DEALING WITH DANDRUFF: A CHRONIC ILLNESS SIDE EFFECT

When we are sick, we have our main symptoms: fatigue, brain fog, pain, neurological symptoms, and the list goes on. But we also get what I call, side effect symptoms. These symptoms are not usually life debilitating or harmful but annoying. One of these side effects is dandruff.

While there may be many overall causes to dandruff, two immediately stand out:

1: Fungal infection of the scalp

Fungus on the scalp causes the skin to shed more quickly than usual, producing dandruff. What I have found is that fungus on the skin usually means fungus (yeast/candida) inside the system, don't stop working at the scalp.

2: Dry Skin

If the skin on the scalp is dry, then it will shed too quickly as well. The causes of dry skin are numerous.

TIPS

As part of your overall protocol for health, you should be addressing the underlying causes of dry skin and fungal infections. To help deal with dandruff, I have found three helpful tips.

1) Himalayan Salt as an exfoliant in the shower. While in the shower, use a handful of pink salt to gentle scrub your scalp, getting the top layer of dead skin off. Rinse well.

2) After the shower, dry your hair. Then use a palm full of coconut oil and massage it into your scalp. This helps to nourish and hydrate the skin. If fungus is an issue, you can add a few drops of melaleuca oil to the mixture. Let it sit on your scalp for 30-60 minutes, then rinse it out. Do this 2-3 times per week.

3) On the days you don’t use the coconut oil method, you can use a blow dryer on the cool setting to help blow out any dandruff that has been exfoliated and is stuck in the hair.

I have seen these tips help people deal with dandruff effectively while treating the cause underneath, consider them if you deal with this side effect.

In health,

Martin C. Hart, NASM-CES

Chiropractic Physician

This is not intended to diagnose or treat any conditions. Informational purposes only.