There is nothing worse than a dusting of white and very noticeable dandruff on your dark navy or black uniform jacket.  It doesn’t matter how many times you shower or wash your hair you always feel a little unclean and very conscious of how other people will perceive you.

In alternative medicine we treat the body from the inside out rather than in conventional medicine which tends to treat from the outside inwards.

For example the conventional treatment for dandruff is usually over the counter anti-dandruff shampoos or if very severe prescribed lotions and shampoos that you have to use on a continuous basis.

Because you are working in a very customer orientated business and you want to look your best at all times then of course it is a good idea to use one of the several anti-dandruff treatments currently on the market. 

This however is only sticking a plaster on the problem.  Our body’s health is dependent on balance.  Our skin is the largest waste organ of the body and is a constant reflection of our internal health.

Our body surface sheds dead skin cells daily and you will shed your entire skin every three to four weeks.  Your scalp, like every other area of skin will also shed dead skin cells but if you think about it, the skin on your scalp is not only affected by our internal health but also to a great deal more punishment than the rest of your skin. 

Look at the shelves full of hair products and those available in hair salons.  Colour treatments (bleach and ammonia), highlights (bleach and ammonia), shampoo, conditioner, hair gels, wax, hairspray etc.  We also have hairdryers, curling tongs and hair straighteners that we can use everyday at home.  Daily washing and conditioning combined with the use of these heated appliances is very drying and damaging to the scalp and therefore a leading cause of flaky skin.

In our office environments we are subjected to overheated offices and receptions and also the stress of our jobs. Combine this with a poor diet full of sugars, hydrogenated fats and white starchy carbohydrates and lacking in the basic nutrients for our body to work efficiently and you have skin problems.

INTERNAL CAUSES 

It is no coincidence that children rarely suffer from dandruff and that it is more common from puberty onwards.  Hormonal imbalances are often responsible for many of the teenage skin problems such as acne and throughout our lives if our diet does not support our hormone production we will suffer from conditions such as dandruff.  

We have already touched on poor diet but adequate rest and stress also play their part in skin health.  Being dehydrated causes over dry skin as does a diet low in the good fats such as Omega 3 and 6.

There is another cause for dandruff and that is linked to Candida Albicans.  Candida is a fungal parasite that thrives on yeast and sugar.  We all have it in a benign form but if you have a poor diet and have taken many courses of prescribed medication such as antibiotics it can overgrow and cause a great many internal and external symptoms.

PLAN OF ACTION. 

Try to avoid washing and drying your hair daily.  I realise that it is important to look groomed but it is harmful to use these chemicals and heated appliances too frequently.  If you have longer hair, try to vary the styles so that you can wear it up for a couple of days so that you are only washing your hair a couple of times a week.  

If your hair is shorter try using the old fashioned rollers to give your hair body and leave them in for a half hour rather than use curling tongs or a hair dryer.

If your body is in a state of imbalance you are unlikely to be metabolizing food efficiently leading to a lack of nutrients needed by the body to maintain health in general and as I have mentioned already this will be reflected in the health of your skin.

One set of vitamins that can be associated with skin problems and in particular dandruff is B vitamins.  These are present in whole grains.  Vitamin B6 is a key nutrient with regard to hormonal imbalances and is also important for skin health and I would suggest that apart from a high quality multi-vitamin and mineral supplement you take B6 in addition. 

DIET. 

In recent issues you will have found the Healthy Eating plan for life which is great for maintenance and ongoing health, in the next few issues I will be introducing you to The Gentle Detox which is designed to help your body rid itself of toxins that have built up and I suggest that you follow that for the suggested six weeks before moving onto the Healthy Eating plan.

If you are already following the healthy eating programme that is great and will certainly be helping your body become healthier but make sure that the following foods are definitely included on a daily basis as they will increase your intake of the B vitamins and B6 in particular.

Whole grains: - Brown rice, whole or multigrain breads, Ryvita and rice cakes, whole grain pasta and cereals such as porridge oats, weetabix etc.

Proteins: - Beans and lentils, Beef, chicken, cod, eggs, halibut, lamb, liver, milk, salmon, shrimp, tuna, turkey, low fat yoghurt.

Fruit: - Banana and strawberries.

Vegetables and seeds: - Asparagus, aubergine, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, mushrooms, peas, tomatoes, sunflower seeds.

EXERCISE 

If you are in a sedentary job, rarely getting fresh air and sunshine your body becomes static.  Toxins build up and this will be reflected in your skin condition.  Try to get out in the fresh air for a 20 minute brisk walk daily and later in The Gentle Detox you will learn about some deep cleansing breathing and flexibility exercises that will also be very beneficial.

CANDIDA ALBICANS. 

If you have other symptoms of Candida Albicans such as itchy ears, dry and scratchy throat, lower back pain, frequent thrush infections etc then take a look at my website or email me for an information sheet.

sally@moyhill.com