What Causes Dandruff and How to Stop It

Wearing dark colored clothes is tough if you suffer from dandruff. Your stylish ensemble is ruined by those little white flakes. Don’t despair — you aren’t doomed to wear white shirts for the rest of your life. You also don’t need to use harsh chemicals to keep dandruff at bay. Natural products, such as tea tree oil shampoo, combat dandruff and make your hair look terrific. Artnaturals' tea tree shampoo and tea tree conditioner can make dandruff, for you, a thing of the past.

What is Dandruff?

You know that dandruff consists of those unsightly white flakes showing up on your dark clothing, but what is dandruff and what causes it? Dandruff consists of dead skin flakes that are excreted from your scalp. There are certain conditions make dandruff worse:

• Excessively dry skin: If you have problems with dry skin, it is likely that you also have problems with dandruff
• Not shampooing enough: When you don’t shampoo often enough, oils and dead skin accumulate on your scalp, eventually causing dandruff to form.
• Hair care product sensitivity: The use of shampoos, conditioners or dyes with artificial ingredients (such as “sodium laureth sulfate”) can also cause or increase dandruff.

Who Suffers From Dandruff?

Younger people suffer from dandruff more often than do older people. Men suffer from dandruff more often than do women. Male hormones often play a factor in dandruff production. People with a compromised immune system are susceptible to dandruff. Dandruff can be caused also by an overproduction of Malassezia — a common yeast that is present on the scalp. Sometimes, Malassezia starts growing out of control (especially on oily scalps) causing infection. Itchy scalp and dandruff might be signs of a Malassezia infection. For whatever reason this problem arises, people susceptible to dandruff will often notice white flakes on their clothing at a relatively young age – and without proper care, this problem will continue throughout their lives.

Tea Tree Oil and Dandruff

Since time immemorial, indigenous Australians have used oils from the native Melaleuca alternifolia tree to treat wounds and all types of skin problems. This oil, known as tea tree oil, has powerful properties. Tea tree oil is naturally anti-septic and anti-fungal, and it is used to moisturize dry skin.

A natural tea tree oil shampoo can resolve dandruff problems in many ways. For people with dry scalp, tea tree oil helps hydrate the skin and reduce flaking and, so, reduce the buildup of dandruff. If Malassezia is the culprit, tea tree oil’s anti-fungal properties help combat the yeast infection, bringing the scalp’s production of Malassezia back to standard levels.

Other Uses for Tea Tree Oil

Though tea tree oil shampoo can eliminate or reduce dandruff buildup, it also has numerous other benefits for the hair and scalp. Tea tree shampoo can eradicate head lice. The very idea of head of lice freaks people out, but these outbreaks are fairly common. Rather than expose yourself to strong chemicals to get rid of lice, use tea tree oil instead. It’s a safe and natural alternative. Furthermore, tea tree oil can cure fungal problems that arise anywhere on the body. It is a great natural remedy for toenail fungus or jock itch. If you’re dealing with any of these problems, reach for tea tree oil for relief.

Dietary Factors for Dandruff

Besides using tea tree oil shampoo, a change in diet can reduce dandruff and give your hair and skin a natural glow. Just as natural products can help decrease problems with dandruff, so too can eating natural and organic foods. Dandruff is a sign of an imbalance in the body. By taking a holistic approach to health and beauty, your body can become well-balanced.

First, you should cut out junk foods and sugars. This will help your overall health — yeast infections thrive on a sugary diet. Sugar also feeds inflammation, which can cause itchy scalp and, subsequently, dandruff.

Second, you should consume more fruits and veggies. Not only are fruits and vegetables nutritious, but they contain a great deal of fiber. Eating a sufficient amount of fiber is essential for proper digestion, and a good digestion helps with your overall health. Poor digestion can lead to numerous skin problems, including dandruff.

Third, cut out the beer. Sorry, beer lovers. If you suspect a yeast infection is causing dandruff to form, it’s time to drink fewer brewskis. The same holds true for other yeast-containing products, including most breads. While completely cutting out bread – and perhaps even beer – isn’t very realistic for many people, cutting back your intake of bread and beer can really make a difference.

Fourth, eat foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids and have high levels of biotin. Omega-3 fatty acids not only possess anti-inflammatory properties but also stimulate healthy skin production. Fatty fish, including salmon, mackerel and sardines, are chock full of omega-3 fatty acids. So are avocados, nuts, spinach and kale. Biotin, in turn, is necessary for healthy skin, hair, and nails. People with a biotin deficiency can develop dandruff. Foods rich in biotin include eggs (do not eat them raw), walnuts, almonds, and Swiss chard.

Tea Tree Oil Shampoo

Our tea tree oil shampoo contains other natural ingredients to fight dandruff and leave your hair clean and shiny. These include:

• Aloe
• Eucalyptus
• Lavender
• Peppermint
• Rosehips
• Rosemary

These essential oils aid in soothing and strengthening your hair, and, even better, they leave behind a natural pleasant fragrance. By using a tea tree oil shampoo and conditioner and making some dietary changes, it won’t take long before you can wear dark clothing with confidence, with hair that’s never looked better.