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As those folk who sell high-powered vacuum cleaners always tell us, your body is constantly shedding skin, at a rate of around 2kg a year. This is natural, if not terribly sexy, and the skin that sloughs off is usually unseen. But when the rate at which skin is renewed and shed speeds up, the skin flakes become visible. When it cascades from your scalp onto your dark blazer it’s unsightly.
Dandruff can be stress-related, although it’s also thought to be caused by a fungus. It’s not contagious and seems to be aggravated by wearing a hat. You can wear a lab coat for the rest of your life or you can deal with it:
- Shampoos containing tea tree oil seem to be very beneficial. You can make your own by adding a drop or two (It’s potent, so go easy) to a mild product like Elizabeth Anne’s Baby Shampoo;
- Try adding five level tablespoons of dried thyme to half a litre of boiled water. Cool it, strain it and massage it into your scalp a few times a week;
- If it persists, speak to a dermatologist about an anti-yeast shampoo. Get professional help if the dandruff progresses to lumps on the scalp or scaly skin elsewhere on your body, which could be a symptom of psoriasis. If the skin around your eyebrows flakes off you might have sebborheic dermatitis, which warrants treatment too.
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