Top 5 Tips for Preventing Dandruff

Exposure to sunlight is a remedy recommended for a number of skin conditions, including eczema and psoriasis. Medical experts believe that spending a little time in the sunshine may also be beneficial in treating dandruff [source: Mayo Clinic]. But as treatments go, this one can be a little tricky because too much exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays can damage the skin and lead to skin cancer. In fact, it takes only a few minutes for the sun to start damaging your skin [source: Skin Cancer Foundation]. Therefore, you should spend only brief amounts of time in the sun as a treatment -- sunbathing isn't recommended. In addition, you should be sure to protect the rest of your body with clothing and sunblock.

Another caution: Some anti-dandruff treatments, such as coal tar shampoo, can increase your scalp's sensitivity to UV light. So, if you're currently using any anti-dandruff treatment, you should check to see whether it mentions sun sensitivity as a precaution. If so, you may need to avoid exposure to the sun, tanning booths and sun lamps.

As you'll see in our next section, the great outdoors and indoors have a bigger effect on your dandruff than you might think.

While there is some debate as to whether dry skin is a true cause of dandruff, one thing there is no controversy about is the phenomenon of winter dandruff. If you've ever had dandruff, you know that it tends to worsen during dry, cold-weather months. It's believed that the reduction of humidity in the air (both outdoors and indoors) during winter can add to the buildup of dry skin that occurs with dandruff.

One of the simplest ways to increase your exposure to humidity during winter months is to buy a humidifier. Ideally, you should have a humidifier in all of your main living and working spaces. Just don't let your humidifiers create other health problems. Make sure they're cleaned out frequently and thoroughly dried when they're not in operation -- or else they can breed bacteria and mold.

Keep reading for more easy ways to possibly prevent dandruff.

Is there any health condition stress doesn't make worse? It seems that whenever you seek to improve your health -- no matter what condition you're dealing with -- you're advised to reduce stress. It's no different with dandruff. Medical experts believe that stress may trigger or worsen the condition [source: Mayo Clinic].

As anyone who's ever dealt with stress knows, reducing it is often easier said than done. The tips on doing so, however, are pretty straightforward:

[sources: WebMD, HealthFinder.gov]

Dietary changes can not only help you reduce stress in your life, they can also help you prevent dandruff. Keep reading to learn what you should be eating to help maintain a healthy scalp.

Diet has long been known to play a role in healthy skin and hair. When it comes to dandruff, in particular, foods that contain zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, selenium, and B vitamins may be beneficial [sources: Mayo Clinic]. If you'd like to try incorporating more of these into your diet, try eating more of the following foods:

Because dry skin can be a cause of dandruff, drinking more water and consuming more fruits may be helpful. If you're looking for foods to avoid as a method of dandruff prevention, there are really no hard and fast rules.

Diet is an inside-out approach to preventing dandruff, but in our next section, we'll look at preventive measures that affect the scalp directly.

Take a look in your bathroom cabinets. What do you see? Hair spray, mousse, gel or wax? A spray to straighten your hair or a cream to help curl it? Mists to detangle and reduce frizz? If you're like many women (and quite a few men) you have no shortage of hair styling and care products. And while all of those specialty sprays, lotions, creams and gels may improve your look, they may also create an unwelcome and unattractive side effect: dandruff. These products can build up on your scalp and flake off, and they can also lead to oiliness or sensitivity in your scalp, which can lead to the itching and flaking of dandruff.

If your hairstyle can handle it, try to eliminate hair styling products from your beauty routine. Or, at the very least, cut back on them. If you do continue using them, thoroughly wash your hair at the end of the day. In fact, frequent shampooing, in general, is another easy way to keep dandruff away. Regular shampooing may help keep dandruff-causing oils and skin cells from building up on your scalp [source: Mayo Clinic]. If you're prone to dandruff, try washing your hair daily for prevention.

If you'd like to learn more about dandruff's causes and treatments, keep reading for lots more information.