Researchers at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGI) in India have identified a type of yeast that develops on oily skin and is responsible for severe dandruff. These researchers at PGI's Department of Medical Microbiology aim to find a cure for dandruff, a scalp condition that has no permanent cure to date.
The new species, named m. arunalokei, belongs to the malassezia family. It is an addition to the first two species earlier discovered- m. restricta and m. globosa, which are the most common causes of dandruff.
According to M R Shivaprakash, one of the researchers of the study, dandruff is very common, despite the fact that there have only been two species of malassezia yeast discovered. He says that the study aims to discover the exact cause of severe dandruff and develop an anti-fungal drug to treat it.
Although there is still no definite permanent cure for dandruff, there are many ways to maintain a flake-free scalp, particularly those for people with mild to moderate cases of dandruff. Aside from dandruff shampoos and over-the-counter medicated scalp treatments, there are effective home remedies that can help stave off dandruff, such as the following:
Baking soda. Many have attested to baking soda as a dandruff treatment. Not only does it exfoliate and get rid of excess dead skin, it is also anti-fungal. Add one tablespoon of baking soda to a cup of water and rinse your scalp with it.
Vinegar. Vinegar also helps prevent fungal overgrowth and stops skin cells from maturing and dying too fast. You can mix vinegar with warm water, pour mixture over your hair and scrub gently, and rinse with water.
Lemons. Lemons have the ability to break down fungus, minus the unnatural and harmful ingredients. It also leaves hair feeling and smelling clean. To use, massage 2 tablespoons of lemon juice into the scalp, and leave on for 1 minute. Rinse with a teaspoon of lemon juice mixed with a cup of water.