text: what excactely is dandruff?   what is dandruff?  a person's entire body surface continuously sheds dead skin cells. dandruff , the shedding of dead skin cells from the scalp at an excessive rate, is the result of the normal growing process of the skin cells of the scalp. dandruff is a bothersome problem sometimes thought to be associated with inefficient hair care. nothing could be further from the truth - anyone who has dandruff knows that!  if you're troubled by dandruff, that snowy, dust-like stuff that falls from scalp to shoulders, you're not alone. nearly everyone has dandruff to some degree. you can also try out this anti- dandruff shampoo to help control dandruff.   effects of dandruff  . dandruff weakens the roots, and consequently hair starts falling off.  . dandruff sticks on to the skin of the scalp in a cake form and blocks free flow of air to the roots.  . as a result, hair becomes weak at the roots and loosen their hold.   dandruff - causes  studies indicate that 50% of adults are affected by dandruff at some time or the other in their lives. more often than not, it is the result of a disturbance in the body's metabolic process. your scalp, like the rest of your skin, is constantly renewing and shedding itself. old cells die out and give way to new ones. and when the natural balance in the metabolic process is upset, the new cells form faster than the old cells can be shed off. these then accumulate on the scalp in the form of flakes. the metabolic process can be disturbed by  . drugs  . the onset of puberty  . emotional stress and strain  . sudden changes in the climate or your diet.  . it is also believed that dandruff is caused by a fungal infection of the scalp.   factors that may augment a dandruff condition infrequent shampooing of hair, inadequate rinsing and excessive use of a hot hair dryer (which also causes contact dermatitis), aggravates dandruff. you could prevent dandruff by shampooing regularly with a mild shampoo. massage your scalp gently to loosen flakes and rinse the hair and scalp thoroughly.  excessive use of hairsprays and gels and improper use of hair coloring products can cause dandruff. tight fitting hats and scarves should be avoided.  a combination of cold weather, low humidity and dry indoor heat could explain persistent dandruff.  poor diet, food allergies, hormonal imbalances, and infections can all lead to dandruff.   do you really have dandruff?  before you start treating your hair for dandruff, make sure you really have dandruff. sometimes a flaky scalp may be caused by too much sun, or excessive use of hair dryers. it can also be caused by the use of soaps on the hair, or harsh shampoos which do not wash out easily. care must be taken not to confuse simple dandruff with other conditions that also cause flaking of the scalp, such as seborrheic dermatitisor psoriasis.   your comb/ brush and dandruff  never use the brush or comb of the person suffering from dandruff as it is dangerous and contagious. likewise, make sure that you wash your comb/brush after every shampoo if you have dandruff yourself! many medicines, medicated soaps and shampoos are available to counter dandruff, but the most effective is cleanliness of hair. brush your hair thrice a day and shampoo at least once a week. while washing your hair, take care the water does not trickle down your face. there are chances that you may get pimples.   some home remedies for dandruff  *egg pack for dandruff worries  beat two eggs and add two tablespoons of water to it. wet the hair and apply the egg mixture over the hair. now massage your scalp and let the mixture on for ten minutes to fifteen minutes. then rinse the hair with lukewarm water. this will keep both dandruff and hairfall problem away from you.   *tips to get rid of dandruff add 3 drops of tea tree oil, a natural antiseptic, to a small amount of shampoo and then wash your hair.  avoid or decrease your intake of fried foods, dairy products, suga