Chapter 10
Dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis are flaking, itchy skin conditions that affect more than 50 per cent of adults at some point in their life.[1] With dandruff, the flakes are usually oily and shed easily from the scalp. Seborrheic dermatitis is a more severe skin condition with the addition of inflammation and greasy, yellowish flakes which can be found on the scalp, ears, eyebrows, neck, chest and creases at the sides of the nose. Dandruff can occur when you have an oily scalp, if you are run down or stressed and it can occur in conjunction with psoriasis and eczema. Newborn babies who develop cradle cap, which shows up as thick yellow crusts on the scalp, can develop dandruff later in life.
While dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis appear when you have an oily scalp and altered microflora, these conditions do not occur on everyone. Susceptible people are at an increased risk of dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis because they have one or a combination of the following:
Hair care practices can affect the health of the scalp and increase the risk of dandruff. This includes:
The composition of scalp microflora is altered in people with dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis.[3] Your immune system normally guards your skin from invading bacteria and yeasts but when you’re run-down, stressed or not feeding your body correctly, your immune system can let its guard down. A common yeast called Malassezia (formerly called Pityrosporum) lives on the scalp and your immune system ensures that this freeloader doesn’t multiply or claim too much territory. If your immune system fails to do its job, Malassezia’s offspring, cousins, aunts and uncles take over your head and inflame your skin. Malassezia yeasts can be found on everyone but they flourish and cause dandruff in approximately 20 per cent of people. Research shows that people with dandruff have 74 per cent of the total microflora on their scalp as Malassezia and individuals with seborrheic dermatitis have 83 per cent as Malassezia. In contrast, people with healthy scalps (no dandruff) have only 46 per cent of the total microflora on their scalp as Malassezia yeasts.
On healthy scalps where there is no dandruff present, approximately 26 per cent of the microflora is Corynebacterium acnes, a non-pathogenic bacteria, but it reduces to 6 per cent in dandruff sufferers, and only 1 per cent in seborrheic dermatitis patients.[4]
There are three basic steps to treat and prevent dandruff.
Shampoos can alter the scalp’s pH, as can the use of gels, hairspray and hair dyes. Swap your sulfate-containing shampoo for a gentle shampoo (note that some natural shampoos can aggravate dandruff so you may need to try a few brands). There are a number of shampoo ingredients that are anti-fungal, anti-microbial and/or anti-inflammatory, including:
There is an anti-dandruff remedy you can make at home. This recipe is for the scalp only.
This treatment can be applied before bed. If desired, you can wash it off in the morning. Use a quality spray bottle as cheap plastic may buckle from the vinegar.
Fill the bottle with water, add the tea tree oil, vitamin E and apple cider vinegar, close the lid and shake well. Separate hair into sections so you can spray more directly onto the scalp. Spray your scalp. Dry your hair and style as usual. Lightly spray onto the scalp once a day or as necessary.
Follow the Eczema Diet to help promote a strong immune system. Part 3 will cover everything you need to know, including recipes, menus and shopping guides, to get started on the Eczema Diet.