Dandruff

🌿 Overview

Dandruff is the flaking of the skin on your scalp. It is very common and not harmful or contagious. It can come from a dry scalp, an oily scalp, or simple sensitivity to hair products. Gentle, regular washing, rinsing well, and being kind to your scalp usually keep the flakes in check.

Dandruff is the flaking of dead skin from the scalp. The skin all over our body quietly renews itself, shedding old cells as new ones form. On the scalp this normally goes unnoticed, but when the cells flake off in larger, faster clumps you see the familiar white or grayish flakes in the hair and on the shoulders. It is very common and is neither harmful nor catching. The scalp has more oil glands than almost anywhere else on the body, and that oil can bind dead cells together into visible flakes. So dandruff shows up both on oily scalps and on dry ones. It often gets worse in cold, dry weather and can flare with stress, harsh hair products, or a diet heavy in greasy and sugary foods. The good news is that simple, gentle, regular care keeps most dandruff in check: washing and rinsing well, easing off harsh products, eating well, and a little sunshine and fresh air. It rarely needs anything stronger.

Common signs

• White or grayish flakes in the hair or on the shoulders
• An itchy scalp
• A scalp that feels dry or, sometimes, oily
• Often worse in cold, dry weather

🔎 Why it happens

Common causes and triggers — spotting yours is often the first step to relief.

• **Faster shedding** of dead skin cells on the scalp
• **Excess scalp oil** that binds dead cells into visible flakes
• **Cold, dry weather** or very dry indoor air
• **Harsh shampoos, dyes, or sprays**, or not rinsing well
• A diet high in **greasy, sugary, and fried foods**, or possible food sensitivities
• **Stress** and being run-down

✅ What to do

Gentle, practical steps you can take at home — start at the top.

1. Wash gently and regularly with a mild shampoo, and rinse thoroughly so no product is left behind.
2. Try an apple cider vinegar rinse (about a tablespoon in a cup of water) to loosen and clear flakes, then rinse out.
3. Massage in a little coconut oil or aloe vera gel before washing to soothe a dry, itchy scalp.
4. Dab a well-diluted touch of tea tree oil into your shampoo to calm an itchy scalp.
5. Ease off harsh or heavily-perfumed products and don't scratch.
6. Eat plenty of whole plant foods and cut back on greasy, fried, and sugary fare.
7. Get a little sunlight and fresh air on the scalp, which many find helps.

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🍽️ Eating to help

Food is one of the gentlest medicines — small, steady changes help most.

Favor these

• Whole plant foods and leafy greens
• Healthy plant fats: nuts, seeds, ground flaxseed
• Zinc- and B-vitamin foods (beans, whole grains, seeds)
• Plenty of water

Go easy on

• Greasy, fried, and very fatty foods
• Sugar and refined-flour foods
• Alcohol
• Any foods you notice trigger flaring

A lighter, plant-rich diet with healthy fats supports a calmer, less flaky scalp.

📜 A note from history

Gentle washing, vinegar rinses, and a light, plant-rich diet have long been the everyday answer to a flaky, itchy scalp.

💬 Ask Remy about Dandruff