Dandruff has beenblamed on a multiplicityof causes,includingdry skin,oily skin,toomuch or toolittle hair washing, diet,stressor hygiene. However, the real causeof dandruffis actually a yeast-like fungus, Malasseziaglobosa,whichliveson your scalp, feedingon skinoils.
Dandruff is sheddedskin; dandruffsufferersshedskinmuch more rapidly than other people.This happens becausethe fungususes enzymescalledlipasesto metabolizethe oils, whichcreatesa by-product called oleic acid. The acid penetratesyour skinand triggersskincell shedding.
A teamof researchersfor Procter& Gamble (manufacturersof Head & Shouldersanti-dandruff shampoo) has sequencedthe DNA of the fungusand analyzed the lipasesit produces.They hope theseinvestigations will eventuallylead to new treatmentsfor dandruff.
Dr. Mercola answer:
This is another classic exampleof blaming an infectiousagent for the “cause” of a disease. Whilethis informationis useful and can be very helpful in treating the problemonceyou have it, thisknowledgereally doesn’t help you understandhow to changethe underlyingreasonswhy you gotthe infection.
You can easily treatthe dandruffinfectionby usingSelsun Blue, whichhas seleniumin it, and leaving it on your scalp overnight.Alternatively you couldalso use Head and Shoulder’sshampoo(zinc is the active ingredient). The key is leaving it on your scalp overnightas the seleniumor zinc will actually kill thisfungus.
However if you eliminatethe fungusyou still needto correctthe reasonwhy they choseyour scalp to invade and multiply.Typically thatis relatedto an imbalancein the fats you are eating.
Dandruff, as well as other dry-skin conditions,can oftenbe a sign thatyou have a fatty acid imbalance. This is a very commonproblem,as your standardAmericandiet(SAD) is far higher in omega-6 than omega-3.
Your ideal ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats is 1:1. But the currentratio of omega-6 to omega-3 in the averageAmericandietvaries from 20:1 to 50:1!
Your primary sourcesof omega-6 are corn, soy, canola, safflower, and sunfloweroil; theseoils are overabundantin your typicaldiet,whichexplains your excessomega-6 levels. Omega-3, meanwhile,is typically foundin flaxseed oil, walnut oil, and fish.
More than 2,000 scientificstudieshave demonstratedthe vast array of healthproblemsassociatedwith omega-3 deficiencies.Usually I talk aboutomega-3 in the contextof improvingbrain function,and preventingchronicdiseaseslike diabetes,arthritis,heart diseaseand cancer.
However, omega-3 deficienciescan also have a negativeimpacton your skin,creatingskin-related problems,suchas:
Eczema
“Alligator” skin
Crackedheels
“Chickenskin” on the backof your arms
Dry, unmanageablehair
Dandruff
Supplementingyour dietwith goodquality omega-3 in the form of krill oil or fish oil couldhelp alleviate thesetroublesomeand uncomfortablesymptoms.
In addition to that,keep in mindthateverythingyou slatheron your skin,and puton your scalp goesinto your bloodstream,and can affect your overall healthand internalbalance. Virtually all of your regular
shampoosand conditionerscontain harmfulchemicalsthatcan createskinirritation,contributingto dry scalp and excessivedandruff.
I recommendbuying organicpersonal-careproductsthatdo notcontain parabensand sodiumlaureth, or lauryl sulfate. The latter two are knowneye and skinirritants.
Instead, look for productsthatcontain naturalantimicrobialand antifungalingredients,suchas grapefruit seed extract,or antioxidantvitamins (A, C and E) thatact as naturalpreservatives,without dangerousside effects.
Following a healthydiet,modifiedto fit your nutritionaltype can also help you balance outyour internal system,and eliminateexcessivefunginaturally.
