Dandruff Control:

Complementary and alternative medicine

Signs and symptoms

For most people, the symptoms of dandruff are unmistakable: white, oily-looking flakes of dead skin that dot your hair and shoulders and an itchy, scaling scalp. But it's not quite that simple — many conditions cause excessive skin scaling, including:

Dry skin. Simple dry skin — the kind you get in winter when the air is cold and rooms are overheated — is by far the most common cause of itchy, flaking skin. But flakes from dry skin are generally smaller and less oily than those caused by dandruff.

Seborrheic dermatitis. This condition, a frequent cause of dandruff, is marked by red, greasy skin covered with flaky white or yellow scales. Seborrheic dermatitis affects not only your scalp but also other areas rich in oil glands, such as your eyebrows, the sides of your nose and the backs of your ears, your breastbone, your groin area, and sometimes your armpits.

Psoriasis. This skin disorder causes an accumulation of dead skin cells that form thick silvery scales. In severe cases, your skin cracks, bleeds and may be quite painful. Psoriasis commonly occurs on your knees, elbows and trunk, but it can also extend from your scalp onto your forehead and neck.

Cradle cap (seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp). This disorder, which causes a scaling, crusty scalp, is most common in newborns, but it can occur anytime during infancy. Although it can be alarming for parents, cradle cap isn't dangerous and usually clears up on its own by the time a baby is a year old.

Scalp ringworm (tinea capitis). This highly contagious fungal infection occurs primarily in children younger than age 10. Ringworm starts as a red sore around a hair shaft — usually on the scalp but sometimes in the eyebrows or eyelashes. Within a few days, the sore turns scaly and spreads outward in the ring pattern that gives the infection its name. The hair in the affected area usually breaks off just above the surface. Unlike dandruff, ringworm usually causes a red, inflamed scalp as well as hair loss.

Contact dermatitis. Sometimes sensitivities to certain hair-care products or hair dyes can cause a red, itchy, scaling scalp.

Aesthetically speaking. That's why most complementary approaches focus on treating the problem from the inside out — with diet and nutritional supplements. Here are some of the most common suggestions:

Sweets and yeast-containing foods such as bread, beer and wine may encourage the growth of the fungus that causes dandruff.

Vitamins are essential for healthy skin and hair. Good food sources include egg yolks, bananas, avocados, nuts and seeds, and dark leafy greens, such as spinach.

The mineral zinc, found in some dandruff shampoos, helps regulate the activity of your oil glands, keeps your immune system healthy and promotes healing. It's best to get zinc from food sources such as egg yolks, fish — especially sardines — meat and sunflower seeds.

Sometimes known as essential fatty acids, omega 3 oils are necessary for good health. Among other things, they aid in the transmission of nerve impulses, help produce new cells and lower cholesterol levels. They also help keep your skin and hair healthy. Omega-3 fatty acids are found primarily in fresh, deep-water fish — especially salmon, swordfish, mackerel and herring — and in canola, soybean, fish and flaxseed oils. In addition, many natural foods stores and drugstores carry a variety of fish and vegetable oil supplements.

Tea tree oil, which is extracted from the leaves of the Australian tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia), has been used for centuries as an antiseptic, antibiotic and antifungal agent. It's now included in a number of shampoos found in natural foods stores. The oil can cause allergic reactions in some people, so be sure to stop using it if you have any problems.

Dandruff is a chronic condition that can almost always be controlled, but it may take a little patience and persistence. In general, mild scaling can often be helped by daily cleansing with a gentle shampoo to reduce oiliness and cell buildup.

When regular shampoos fail, OTC dandruff shampoos may succeed. But dandruff shampoos aren't all alike, and you may need to experiment until you find one that works best for you. Dandruff shampoos are classified according to their active ingredient:

Click on this link to learn more about Dandruff:Alternative Dandruff Treatments.