Natural and home remedies for dandruff and scalp problems.
Archive for January, 2010
I Have A Burning Red Itchy Scalp – How Can I Get Rid Of It?
Jan 18th
Anne Cresacre asked:
This is a common question I am often asked and in most cases simple natural home remedies can be used to soothe and treat the affliction.
However, the first thing we need to ascertain is: what has caused your itchy burning scalp?
A red burning itchy scalp is generally characterized by a tingling, prickly, burning hot sensation and is thus most likely caused by one of the following:
Sunburn or Chemical burn A reaction to the hair products you are using Excessive drying of the scalp through the use of harsh shampoos and conditioners, particularly ones that contain ingredients such as SLS (Sodium Laureth Sulphate) – a strong de-greasing agent A Fungal Infection
Emotional stress, physical exhaustion, and poor diet can also affect your scalp and cause irritations although to a lesser extent. They will tend to be more aggravators than causes of your burning itchy scalp.
Remedies To Get Rid Of Your Burning Itchy Scalp
Take A Look At The Shampoo You Are Using
Many shampoos on the market today contain strong ingredients and chemicals that will continue to seriously aggravate your red burning itchy scalp. By selecting a good naturally pH-balanced shampoo you can ease the pain and burning sensation, and begin to treat your scalp problem.
Natural ingredients such as Yucca (a natural foaming agent), along with Chamomile, Tea Tree, Coconut, and Manuka Honey, are excellent at killing bacterias and fungus’s and soothing your scalp.
Contrary to popular opinion, these shampoos are not normally much more expensive than the standard ones you see on the store shelves, usually because there aren’t huge marketing campaigns behind them. In fact in many cases they will work out cheaper.
Use Natural Essential Oils In Your Hair Products
Lavender Oil and Neem Oil are particularly good for getting rid of red sore burning itchy scalp problems, and Rosemary Oil will help to soothe your scalp. Oils like Jojoba, German Chamomile can reduce inflammation, and Tea Tree Oil has great anti fungal and antiseptic properties.
These and other essential oils will often be found in the natural shampoos, but giving a little extra boost will also work wonders. Lemon or lime juice are excellent additives too (will be called Citric acid on the shampoo label), and can really make your hair look and feel great.
Birch Tree Remedy
Birch is great for clearing up skin irritations. Prepare like so:
Boil the bark of birch trees in water Remove from heat, strain the mixture and let cool Apply to affected areas
Anti-Inflammatory Chamomile Compress
Boil a pint of water Add 2 teaspoons of chamomile flowers Leave to steep and cool Apply to affected areas
Chamomile oil dabbed on scalp sores is very soothing
Scalp Psoriasis – Scratch the Itch
Jan 16th
Kelly A. Lee asked:
Dealing with an itchy scalp and its embarrassing dandruff or flaky white skin can really drive a people to drastic methods to stop the itch. These raised silvery white plaques of scaling skin that cover the scalp along with dry patches of red skin irritation can be unbearable and even maddening to live with.
At times the constant itchiness of scalp psoriasis can be so consuming for people, they dig at their scalp obsessively until it bleeds and those observing this obsessive-compulsive behavior often regard it as repulsive. Some people even unknowingly fear psoriasis thinking it is contagious, and go to incredible measures in order to avoid body contact and interaction with the “neurotic itchers.”
There are old wives tales and home remedies to cure just about everything, with many having been around for centuries. Here are a few examples of myths said to cure one of an itchy scalp.
In a clean spray bottle put 100ml of water and five drops of pure essential oil of lavender. Shake well. Use once in morning and once at night. Spray a little directly on the infected area and rub it in. After applying, try not to touch the treated area.
Take and mix together an over ripe avocado, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, and 1 teaspoon of honey. Once mixed, rub into scalp and hair and then put a shower cap on for half an hour to an hour. Wash out.
Mix ΒΌ cup of clay with a little splash of water then apply to the irritated area. Remove clay once it has dried and reapply fresh clay. Repeat several times.
Pour apple cider vinegar over the scalp until it becomes saturated, then wrap a towel around head leaving for 30 minutes to one hour. After, rinse away vinegar and wash hair with a non- sodium laurel sulfate shampoo! Finish treatment by massaging scalp with aloe- vera or jojoba oil.
Find a field and pick 4 marigold flowers or visit your local flower shop. Remove the stems and put marigold flower heads in four cups of boiling water. Allow flowers to boil for four minutes. Set aside, letting water cool to room temperature. Massage solution into the scalp. Wash with shampoo, rinse, add lemon juice or vinegar, rinse, and done.
