(NaturalNews) While jokes about snowy shoulders abound, laughter about their dry scalp is often the last thing people with dandruff think about. An itchy scalp, coupled with the embarrassing frustrations of having their clothing often covered in the noticeable white flakes of dead skin, is a bothersome condition. Yet, it's a common occurrence. In fact, Dr. Seema Hirji, who is a dermatologist, estimates that about half of the world's population will suffer from dandruff at some point in their lifetime (1).

The Mayo Clinic says that age, previous illness history, gender and poor diet are all factors in developing dandruff as well as in its level of intensity (2). Males, for example, may be more prone to it since they have larger, and more oil-producing, glands on their scalps.

Tips to help reduce dandruff naturally

1) Use a tea tree oil shampoo

The Mayo Clinic notes that some studies have shown that washing hair with shampoos that contain tea tree oil (often found in health stores), can help provide dandruff relief due to its healing properties (2). When it comes to hair styling products, try for the "less is more" approach. The more products and chemicals the scalp is exposed to, the more havoc can be wreaked in that area.

2) Eat foods rich in vitamin B, zinc and healthy fats

As for diet, the Mayo Clinic advises eating foods rich in vitamins B, zinc and healthy fats, because they may help diminish the dryness that leads to dandruff. Ideal anti-dandruff foods include bananas, spinach, walnuts and a variety of beans such as kidney and navy (3).

3) Reduce stress

While stress can create a host of health problems, it's known to play a role in triggering dandruff, so minimizing it is essential. Because stress can lead to heart attacks, and recovering from them is one risk factor linked to severe cases of dandruff (2), maintaining as stress-free a life as possible is key. Exercise can help reduce stress, as can meditation and other relaxation techniques.

Sources for this article include:

(1) http://www.livestrong.com

(2) http://www.mayoclinic.org

(3) http://www.livestrong.com

http://science.naturalnews.com

About the author:
A science enthusiast with a keen interest in health nutrition, Antonia has been intensely researching various dieting routines for several years now, weighing their highs and their lows, to bring readers the most interesting info and news in the field. While she is very excited about a high raw diet, she likes to keep a fair and balanced approach towards non-raw methods of food preparation as well. >>> Click here to see more by Antonia