Food and dandruff: is the food on your plate causing your dandruff?

One of the main arguments for “diet as cure for dandruff” rests on a sort of equivalence.

The theory goes that since dandruff is caused by a yeast, avoiding yeast-laden foods should get rid of dandruff.

The problem is that this theory ignores the fact that there are over 1,000 different species of yeast, and the one that causes dandruff – Malassezia globosa – is not used in cooking (Saccharomyces yeasts are most commonly used in baking & making wine and beer).

And simply by limiting what’s in the gut won’t affect the yeast that naturally lives on your scalp, producing oleic acid. It also won’t change your individual sensitivity to oleic acid.

For this reason, the best way to get rid of dandruff is a good dandruff shampoo. Used properly, this will help control the symptoms and causes of dandruff, keeping your hair and scalp healthy.

However, just because a change in your diet won’t cure dandruff, it doesn’t mean it can’t benefit your hair and scalp.

There is plenty of evidence to suggest that you can improve the general health of your hair and scalp through your diet:

• Protein is the foundation of your hair and will help keep it strong. Eggs, fish, chicken and dairy products are good for getting your daily dose.

• A lack of iron has been linked to hair loss. Animal products are the easiest sources of iron: fish, chicken and red meat. Vegetarians can turn to lentils, spinach and various leafy greens.

• Omega-3 fatty acids help keep skin moisturized, and our body can’t make these on its own. Oily fish, avocado and certain nuts are abundant sources.

• Zinc is important for protecting hair and scalp alike, so eat plenty of zinc rich foods like legumes, certain fortified cereals and wholegrains.

A good diet is useful for healthy hair and scalp – but a good shampoo is also essential. A properly formulated shampoo will nourish your scalp and hair, to keep it healthy and strong, all day long.

Well, the truth is that food can affect your scalp – it’s just not the cause of dandruff. A healthy balanced diet rich in zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, protein, and iron will help keep your scalp and hair strong, to help avoid problems like hair damage or dry scalp flaking.

If you do have dandruff, your best bet isn’t to go on a diet. Rather, use a good dandruff shampoo; if you pick the right one, you’ll find that it will moisturize to nourish your scalp and hair, so that it looks better than ever.

But that doesn’t mean that your diet’s unimportant.

A well-balanced diet will help strengthen and protect your scalp and hair, so ensure that you get the nutrients you need for skin and hair health, like protein, iron, omega-3 fatty acid, and zinc.

Your hair care routine is another important way to make sure your hair and scalp remain healthy. Look for a nourishing shampoo that provides essential moisture to scalp and hair, while preventing dandruff.

One of the most widespread reasons of dry scalp is dehydration. It’s common knowledge that we should be drinking about eight glasses of water a day. But far too few of us follow through on this.

So how does drinking water help your scalp? And what do you do if your scalp is still itchy?

Water, as you know, is integral to your health. What you might not know is how it affects your scalp.

Your skin - including your scalp – is a barrier between you and your environment, keeping the “good stuff” in (water, nutrients), and the “bad stuff” out (germs, pollution). 

Like all the cells of your body, it needs water to be healthy.  Without enough water, your skin can begin dry out and flake.  Your scalp becomes unhealthy, “leaky” and less effective at doing its job.

If you’re prone to dandruff, a “leaky” scalp can allow substances to penetrate scalp skin more easily, triggering or aggravating dandruff. 

To help solve dry scalp flaking, you need to make sure you’re drinking enough water. Eight glasses a day is the recommended amount – once you’ve hit your goal for long enough, you may find that your scalp will recover, helping your hair to become healthier.

Of course, if you’re suffering from dandruff you’ll need to complement the water-drinking with a shampoo that tackles the root cause.

A good hydrating shampoo can help moisturize and nourish your scalp and hair and treat dandruff at the same time.

The food you eat does more than just fill you up. Follow our guide for the best way to improve your hair by eating.

The effects of our diet on our bodies are numerous. This extends to our hair and scalp. The wrong diet can lead to a dry, flaky scalp and weak, brittle hair.

On the other hand, a well-considered and balanced diet can strengthen hair and scalp, leaving it looking and feeling better.

But what does that diet look like?

Whatever you do with your diet, you can help keep your hair healthy by choosing the right shampoo.

A shampoo designed to nourish your hair and scalp with moisture will help keep them healthy and strong.

Head & Shoulders is the perfect choice – it looks after your hair and nourishes the scalp with moisture, helping to give it a healthy foundation from which to grow.

The result is shiny, strong and healthy hair.