I have a red nose, bad dandruff, and the skin on my ears has issues.

[Beuford]

So while greatly increasing my fruit, vegetable, nut and seed intake, eliminating my meat intake, and going almost vegan has provided me with other benefits such as reduced sleep, clearer skin in general(not my nose apparently) and lowered heart rate, I expected more in other areas.

If you saw me you'd see I have a red nose. I am 16, but I expected a healthy diet would at least reduce this problem, but apparently not. The dry skin is not so bad, and usually just happens when I have hot showers. While all my siblings also have dandruff, mine is pretty bad, and again, a healthy diet has done nothing to help it. The same goes for my ears. Inside my ears, I can wipe my finger nail around and end up with a hunk of dead skin on the end of my finger. Behind my ears is the same. Not good

I do not use shampoo or conditioner. These problems existed when I did, and have not changed since stopping 5 months ago.

So I don't know what causes these things. I don't want to use something that I have to keep using over and over or the problems will return. Something I use for a while then never have to worry about again is okay, but I'd rather fix the problem than hide it. Theres obviously a reason why I have a red nose and I'm not sure if it is to do with my age because I've had it for at least a year maybe even 2 years.

What can you suggest to help solve these problems? Has it happened to anyone here before?

[ssandra]

Is it very cold where you live? That might cause the red nose...

In winter I always have a red nose. I also have those little lines around my nose that usually only come when you are an alcoholic... and I don´t drink much (one glass every month or so is not much).

What helped is to get a very good face cream (I use the Vitamine E from the bodyshop) and to make sure that especially in winter, it is always greasy.

For your hair I can recommend head massages. I do them to my husband and it has improved his condition (as well as washing with head&shoulders against dandruf, although the shampoo alone didn´t work).
I don´t know why, but it works.

[Beuford]

It's quite warm where I live and just coming around to summer. I'll try the head massaging again, although I used to rub the dandruff out with my fingers and it kept it under control but never removed it all . Maybe I'll need to look in to some herbal remedy for it.

[aelle]

The dryness of your skin and scalp may be caused/increased by a too low consumption of fat, which can easily happen on a high raw diet. Try upping your good fats intake (flax seed oil in your morning smoothie) or supplementing with skin specific oil capsules. Jojoba oil and borage oil are said to have excellent results on skin dryness.

[ssandra]

Originally Posted by Beuford

It's quite warm where I live and just coming around to summer. I'll try the head massaging again, although I used to rub the dandruff out with my fingers and it kept it under control but never removed it all . Maybe I'll need to look in to some herbal remedy for it.

It´s not about rubbing the dandruff out, it is about massaging your scalp. You can do that with some shampoo (for easier movement) in the shower for example. This way you increase the bloodsupply and distribute more fat (or at least that is how it seemst to work with my husband).

[Beuford]

Thanks, I'll try both of those. I've tried eating raw flaxseeds before but they weren't too good and I've read they aren't easily digestible, how can I prepare these to make them better to eat? At the moment I eat almonds, walnuts, pecans, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds, what can I add to that to increase good fat consumption?

[liamona]

Originally Posted by Beuford

Thanks, I'll try both of those. I've tried eating raw flaxseeds before but they weren't too good and I've read they aren't easily digestible, how can I prepare these to make them better to eat?

You could soak them first before you eat them. But it's kind of a hassle (there is a vegan company that makes tasty flax crackers, but I can't remember what they're called).

Do you have a simple coffee grinder with a blade? You can use them to grind up a couple of tablespoons of flax seeds, and put them in cereal or soup.

At the moment I eat almonds, walnuts, pecans, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds, what can I add to that to increase good fat consumption?

How about virgin coconut oil? It's pretty yummy if you like the scent.

[Beuford]

I'll try the grinding thing, maybe I can add them to oatmeal. Thanks.

[agnostic]

My advice would be coconut oil or other tropical fats. These fats tend to help with skin issues.