Dandruff affects about half of adults at some point. It’s not caused by poor hygiene, and it’s very treatable. The key is using the right shampoo ingredient, the right way, consistently.

What causes dandruff

Most dandruff comes from a mild form of seborrhoeic dermatitis. A yeast called Malassezia, which lives on everyone’s scalp, breaks down scalp oils. In some people this irritates the skin and speeds up how fast skin cells shed, causing white or yellowish flakes and itching. Dandruff is often worse in winter, with stress, and in people with oily skin.

Anti-dandruff ingredients compared

For mild dandruff, a gentle option such as Himalaya tea tree or cooling mint anti-dandruff shampoo may be enough. For stubborn flakes, ketoconazole usually works best.

How to use anti-dandruff shampoo properly

1. Wet your hair and massage the shampoo into your scalp, not just your hair.
2. Leave it on for 3 to 5 minutes before rinsing. This is the step most people skip.
3. Use it 2 to 3 times a week until flakes clear, usually 2 to 4 weeks.
4. Then keep using it once a week to stop dandruff coming back.
5. If one shampoo stops working, switch to a different active ingredient.

Other tips

• Wash your hair often enough to stop oil building up
• Avoid heavy oils and styling products on the scalp
• Don’t scratch, which irritates the skin further
• Manage stress and get enough sleep, which can reduce flare-ups

When to see a doctor

• No improvement after 4 to 6 weeks of regular medicated shampoo
• Red, swollen, oozing or very itchy patches
• Thick, silvery scale (possible psoriasis), or flaking on the face, eyebrows or chest
• Hair loss in patches

Frequently asked questions

Is dandruff caused by a dry scalp?

Usually not. Dry scalp flakes are small and white and improve with gentle shampoo and moisturising. Dandruff flakes are often larger, oilier and itchy, and need an anti-dandruff ingredient.

Does dandruff cause hair loss?

Not directly, but scratching can damage hair. Treating the itch helps. See our guide to hair loss treatment for men.

Can I use anti-dandruff shampoo every day?

Gentle ones such as zinc pyrithione can be used often. Stronger ones such as ketoconazole are usually used 2 to 3 times a week.

More in our Hair Loss guide: all our articles and products on this topic in one place.

This article is for general information only and isn’t a substitute for advice from a doctor or pharmacist.

Himalaya Liv.52 and milk thistle are two of the best-selling liver supplements in the world. One is a multi-herb Ayurvedic formula from India; the other is a single herb from European tradition. Here’s how they compare, and what neither can do.

At a glance

Himalaya Liv.52

Liv.52 has been sold since 1955 and is one of India’s most widely used herbal products. It combines caper bush (Himsra), chicory (Kasani), black nightshade, arjuna and other herbs traditionally used to support liver function and appetite. A double-strength (DS) version means fewer tablets a day.

Milk thistle

Milk thistle’s active compounds, together called silymarin, act as antioxidants in lab studies. In people, trials in alcohol-related liver disease, hepatitis and fatty liver haven’t shown consistent benefit. It’s considered safe for most adults.

Which should you choose?

• If you want a traditional all-round formula that also supports appetite and digestion, Liv.52 is the more common choice.
• If you prefer a single, standardised herb, milk thistle is easy to find.
• Don’t take several liver supplements at once without asking a doctor.

Neither one treats liver disease, undoes the effects of heavy drinking, or replaces medical care. The habits that matter most are covered in our guide on how to support your liver.

Who should check with a doctor first

• Anyone with liver disease, hepatitis or jaundice
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women
• People taking prescription medicines, especially diabetes medicines (milk thistle may lower blood sugar) and medicines broken down by the liver
• People allergic to plants in the daisy family (milk thistle)

Frequently asked questions

Can I take Liv.52 and milk thistle together?

There’s no known dangerous interaction, but there’s also no evidence that combining them helps. Ask your doctor or pharmacist first.

How long until I notice a difference?

Herbal supplements work gradually. Most people take them for at least 4 to 8 weeks.

Do they protect the liver from alcohol?

No supplement makes heavy drinking safe. Cutting down on alcohol is what protects your liver.

More in our Digestive Health guide: all our articles and products on this topic in one place.

This article is for general information only and isn’t a substitute for advice from a doctor or pharmacist. Supplements are not evaluated by the FDA to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Around two in three men notice some hair loss by their mid-30s, most often from male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia). The treatments that work best slow the loss and regrow some hair, but they all need patience and consistency. This guide compares the options so you can choose what fits you.

