Dandruff

man-dandruff1 Q: My husband suffers from dandruff but conventional treatments don’t seem to work. What would you advise?

A: Dandruff is characterised by a flaking of the scalp and is occasionally associated with more aggressive skin conditions, such as psoriasis or dermatitis (eczema). The cause is either a minor fungal infection, an excess of heat in the system (from an Eastern point of view) or is associated with a lack of water in take (dehydration) and an excess of heat-creating foods or adrenaline-producing stress.

Recommendations

• Wash hair with a selenium-containing shampoo not more than three times a week for three weeks .

• Take vitamin B complex, Zinc and Flaxseed oil supplements.

• Flaxseed oil can also be applied directly to the scalp with gentle massage.

• Persistent dandruff may require systemic treatment for yeast infection. This would involve avoidance of fermenting foods such as sugar, processed foods, dairy, wheat, fermented beverages etc. and taking anti-fungal herbs such as Berberis Vulgaris or Hydrastis for a number of weeks and supporting the gut with Glutamine and probiotic supplements.

ICIM Blood analysis and/or stool analysis can be done to confirm intestinal imbalances.

For further information on dandruff contact ICIM Medics on Tel. 045 844 819 www.icim.ie