of Dandruff
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- What is dandruff?
- Symptoms of dandruff
- Causes of dandruff
- Prevention of dandruff
- Risk factors for dandruff
- Complications of dandruff
- When to see a doctor about dandruff
- Diagnosis of dandruff
- Conventional treatment of dandruff
- Alternative/complementary treatment of dandruff
- Living with dandruff
- Caring for someone with dandruff
Alternative/complementary treatment of dandruff
There are a number of alternative/complementary strategies that can be used to help reduce severity and duration of symptoms:
Herbs
There are no herbs recommended in the treatment of dandruff.
Vitamins
There are a number of vitamins which may be especially beneficial in helping reducing severity and duration of symptoms and even prevent recurrence:
- Betacarotene - the antioxidant betacarotene is very helpful as it is essential for proper hair and scalp growth and maintenance. Betacarotene is required to help speed up healing and return the scalp to normal function. Betacarotene is the precursor to vitamin A
- Biotin - the vitamin biotin is needed for healthy skin and hair and may help to reduce severity of symptoms
- B Vitamins - supplementation with all the B vitamins may be required to help clear up symptoms and prevent recurrence, especially vitamin B6 and vitamin B12
- Vitamin A - the antioxidant vitamin A is essential for any condition of the skin, as it helps to speed up healing by ensuring the scalp becomes healthier and functions properly
- Vitamin B6 - this vitamin is required for maintaining health skin and hair. Vitamin B6 also works on ensuring the nervous system functions properly and effectively
- Vitamin B12 - this vitamin is required for maintaining health skin and hair. Vitamin B12 also works on ensuring the nervous system functions properly and effectively
Minerals
There are a number of minerals which may be especially beneficial in helping reducing severity and duration of symptoms and even prevent recurrence:
- Selenium - supplementation with the mineral selenium is recommended as it helps the body combat the symptoms of dandruff and prevents it from developing in the first place (it is also an ingredient in conventional medicated anti-dandruff shampoos because it is so useful)
- Zinc - supplementation with the mineral zinc may help a lowered immune system to work better and reduce scalp sensitivity and flakiness
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Other nutrients
There are a number of other nutrients which may be especially beneficial in helping reducing severity and duration of symptoms and even prevent recurrence:
- Cod liver oil - cod liver oil contains naturally high levels of vitamin A, which is essential for ensuring the hair and scalp are healthy and shiny. Cod liver oil also ensures the sebaceous glands are not overactive and function normally
- Essential fatty acids - the essential fatty acids (especially the omega 3 fatty acids) reduce inflammation and keep the scalp healthy
- Evening Primrose oil - the anti-inflammatory properties of evening primrose oil and specifically the GLA, which is an omega-6 essential fatty acid help to protect the hair and scalp from dandruff by reducing inflammation
- Flaxseed oil - the anti-inflammatory properties of flaxseed oil are due to the omega-6 essential fatty acids, which help to protect the hair and scalp from dandruff by reducing inflammation
- Lecithin - the B-vitamin cofactor choline is an excellent source of lecithin, which is needed for healthy hair and scalp
Dietary modifications
There are a number of dietary modification strategies that may help to reduce symptoms:
- Avoid excessive sugar intake - high intake of sugar is thought to contribute to the development dandruff so these must be eliminated from the diet (or at least greatly reduced)
- Avoid processed foods - high intake of processed foods are thought to contribute to the development dandruff so these must be eliminated from the diet (or at least greatly reduced)
- Green tea - a recent study has shown that green tea may be a useful remedy for dandruff
Lifestyle modifications
There are some lifestyle modifications that may help reduce severity of symptoms"
- Adequate sleep - it is important to get enough sleep every day to help the body have enough time to be in deep sleep, where it engages in the healing process
Alternative treatments
- Apple cider vinegar - using apple cider vinegar as a final rinse after shampooing the hair works very well for reducing dandruff symptoms, especially when it is used after using a tea tree oil shampoo. Apple cider vinegar reduces flakiness and scalp sensitivity and itchiness. Dilute the apple cider vinegar with an equal amount of water and use this to rinse the hair
- Scalp massage - using 60ml olive oil mixed with the juice of half a lemon, rub this in the scalp and massage a little to ensure it has been rubbed through the whole scalp. Leave it for about 10-20 minutes and then shampoo the hair with the tea tree oil shampoo. This should be used at least once a week, but can be used twice a week of more severe symptoms. It is very important to wash the hands properly after massaging the scalp in this manner
- Tea tree oil shampoos - medicated shampoos and soaps with tea tree oil are a recommended alternative treatment for dandruff (instead of the conventional treatments) as the tea tree oil has anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties and usually helps to clear up dandruff very quickly and effectively
Always ensure that you notify your medical practitioner of any supplements that you want to take - it may interfere with other medication or conditions you have. Confirm with your doctor it is safe to take BEFORE you try it.
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