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cutaneous system
Seborrheic dermatitis
Integrative Therapies
Home Care
Dandruff that persists for more than just a few days at a time can be a sign of seborrheic dermatitis. This is an inflammatory condition of the scalp, commonly seen in both infants and adults.
Usually in adults, the onset is gradual. In its severe form, the inflammation will spread from the hairline to the area behind the ears and will appear on the eyebrows and on the bridge of the nose. It sometimes spreads down to the chest or the area above the sternum or breast bone. In most cases, the condition is worse in the winter. And sometimes, although rarely, the scaling may spread to other areas of the body.
Infants, in the first month of their life, may develop this condition. Then, it is called "Cradle Cap." An infant's scalp will have a yellow, thick crusted lesion with yellow scaling behind the ears.
Psoriasis and ringworm, which is a fungal infection, can also cause persistent dandruff. Consult a physician to differentiate between them.
You may now want to take notes.
THE FOLLOWING SUPPLEMENTS ARE USED AND CAN BE TAKEN UNTIL SYMPTOMS IMPROVE:
1. Biotin 3 milligrams twice a day.
2. B-complex 50 milligrams twice a day.
3. Zinc 25 milligrams a day.
4. Vitamin A 10,000 Units per day or 1 cup of carrot juice per day until the condition clears.
5. Flaxseed oil 1 tablespoon or 2 capsules per day. To remain effective, flaxseed oil needs to be kept refrigerated.
Please Note: All doses are suggested for ADULTS. Nursing infants may benefit from these supplements if taken by their mothers.
Adults as well as non-nursing infants can benefit from using the following applications:
TOPICAL OINTMENTS FOR THE SCALP:
1. An oil massage To be performed once or twice a week. Massage 1 or 2 teaspoons of wheat germ, olive, or castor oil into the scalp 1 hour before shampooing. After shampoo-ing, add 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar to the final rinse. This will aid in restoring acid balance to the scalp and prevent bacterial growth. Be careful not to get the vinegar in the eyes.
2. Once a week soak the hair and scalp with a solution of salt water. Use approximately 1 tablespoon of sea salt per cup of warm water. Leave it for 10 minutes and rinse. Use the vinegar rinse as well.
3. For infants Massage the baby's scalp with 1 teaspoon of castor oil, then wash with Chamomile tea. Use either 2 tablespoons of loose dry flowers or 3 tea bags per cup of boiling water. Steep for 5 to 10 minutes. Cool, then massage into the scalp. Do this every other day.
REGARDING THE PROPER DIET FOR DANDRUFF:
1. Decrease sugar intake, avoiding candies, pastries, and soda as much as possible.
2. Food allergies have been associated with this condition. Certain foods seem to be more likely to cause or aggravate dandruff. Eliminating those foods from the diet is a good way to determine if one or several of them are responsible for the problem. The main problem foods are dairy products (including milk, cheese, ice cream), eggs, wheat, corn, oranges, and sugar.
After eliminating all of those foods from the diet, and the symptoms have gone away, one food at a time can be reintroduced to see if the symptoms reoccur. A new food would be introduced each week. In nursing infants, the food allergies of the mother need to be considered.
If you need more specific information on how to recognize and avoid food allergens, please refer to the article on Food sensitivities.
HOMEOPATHY
Phosphoric acid 6C: When there is no apparent reason for the dandruff. Dissolve 3 pellets under the tongue 3 times a day.
AS AN ADDITIONAL MEASURE:
Try to add relaxation exercises, deep breathing, or leisurely walks to your daily routine, since stress can aggravate this condition.
Clinic
Footnotes
BarShalom R, Soileau J. (eds.) Natural Health Hotline. Beaverton, OR: Integrative Medical Arts, 1991-1999.