No more dandruff, naturally
On a social and business level, having dandruff can be a real detriment to your career and social life. It can be downright embarrassing. There are many over-the-counter remedies for dandruff, if you don’t mind putting chemicals on your scalp. Since the skin absorbs substances into itself and warm water opens the pores of the skin, you can be doubly sure that everything that touches your skin will be absorbed.
You can find all kinds of toxic ingredients like resorcinol, P-phenylenediamine, eugenol, and ethanolamine in anti-dandruff shampoo. DMDM hydantoin is a form of formaldehyde that is a poison to the immune system and a toxic skin irritant, also found in anti-dandruff products.
There can be a number of causes of dandruff, in particular, an overly alkaline pH in the scalp, yeast overgrowth due to a high content of refined carbohydrates in the diet, and dehydration and excessive dryness of the skin.
Excessive alkalinization of the skin and scalp can destroy the acid mantle, which is a slightly acidic, waxy layer that is the first line of defense against surface invaders. Since the skin must be slightly acidic, it is advisable to use pH-balanced shampoos, so as not to destroy the protective properties of the skin and scalp.
The skin and scalp face chronic challenges in maintaining their pH balance due to their constant exposure to environmental assaults. Since they are the first line of exposure for any environmental substance and the skin cannot self-correct for the necessary changes in pH, it is literally at the mercy of anything that touches it. Looking at what potentially touches the hair and scalp, we find shampoos, conditioners, hair colors, perm solutions, gels, mousses, glosses, hairsprays, and hardeners, all of which can leave skin in an alkaline state.
Realizing what these unnatural substances do to your skin is the first step. The next step is to find a shampoo with a good pH balance that is free of lathering agents and parabens. Finally, rinsing your hair with acid-based water is a good last step. This will keep your scalp on the acidic side of the pH scale. You can make acidic water at home by mixing 2 parts apple cider vinegar with 6 parts warm water. If you don’t have long hair, you can mix two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with six tablespoons of warm water.
The next step is to drink the right type and amount of water. Right type of water, you ask? Yes, some of the water is stagnant and dead. Although it is supposed to be clean, it seems to have few beneficial effects on the body. Water in, water out. No matter how much you seem to drink, it all seems to go too fast. If you were to switch to alkaline and ionized water, you would notice a difference in your skin and how your body feels within a week. The first day or so, you notice that most of the water you drink is being absorbed, you urinate very little. Your cells are drinking deep. Depending on the level of water in your body, it could take six months or more to fully hydrate, drinking adequate water. The average person needs half their body weight in ounces of water every day, three-quarters if it’s hot.
The final consideration is your diet. Did you know that some people are more prone to yeast infections and other skin infections and irritations? They seem to have a hypersensitivity to carbohydrates, particularly sugars, wheat, and any food that contains wheat. In the presence of these foods, the body produces sugars that feed Candida and other yeasts. The scalp is an ideal refuge for yeast to proliferate. The skin becomes irritated and itchy, producing scales that cascade over the shoulders and back. Most of the yeast buildup begins in the intestines, where they are first exposed to their favorite foods. The toxins produced by the waste of these little critters create an acidic condition in the body that produces many more symptoms than dandruff. Weaning yourself off wheat and sugars can create what’s called a kill. By gradually removing the sugars and wheat, the yeast begins to die because they can’t get enough to eat. As they die, they can begin to produce confused thoughts, abdominal discomfort, headaches, a bad taste in the mouth, among other symptoms. Despite the slight discomfort, it is worth the effort. Drink plenty of water to minimize symptoms, hydrate your body and skin, and before you know it, you’ll be flake-free and chemical-free.