Dear Flaky,

An itchy, dry scalp is usually a sign of dandruff. Dandruff is a harmless and common, yet irritating, condition in which dead skin is shed from the scalp, often, but not always, producing those unsightly white flakes. The usual cause of dandruff is seborrheic dermatitis, a type of skin rash.

What to do:

• Brush your hair frequently to remove the flakes.
• Massage your scalp to improve circulation.
• Avoid using alkaline based shampoos.
• Try a jojoba oil based shampoo and use it regularly.
• Intersperse the jojoba shampoo with an over the counter dandruff shampoo once a week: look for zinc pyrithione, selenium sulfide or coal-tar formulas.
• Try a final rinse of one cup warm water mixed with two to three tablespoons of white vinegar. This will also bring out the highlights in your hair and make it shiny.
• Massage table salt into your dry scalp before shampooing with an acid-based shampoo.
• Try an oil treatment in which you massage olive oil into your hair and scalp, cover your hair with plastic wrap and with two wet towels. Keep the towels on your head for twenty minutes, then remove oil with two washings.
• Supplement your diet with foods rich in Vitamins C and B, which promote a healthy scalp, and healthy hair.

If none of these improve the condition of your scalp, then make an appointment with a dermatologist, who can prescribe a treatment that'll work for you.

Alice