Dandruff is a skin condition that is commonly attributed to itchy scalp and flakiness. It can appear on the scalp, hair, eyebrows, beard, and mustache and can be quite an embarrassment to hide. Dandruff typically becomes worse during winters but is treatable through anti-dandruff shampoos. However, certain foods flare their growth drastically. Here are seven foods to keep away from to prevent dandruff.

1. Sugar
The American Health Association prescribes 150 calories per day for men and 100 calories for women. Excessive intake creates insulin spikes exposing one to dandruff. Sugar produces androgen – a hair follicle size shrinkage hormone. Simply put, androgen instigates dandruff, a type that many medicated shampoos cannot treat. Sugar promotes the development of candida yeast in the human body, causing dandruff.

2. Cheese
Full-fat dairy products should be avoided to avoid the flaky scalp. These foods are believed to cause dandruff, but there is no conclusive proof as to why they cause dandruff. According to researchers, they are heavier to digest, accelerate body inflammation, and cause dry scalp skin.

3. Alcohol
Alcohol promotes the growth of dandruff. It also reduces the zinc level in the body that affects hair growth in the long run and leads to an itchy scalp. Alcohol is also responsible for dehydration in the body. This makes the scalp skin dry and imbalances sugar levels in the body, resulting in flare-ups and visible flakes on the hair.

4. Caffeine
Caffeine is usually present in coffee, tea, and aerated drinks. Typically, people consume it to feel alert. However, caffeine contains a diuretic, a substance that increases water excretion from the body. Excessive water excretion triggers dryness of the scalp, which aggravates dandruff or makes one susceptible to it.

5. High-mercury fish
Sushi and certain categories of fish like mackerel, swordfish, and tuna contain high mercury levels that escalate hair fall. As opposed, there are other healthy fishes like shrimp, sardines, salmon, and canned light tuna that limit the growth of dandruff. These all reduce hair fall, eczema, and makes the scalp healthy.

6. Spicy food and allergens
Spicy food increases body temperature, leading to excessive sweating. A sweaty scalp multiplies the causes of dandruff. Some people are likely to get dandruff from the consumption of dairy products, gluten intolerances, or other food sensitivities. Also, hair is made of protein, and continuous consumption of low-protein food magnifies dandruff and hair-related issues.

7. Vitamin A supplements
Multi-vitamin pills are often consumed by individuals with food to provide the body with essential nutrients. But disproportionate content of vitamin A can be present in certain food supplements, prompting scrawny hair quality as a consequence of hair fall. This also causes problems that cannot be treated with clinical hair products.