Boil one cup of water and then remove from head and add 1 teaspoon of sarsaparilla root. Let cool. Strain so that water is saved. Put a washcloth into strained solution. Squeeze washcloth out and apply to infected area.
While some of these old wives tales and home remedies may truly work and others may not, here are a two real myths:
Myth one: if it works for one it works for everyone. Reality: there is no one thing for everyone.
Myth two: scalp psoriasis is contagious and can spread from person to person and on the body. Reality: Scalp psoriasis is not contagious. All types of psoriasis including scalp psoriasis will not spread to other people, and for that matter will not spread to other areas on the body.
3 Natural Itchy Scalp Treatments – Home Remedies That Work
Jan 15th
Anne Cresacre
asked:
asked:
Do you have a dry, itchy, flaky scalp? Is it sore, red and painful? Do you suffer from dandruff?
Fear not because help is at hand. Although an itchy scalp and dandruff can be frustrating, they can also be solved using natural treatments instead of having to resort to the strong synthetic drugs produced by the pharmaceutical industry. After all, nature has provided us with natural cures for our ailments, so we might as well make use of them.
Whether you’re suffering from dandruff, psoriasis, ringworm, or just simply a sore scalp, you can use natural remedies to soothe, alleviate and ultimately cure your dry, itchy scalp condition.
Here I’m going to show you 3 excellent little home remedies that are cheap, cheerful, and quick to prepare.
Itchy Scalp Home Remedy No. 1
Fenugreek seeds are excellent for getting rid of dandruff:
Take 2 tablespoons of fenugreek seeds and soak overnight in water In the morning grind the soft seeds into a fine paste Apply this paste all over scalp and leave for half an hour Rinse off thoroughly with soap nut solution A teaspoon of lime juice on the last rinse will work wonders
You should brush your hair daily to improve the circulation and remove any flakiness caused by dandruff. The scalp should also be massaged thoroughly daily, to improve circulation, remove excess dirt and dead skin cells, and encourage hair growth. It only takes a few minutes to perform. Spread your fingers fanwise and slip them through the hair. With your thumb pressed behind your ears, press down on your scalp with your fingertips. Now rotate your fingers so that they move the scalp over the bony structure of the head. You’ll feel your skin move and the scalp tingle. Move up an inch at a time until you have covered the whole head.
Itchy Scalp Home Remedy No. 2
To relieve itching, natural oils such as German Chamomile, Eucalyptus, and Lavender can have a profound soothing effect when mixed together and dabbed locally on affected areas. Using Neem oil can significantly help to prevent dandruff and is often used to relieve conditions like psoriasis and eczema.
Add these oils to water (4 parts water to 1 part oil) and spray directly onto the scalp and/or add to your shampoo and conditioners also to alleviate your itchy scalp.
(Note: You should patch test all oils first before application, and you MUST consult a doctor if you are pregnant before starting any treatment).
Itchy Scalp Home Remedy No. 3
Birch was used by native Americans to clear up skin irritations. It can be used effectively for modern problems such as psoriasis, eczema etc.
Boil the bark of birch trees in water Strain the mixture Once cooled, apply to the scalp to help clear up your itchy scalp sores.
Using a Dandruff Home Remedy to Get Rid of That Flaky Scalp
Jan 12th
Geoff White
asked:
asked:
If you are suffering from dandruff, there is no need to run out and buy some expensive shampoo to solve the problem. You will be amazed at how many things you have in your home already that will be just as if not more effective than a dandruff shampoo. Use a dandruff home remedy so you don’t have to go through the embarrassment of having your scalp all over your shoulders.
Before you can cure something, you need to know what it actually is. Dandruff itself is the actual shedding of skin from your scalp. If you’re wearing dark clothing, you can easily see it as the white flakes will be in plain sight. If this gets out of control, you can suffer from constant itching and irritation that can lead to more serious case.
The dandruff is caused because your scalp is dry. The dryness can be caused from a variety of reasons, and this is the main condition the UF to alleviate in order to rid yourself of those nasty flakes.
Before buying shampoo, going to your cupboard and get out the olive oil. Warm it up in a microwave and then massage it into your scalp for about a half minute. Leave the oil to soak in for about 15 to 20 minutes and then brush her hair thoroughly with a bristle brush. When you’ve done that, wash out your hair with shampoo and rinse thoroughly. Do this a couple of times a week and it should help cure your dandruff.
Tea tree oil has also been proven to be very effective in naturally treating dandruff. It is becoming so popular, that many shampoos actually already included as one of their ingredients. In checking the makeup of your favorite shampoo and realizing that tea tree oil is not an ingredient, you can simply buy some and add about a 5% solution to the shampoo bottle. You can also apply this directly to your scalp in the same way that you did with the olive oil. Either way is very effective as a dandruff home remedy.