First, confirm the cause

Male pattern baldness follows a typical pattern: a receding hairline at the temples, thinning at the crown, or both, developing over years. See a doctor first if your hair loss is sudden, patchy, comes out in clumps, or comes with an itchy, scaly or sore scalp. Thyroid problems, low iron, stress and some medicines can also cause shedding.

Treatments compared

Minoxidil: the first step most men try

Minoxidil is available without a prescription. For men, the 5% strength works better than 2%. Apply it to a dry scalp twice a day for the solution, or once a day for the foam. Expect some extra shedding in the first weeks, which usually means it’s working. If you stop, the regrown hair falls out over a few months. Read more in Rogaine 2% vs 5% and minoxidil side effects.

Finasteride: talk to a doctor

Finasteride lowers DHT, the hormone that shrinks hair follicles in male pattern baldness. It needs a prescription because it isn’t right for everyone: a small number of men get lower libido or erection problems, and mood changes have been reported. A doctor can explain the risks and benefits for you. Women who are or may become pregnant must not handle broken tablets.

Supporting habits

• Use a gentle shampoo that suits your scalp. Strengthening shampoos such as Himalaya Bhringaraja can reduce breakage, but they won’t stop pattern baldness.
• Treat dandruff, which can make the scalp itchy and inflamed
• Avoid tight hairstyles and harsh heat styling
• Eat enough protein, iron and zinc; ask your doctor to check your levels if you’re worried
• Take photos in the same light every month so you can judge progress honestly

Frequently asked questions

Can male pattern baldness be cured?

No, but it can be slowed and partly reversed. The earlier you start, the more hair you keep.

How long should I try a treatment before giving up?

At least 6 months for minoxidil, and up to 12 months for finasteride.

Is it too late to start?

Treatments work best on thinning hair, not on areas that have been bald for years. For those areas, a hair transplant is the main option.

Related: Hair loss in women

More in our Hair Loss guide: all our articles and products on this topic in one place.

This article is for general information only and isn’t a substitute for advice from a doctor or pharmacist.

Your liver does hundreds of jobs, from processing nutrients and medicines to clearing alcohol and making proteins your blood needs. The good news is that it’s remarkably good at repairing itself. The best way to support it is with everyday habits, not “detox” products.

The biggest risks to your liver

• Fatty liver disease, now called MASLD, linked to excess weight, type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol. It affects around 1 in 4 adults worldwide and often causes no symptoms.
• Alcohol, which can cause fatty liver, inflammation and eventually scarring (cirrhosis)
• Viral hepatitis B and C, spread through blood and, for hepatitis B, sex and childbirth
• Medicine and supplement overdose, especially acetaminophen (paracetamol)

What actually helps

1. Keep alcohol low

If you drink, US guidance is no more than 2 drinks a day for men and 1 for women, with several alcohol-free days a week. Less is better for your liver.

2. Reach and keep a healthy weight

Losing 5 to 10% of body weight can reduce liver fat significantly in people with fatty liver. See how to lose weight safely.

3. Move more

Regular activity reduces liver fat even before you lose weight. Aim for 150 minutes a week of brisk walking or similar.

4. Eat for your liver

• Plenty of vegetables, fruit, whole grains, beans and fish
• Fewer sugary drinks and sweets, as fructose is turned into fat in the liver
• Fewer ultra-processed and fried foods

5. Coffee may help

Large studies link regular coffee drinking to a lower risk of liver scarring and liver cancer. If you already drink coffee, 2 to 3 cups a day without lots of sugar seems fine for most people.

6. Use medicines carefully

• Never take more acetaminophen (paracetamol) than the label says. Check cold and flu products, which often contain it too.
• Avoid acetaminophen and alcohol together.
• Tell your doctor about every supplement you take.

7. Protect yourself from hepatitis

Get vaccinated against hepatitis A and B, use condoms, never share needles, razors or toothbrushes, and get tested for hepatitis C if you’ve ever been at risk.

Do liver supplements and detoxes work?

“Liver detox” products: your liver detoxifies on its own, and there’s no good evidence that detox teas or cleanses help. Some can harm.

Milk thistle (silymarin): widely used and generally safe, but studies haven’t shown clear benefit for liver disease.

Ayurvedic formulas such as Himalaya Liv.52 are traditionally used to support liver function and appetite. They can be part of a healthy routine, but they don’t replace the habits above or medical treatment.

Be careful with some herbal products: a few supplements have been linked to rare liver injury, including high-dose green tea extract, garcinia, kava and, rarely, ashwagandha. Buy from reputable brands, don’t exceed the dose, and stop if you notice the warning signs below.

