Dandruff is a very common skin conditions. Dry scalp and itchy white flakes can be quite embarrassing especially when wearing a black shirt... If you want to get rid of dandruff for good, an anti-dandruff shampoo is usually not enough. Here are natural solutions to help you deal with your scalp problem.

What are the main causes of dandruff?

• Poor circulation or not enough brushing of the hair
• Use of drying shampoos
• Irregular production of sebum (oily substance secreted by the glands)
  
• Imbalance of essential fatty acids in the body
• Fungal infection
• Dandruff is also sometimes a sign of psoriasis, seborrhea, or cradle cap, a very common problem in babies
  

What kind of foods is dandruff healing?

• Eat a diet rich in vitamins B6. See some foods rich in vitamin B6.
  
• Avoid the most common allergens which provoke dandruff for some people: chocolate, nuts and shellfish. Try to avoid these foods for 2 weeks and reincorporate them in your diet to see which food would eventually be the culprit.
  
• Avoid refined carbohydrates, especially white sugar or flower because they can deplete your body of B vitamins.
• Avoid animal and trans fats. Eat foods containing omega instead.

Which supplements can help to get rid of dandruff?

• Essential fatty acids. What are they? Good fats...
• Vitamin B complex (especially vitamin B6)
• Vitamin A and E
• Silica
  

What about herbal remedies?

• Horsetail tea because it contains silica and zinc
• Nettle root juice applied externally on scalp

What are the most common essential oils used for dandruff?

• Rosemary essential oil is one of the best oil for dry scalp. It is very stimulating and has astringent and antiseptic properties. You could add a few drops to your shampoo or massage your scalp with jojoba oil with a few drops of rosemary before washing your hair.
• Tea tree, lavender, and neem are also good essential oils to get rid of dandruff.
  

Are there any homeopathic remedies?

• Arsenicum
• Graphites
• Sepia
• Sulphur

Other advice...

• Don't scratch your scalp
  
• Use natural shampoos and avoid harsh shampoos especially if you wash your hair daily
• Hair-dryers can dry out your scalp. However, bacteria love humid environment so dry your hair if the cause of dandruff is fungal.

References

• Andrew Gaeddert, healing Skin Disorders, North Atlantic Books, Berkeley, California, 2003
• Louise Tenney, M.H., Today’s Herbal health, 6th edition, USA, 2007
• Phyllis A. Balch, James F. Balch, Prescription for nutritional healing, United States of America, 2000
• Siegfried Gursche, Encyclopedia of natural healing, Canada, 1997
• Thomas Bartram, Bartram’s encyclopedia of herbal medicine, The definitive guide to the herbal treatment of diseases, Grace Publishers, UK, 1995