Dry Patches on Scalp/Dandruff

[Peter]

I am a bald male.

I have been into a raw vegan diet for about two weeks. I have been off and on vegetarian for close to a year. My scalp has these patches of drying flaky areas. Dandruff when I lightly scratch the area to rid the area of the dry flaky skin. This is really uncomfortable for me. The large dime to quarter size patches of dry skins are located on the top toward the back of my head and upper sides of my scalp also in the back area.

It seemed to flair up after eating a meat or the SAD diet such as a typical breakfast from a restaurant in my area. I thought the raw vegan diet would have cleared it up after two weeks of raw eating. Any suggestions on what this is and how to help the healing process. I am skeptical of Drs. and their treatments of toxic medications.

Has anyone experience the above and if so what did you do to heal? Any suggestions would help. Thanks.

[Conscious Midwife]

For immediate relief with no concern for chemicals gently scrub scalp with mouthwash or Sea Breeze

Otherwise wash scalp with a dilution of Dr. Bonners soap, followed by a gentle scalp massage using food grade coconut oil or olive oil.

[GlimR]

Hello~
Two weeks is not really very long for your body to heal itself....I would make sure you are eating coconut oil (extra virgin...start w/1tsp a day and build up to 3 T /day) ..it helps with all dry skin conditions...also rub in thoroughly into the scalp. Drink water!

[Authenticme]

I am a bald male.

I have been into a raw vegan diet for about two weeks. I have been off and on vegetarian for close to a year. My scalp has these patches of drying flaky areas. Dandruff when I lightly scratch the area to rid the area of the dry flaky skin. This is really uncomfortable for me. The large dime to quarter size patches of dry skins are located on the top toward the back of my head and upper sides of my scalp also in the back area.

It seemed to flair up after eating a meat or the SAD diet such as a typical breakfast from a restaurant in my area. I thought the raw vegan diet would have cleared it up after two weeks of raw eating. Any suggestions on what this is and how to help the healing process. I am skeptical of Drs. and their treatments of toxic medications.

Has anyone experience the above and if so what did you do to heal? Any suggestions would help. Thanks.

Hi there,

I have had the same situation for several years now. It was diagnosised by a dermatologist as a form of psoriasis. I've personally noticed that when I eat bread excessively,wheat products or sugar that it flairs up something aweful. The raw vegan diet DEFINETELY eliminates the issue for me. Also, using Dr Bonner's soap as a shampoo. The sodium laural sulfate typically found in shampoos is a little too harsh for my scalp.

[queenfluff]

If you are bald, why would you need any shampoo? In fact, shampoo or soap might be your problem. Stop using any soaps or shampoos on your head. Use the coconut oil as suggested for dryness.

Soaps and shampoos are very drying - even more "natural" ones like Dr. Bronners. Let your body clean itself. Give your scalp a chance to rest and let it normalize out. Just rinse your scalp with water and give it a good scalp massage.

[Portia2012]

Since we are on the topic of hair, my hair has not really had a good rejuvination done to it. I normally use shampoo that probably is not natural scents. My problem is though that I have constant scalp itch, no patches however, and I find dead cells in my brush all the time. What can be used for this?



~Portia~

[queenfluff]

Portia

Stop using that shampoo! If you continue to use shampoo though, use it alot less and very diluted and please switch to the most natural one you can find. (no SLS's!)

Another thing you can do is use a rosemary rinse or oil on your scalp. It is very good for dandruff.

[Seren]

I also have the problem of dry pateches on my scalp - Mine is only at the front but its embarrasing, and if I touch my hair dandruff falls in flakes... uuugh! I can't not use shampoo though! My hair gets quite greasy and seriously if I didnt use shampoo I would look like a tramp! Is there anything natural I could try that works as well as shampoo? And what about conditioner? I have quite dry hair so I can't go without conditioner! Also, I would rather not smell like olive oil! lol

I also have these patches of dry skin on my arms - they are about the size of a ten pence piece. They are only on the tops of my arms and there are two on my right upper arm and one on my left. They look a bit like a rash (bumpy) but they arent red or inflamed, just bumpy and dry/ crusty. What are they? How can I get rid of them?

I eat nuts every day (cashews mostly), an avocado every few days and seeds almost every day (sunflower and pumpkin). Am I getting enough EFAs? Do I need to add more oil to my diet? Oh and I have a little olive oil in recipes most days.

Any help would be appreciated! Thanks!

Seren xxx

[carolg]

How are you melting coconut butter to apply to scalp or are you buying coconut oil? Kind? How do you wash it from scalp? I'm thinking of putting it on at night and then rinsing or washing out. My scalp has always been dry and itchy even as a child. The follicles are weak too.

Thanks.
carolg

[Conscious Midwife]

I n a warm house you can just dig your finger in a rub a bit between hands to melt.

Other wise spoon some out place in small glass bowl and set this small bowl in a slightly larger bowl full of hot water. It melts pretty quick.

I keep a container of food grade in my bathroom for my scalp and body and a seperate container in my fridge for eating.

[queenfluff]

The reason you have those dry patches is because your scalp is sensitive to the shampoo. yes, it will get oily at first but it eventually will even out and no be so oily. I haven't shampooed my hair is a year and it isn't oily at all.

[RawSweetie]

I have developed a troublesome condition on my scalp for the first time in my life--yippee!--and have found that tea tree shampoo AND conditioner together have really, really made a difference. It's only been one week and it's almost completely gone and the itchiness was significantly reduced after the first time I used it. I'm also doing flaxseed oil, and trying to make sure I keep up my avocadoes, coconut oil, etc. And I'm eating more raw again, which I know makes a difference, and watching the wheat, which I think aggravates everything for me. I also have developed what I believe to be guttate psoriasis all over my body, perhaps due to a strep infection and/or a reaction to stress, and am dealing with that as well, but that's another thread.

I'd fallen off the raw wagon--or more truthfully, I was sort of thrown from it by a very traumatic life event last month, so I'm sure my scalp condition is/was a combo of severe stress and diet weirdness. Well, now I have some compassion for people with scalp issues and psoriasis, so there's that.

I wish you speedy healing for sure!