Dandruff, or dry, flaky skin on the scalp, is a very frequent and annoying problem. It is usually caused by a condition called seborrhoeic dermatitis which results in itchy, scaly scalp rash.
Dry and scaly skin may be cause by the lack of some vitamins and minerals, and especially vitamins A, B2, B3, C, biotin, iodine, manganese, selenium and zinc. It may be beneficial to obtain the recommended the daily amount of these vitamins and minerals, as well as primrose oil and fish oil supplements. This may help for the treatment of dandruff.
Commonly, dandruff is treated with preparations that contain zinc, pyrithione, selenium, sulfide, sulfur, and salicylic acid. Some patients may use hydrocortisone cream or ketoconazole cream.
You may also try to treat dandruff in a natural way, without using chemical substances and synthetic products. The following may be helpful:
Avoid fried foods; reduce the consummation of fats, dairy products, sugars, chocolate, seafood and peanuts. Eat more green leafy vegetables and raw foods.
Get more biotin – a water-soluble vitamin B which stimulates the break-down of fats, carbohydrates and proteins. Biotin may be found in brewer’s yeast, whole grains, nuts, egg yolks, sardines, liver, bananas, and mushrooms.
Increase the intake of vitamin B complex, and especially vitamins B1 and B2, vitamin A, omega fatty acids, and zinc.
You may add a few drops of grapefruit seed extract to your shampoo. Tea tree oil shampoos are also very beneficial for dandruff treatments. You can also use apple cider vinegar on your scalp. Another way of dandruff treatment is application of flaxseed oil or vitamin E oil to the scalp for the night.