungal, antibiotic, and antiseptic. According to a 2006 study [3], shampoo with 5% tea tree oil proved effective in treating mild to moderate dandruff. It also helps reduce itchiness, greasiness, and lesions.

2. Ketoconazole

It's an antifungal medication used to treat fungal infections on the skin, hair, and nails. Shampoos that contain Ketoconazole can help kill dandruff-causing fungi that live on your scalp.

3. Coal Tar

Coal Tar is a natural antifungal agent that helps to treat dandruff. But it should be used carefully, as it may cause discoloration. Tar also has the potential to make the scalp more sensitive to sunlight.

4. Pyrithione Zinc

It contains the antibacterial and antifungal agent that slows down yeast's growth and prevents the scalp from dandruff.

5. Salicylic Acid

It helps the scalp get rid of dead skin cells. Its overuse may leave the scalp dry.

6. Selenium Sulfide

It reduces the production of natural oils by the scalp glands and prevents fungal infections.

The Last Word

Dandruff (Darunaka) is a complex problem in Ayurveda. According to Dr. Zeel, "Dandruff is fungus feeding on the skin. Unless the skin pH and composition change, you can only control it."

It's essential to analyze your scalp conditions by understanding your doshas to address problems like hair fall and dandruff. Vedix provides customized Ayurvedic hair care products, including hair oil, shampoo, and serum with highly balanced and proven formulations based on your hair type and dosha levels.