Home remedies for dandruff, including coconut oil and baking soda

Should you’ve ever skilled a dry, itchy, flaky scalp, you’ve got seemingly had dandruff. This situation is just not dangerous or contagious, but it surely actually could be pesky and uncomfortable. You would possibly end up always scratching your scalp or getting tiny white flakes throughout your brown and black garments.

About half of the general population has a point of dandruff — and in case you are considered one of these individuals, chances are you’ll not want to show to particular shampoos to repair flaking. Residence cures, like apple cider vinegar and tea tree oil, have been proven to assist do away with dandruff. Listed here are 5 dwelling cures for dandruff and the best way to use them. 

What causes dandruff? 

Dandruff might happen throughout your scalp, but it surely’s normally most prevalent at the back of the pinnacle, alongside the frontal hairline, and across the ears, says Joshua Zeichner, MD, Director of Beauty and Medical Analysis within the Department of Dermatology at The Mount Sinai Hospital. 

Zeichner says dandruff is the results of your physique’s response to yeast, a kind of fungus, that lives naturally in your pores and skin, together with in your scalp. When yeast grows an excessive amount of, it will possibly trigger an inflammatory immune response which results in pores and skin flaking. 

Particularly in sizzling and humid climate, sweat and oil accumulate on the scalp and may create a super place for  much more yeast to develop, Zeichner says. Extra yeast means extra irritation and extra flaking of the scalp.

The pure cures out there for dandruff sometimes work by specializing in lowering the surplus yeast, which may eradicate your dandruff. Listed here are 5 pure cures you possibly can attempt.

1. Tea Tree Oil

Why it really works: Tea tree oil is used as a remedy for various fungal and bacterial conditions because it has antimicrobial properties, which suggests it will possibly kill and cease microorganisms like fungus from rising, says Zeichner. 

A 2002 research revealed within the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology examined a management non-tea tree shampoo and a 5% tea tree shampoo on 126 individuals, and located that those that used the tea tree shampoo had a 41% enchancment of their dandruff severity in comparison with the management group.

Easy methods to use it: Zeichner says it’s best to by no means apply tea tree oil in its pure kind, since it will possibly trigger irritation. He recommends placing just a few drops of the oil into your typical shampoo every time you wash your hair, after which shampooing as regular. 

2. Apple Cider Vinegar

Why it really works: Whereas many individuals orally ingest apple cider vinegar for health benefits, it can be used topically. It helps do away with dandruff in two methods, Zeichner says. First, it has antibacterial and antifungal properties, which kills the dandruff-causing yeast. Second, it is an astringent, which implies that it shrinks pores and removes extra oil. 

Easy methods to use it: Much like tea tree oil, apple cider vinegar shouldn’t be used for dandruff in its undiluted kind. Zeichner says you possibly can dilute it with water and apply it to the scalp, letting it sit for about 5 minutes earlier than rinsing it out. 

You should utilize a mix of 1 half water to 1 half apple cider vinegar, or begin with much less apple cider vinegar in case your scalp is additional delicate. 

3. Baking Soda

Why it really works: Baking soda combats dandruff in two methods. It has been proven to have delicate antifungal properties, and it will possibly additionally exfoliate, which is helpful for individuals who have vital flaking or buildup on the scalp, says Kaveri Karhade, MD, board-certified dermatologist within the San Francisco Bay space. Exfoliating can assist do away with the buildup and create a more healthy atmosphere on the scalp. 

Easy methods to use it: Karhade says you possibly can both combine a few tablespoon of baking soda into your typical shampoo, or you possibly can combine it with water to get a paste consistency. Therapeutic massage and scrub your scalp with the baking soda combination after which rinse completely. Karhade doesn’t suggest utilizing this dwelling treatment usually, since baking soda could be very alkaline (which means it has a excessive pH) and may injury your hair. 

4. Coconut Oil 

Why it really works: Coconut oil additionally has antifungal properties, Karhade says, so it will possibly lower the quantity of dandruff-causing yeast in your scalp. There is not concrete analysis supporting coconut oil for dandruff, however coconut oil has been confirmed to have antifungal properties.

Moreover, the coconut oil can calm any irritation on the scalp, since this oil is confirmed to have anti-inflammatory properties. This treatment has an added bonus: Karhade says coconut oil can penetrate the hair shaft since the molecules are so small and nourish your hair, so you possibly can assist your scalp drawback and care for your hair on the similar time. 

There aren’t any particular research backing up coconut oil’s effectiveness for dandruff, and much like the baking soda treatment, many of the proof we have now is anecdotal.

Easy methods to use it: Take two tablespoons of coconut oil and therapeutic massage it into your scalp together with your fingertips, Karhade says. She recommends leaving the therapy in your scalp for one or two hours to actually let the oil soak in. Then completely wash your hair together with your common shampoo.

5. Aloe Vera

Why it really works: Aloe is a plant, and its gel is well-known for its moisturizing properties, so it will possibly assist with the itchiness that comes together with dry pores and skin on the scalp, says Karhade. Moreover, analysis reveals that aloe vera has antibacterial and antifungal properties which may lower fungus on the scalp and scale back the incidence of dandruff.

Easy methods to use it: Take aloe vera gel and apply it to the issue areas.  You possibly can depart it on for about 30 minutes earlier than rinsing it out. When buying the aloe, you should utilize pure aloe vera gel from a recent aloe plant, or pre-packaged aloe vera gel. 

When to see a health care provider

If dwelling cures do not work, over-the-counter dandruff shampoos are additionally an choice. If neither of these are eliminating your dandruff, or in case your situation is interfering together with your each day life, it’s best to see a board-certified dermatologist for an analysis and therapy plan. Prescription dandruff drugs are confirmed to be very efficient, in line with each specialists. 

The underside line

Residence cures work for some individuals, however not everybody. And extra analysis is required to find out simply how efficient a few of these strategies really are.

Should you expertise any discomfort from these strategies, rinse the product out so you don’t injury your scalp. And in case your situation is worsening or interfering together with your means to go about your day-to-day life, then think about scheduling a session with a dermatologist.