Warning signs: see a doctor

• Yellow skin or whites of the eyes (jaundice)
• Dark urine or pale stools
• Itchy skin without a rash
• Pain or swelling in the upper right tummy, or a swollen belly or legs
• Unusual tiredness, easy bruising or confusion

A simple blood test (liver function tests) can check how your liver is working. Ask your doctor if you have diabetes, excess weight, drink regularly or have hepatitis risk factors.

Frequently asked questions

Can the liver repair itself?

Yes. The liver can regenerate, and early fatty liver often reverses with weight loss, exercise and less alcohol. Advanced scarring (cirrhosis) is harder to reverse, so early action matters.

What are the first signs of liver problems?

Often there are none. That’s why blood tests matter if you have risk factors. Later signs include tiredness, jaundice, dark urine and itching.

Which drinks are good for the liver?

Water and coffee, in moderation. Cut back on sugary drinks and alcohol.

More in our Digestive Health guide: all our articles and products on this topic in one place.

This article is for general information only and isn’t a substitute for advice from a doctor or pharmacist. Supplements are not evaluated by the FDA to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Almost everyone gets bloated sometimes: that tight, full, swollen feeling in your stomach, often with wind or rumbling. Most bloating is harmless and comes from what and how you eat. Here’s what causes it, what helps quickly, and when it’s worth getting checked.

Common causes

• Swallowed air from eating fast, talking while eating, chewing gum, drinking through a straw or fizzy drinks
• Gas-producing foods such as beans, lentils, onions, garlic, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and some fruits
• Sugar alcohols such as sorbitol and xylitol in “sugar-free” sweets and gum
• Lactose intolerance: bloating and wind after milk or ice cream
• Constipation, which slows everything down and traps gas
• Large or fatty meals, which empty from the stomach more slowly
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), where the gut is extra sensitive to normal amounts of gas
• Hormones: many women bloat before their period

Quick relief right now

• Walk for 10 to 15 minutes. Gentle movement helps gas move through the gut.
• Try a warm drink such as peppermint, ginger or fennel tea.
• Massage your tummy gently in clockwise circles, following the path of the large bowel.
• Loosen tight clothing and avoid lying flat straight after eating.

Natural remedies with some evidence

• Peppermint oil capsules (enteric-coated) relax the gut muscles and have good evidence for IBS-related bloating and pain. Avoid them if you have heartburn, as they can make it worse.
• Ginger may help the stomach empty faster and ease nausea.
• Fennel, cumin and ajwain are traditional after-meal digestives in India. Evidence is limited, but they’re safe in food amounts. Jaljeera-style drinks such as Himalaya Gasex Fizz use this tradition.
• Probiotics help some people, especially with IBS, but results vary by strain. Try one for 4 weeks and stop if there’s no change. See probiotics after antibiotics.

Over-the-counter options

• Simethicone breaks up gas bubbles and can ease trapped wind.
• Lactase tablets taken with dairy help if lactose is the trigger.
• Fibre supplements such as psyllium husk help if constipation is behind your bloating. Start low and increase slowly, because adding fibre too fast can cause more bloating at first.

Habits that prevent it

• Eat slowly and chew well
• Have smaller, more regular meals
• Cut back on fizzy drinks, gum and sugar-free sweets
• Keep a food diary for 2 weeks to spot your triggers
• Drink enough water and stay active to keep bowels regular. See constipation relief.
• If you suspect IBS, ask a doctor or dietitian about a low-FODMAP diet, which cuts out common trigger foods for a few weeks

When to see a doctor

See a doctor if bloating:

• Happens most days for 3 weeks or more, especially in women over 50, as persistent bloating can be an early sign of ovarian cancer
• Comes with unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite or feeling full quickly
• Comes with blood in your stool, black stools, vomiting or a fever
• Comes with a lasting change in your bowel habits
• Is severe or painful, or your tummy is hard and swollen

Frequently asked questions

How long does bloating last?

Food-related bloating usually settles within a few hours, once gas moves through the gut.

What is the fastest way to get rid of bloating?

A short walk, a warm peppermint or ginger tea, and gentle clockwise tummy massage often help within an hour.

Why do I bloat every day?

Daily bloating is often linked to diet, constipation or IBS, but it can also have other causes. If it lasts more than 3 weeks, see a doctor.

More in our Digestive Health guide: all our articles and products on this topic in one place.

This article is for general information only and isn’t a substitute for advice from a doctor or pharmacist.