Cure For Itchy Scalp
Jan 10th
Anne Cresacre asked:
So you’re looking for a cure for itchy scalp? Well, the good news is that, in most cases, an itchy scalp can be cured and soothed quite easily with a simple home remedy.
What Caused My Itchy Scalp?
An itchy scalp can be an irritating and annoying affliction and, without treatment, can become increasingly worse. Although there are many possible reasons for an itchy scalp, a lot of the time these days it can be due to the harsh chemicals placed in many of the off-the-shelf shampoos and conditioners on the market. These chemicals can dry out the skin, stripping it of its natural oils and thereby causing an itchy, flaky scalp. One of the worst of these chemicals is Sodium Laureth Sulphate – commonly known as SLS which is an aggressive cleaning and foaming agent commonly used as an engine degreaser. SLS has been proven to strip oils from and prematurely age your skin, damage eye membranes, retard healing, inhibit hair follicle growth and more, yet it’s added to 90% of shampoos! Silicone is another harmful chemical used as an artificial shine enhancer in many leading brand conditioners.
Reactions to perm chemicals,and hair dye allergies are also very common these days. If you’ve recently been to the hairdressers and are suffering from an itchy scalp, this could be the reason, although they should always patch test any products before applying them to your scalp.
Other possible reasons could be stress brought on by exhaustion or emotional tension, an allergic skin reaction (contact dermatitis), viral infections, such as chickenpox and shingles or a skin condition, such as acne.
A fungus like Ringworm (tinea capitis) could also be causing your itchy scalp. Ringworm is a superficial fungal infection of the scalp and is caused by mold-like fungi called dermatophytes. Ringworm of the skin starts as a red, scaly patch or bump, and tends to be very itchy and uncomfortable. Over time, it may begin to look like a ring or a series of rings with raised, bumpy, scaly borders (the center is often clear), but not every person who’s infected develops the rings.
How Can I Cure My Itchy Scalp?
There are loads of natural cures. Here I’ll show you some of the best..
A quick cure for itchy scalp can be made at home by using a combination or Rosemary and Chamomile:
Get 3 sprigs of rosemary, chop them up and add to 3 tea bags of chamomile tea Boil gently, let cool, and strain Rinse your hair with this liquid for a calming anti-inflammatory effect for an inflamed, itchy or sore scalp
Fenugreek seeds are excellent for getting rid of dandruff:
Take 2 tablespoons of fenugreek seeds and soak overnight in water In the morning grind the soft seeds into a fine paste Apply this paste all over scalp and leave for half an hour Rinse off thoroughly with soap nut solution A teaspoon of lime juice on the last rinse will work wonders
It is important to keep the hair and scalp clean so as to avoid the build up of dead cells which will only aggravate the itchy scalp problem.
I would recommend trying to replace your current shampoo with a natural one, like a Tea Tree Oil based shampoo. Tea Tree Oil is a fantastic anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory natural ingredient which will help to soothe your itchy scalp and prevent infections. Other great natural oils to look out for when choosing a shampoo or conditioner are Zinc Pyrithione and Jojoba. Zinc pyrithione is great at combating dandruff and as a cure for itchy scalp conditions.
First synthesized in the 1930’s, it is the most widely used active ingredient from a natural source. Having good anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties it’s used to treat dandruff, itchy scalp, seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, eczema and numerous other skin and scalp disorders. Jojoba is excellent as a scalp moisturizer and helps to re-balance sebum.
The hair should be brushed daily to improve the circulation and remove any flakiness. The most effective way to brush the hair is to bend forward from the waist with the head down towards the ground, and brush from the nape of the neck towards the top of the head. Short or shoulder-length hair can be brushed right from the roots to the ends in one stroke. In the case of long hair, two strokes would be best to avoid stretching the hair.
The scalp should also be massaged thoroughly daily, to improve circulation, remove excess dirt and dead skin cells, and encourage hair growth. For a proper massage, spread your fingers fanwise and slip them through the hair. With your thumb pressed behind your ears, press down on your scalp with your fingertips. Now rotate your fingers so that they move the scalp over the bony structure of the head. You will feel your skin move and the scalp tingle. Move up an inch at a time until you have covered the whole head. It takes only a few minutes to perform.
Reducing stress will help your body in its natural healing process, and also go some way to preventing your itchy scalp condition from returning. Prevention is better than a cure, as they say. Use some natural bath oils like Lavender or Valerian Oil to help you to relax and de-stress after a hard day.
(As with all oils, consult your doctor first if you are pregnant. It is also recommended you patch test all oils/formulas before application or addition to your shampoos).