Dandruff is a very irritating and embarrassing health disorder that is known to attack almost half of the population under the prepubertal age and without any concerns to gender or ethnicity. Leaving it’s white to yellowish dry loose flaking and scaling mild pruritis from the scalp all over your nails as they are known to be very itchy and on the shoulders as they fall off from your scalp. The good news is with the characteristics of oregano oil, we can easily prevent dandruff and the fungal that comes with it.
It is not surprising any more what oregano can do with all the latest developments and discoveries associated with the endless health benefit of the “miracle plant” oregano. For over thousands of years, ancient healers discovered the far-reaching health benefits of the oregano plant and it has never ceased to amaze oregano lovers how far oregano can heal us from numerous kinds of bacteria’s and ailments.
Oregano is also known to be a dandruff remover and an all-natural remedy for a fungal infected and itchy scalp. Oregano oil can be used to control and eliminate dandruff and dry scalps. You can use oregano oil to enrich your scalp and favors the growth of strong and healthy hair.
In this post, you will be able to learn more about what really causes irritating dandruff and how we can prevent them and get rid of the fungal infection and free our scalp from all the atrocities dandruff leave us with.
What Causes Dandruff ?
The common scalp disorder is a major cosmetic concern caused by the Malassezia furfur fungal species characterized as mention earlier by a whitish or yellowish loose and scaling dryness of the scalp. The Malassezia fungal yeast has been largely recognized as the main cause of dandruff as their lipase reactions set lose pro-inflammatory free fatty acids leading to dermal inflammation and tissue damages. Dandruff is also known to progress gradually via an irritating redness and an increased scaling of the scalp which further leads to seborrhoeic dermatitis which is considered to be a more severe condition of the disorder.
The Malassezia yeast is known to be made up of part of the microflora of human skin and is abundant in areas with high sebaceous glands as they carry lipid requirements that ensure growth and severity of dandruff.
Many studies were able to show several cases of dandruff which can be attributed to dry skin, not properly cleaning or scrubbing of the scalp, the use of chemical origin hair products, and cold weather conditions which further promote the dryness of the scalp and the flaking and scaling. This is due to the fact that, as the epidermal layer continues to replace itself the body cells push outward until they start to create flakes of skin which are very tiny to be visible until they become irritating and itchy.
Other causes of Dandruff may include;
Lack of water intake; Sometimes we fail to drink enough water which is required by our body which may cause dry skin and scalp. It is very necessary to drink at least 3 – 5 liters of water a day to enhance our overall health and prevent dry skin and scalp.
Over oily skin; It is important to note that severe oily skin can lead to seborrheic dermatitis which may affect our scalp and other areas with huge oil glands. It is always characterized by a greasy, red skin covered with a whitish to yellowish flaky and scaly skin.
Skin Conditions; Other skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema are always contributing factors to severe dandruff and symptoms of dry skin.
Certain marketed hair care products; The Majority of the hair care products are chemically developed to an extent that they can irritate our scalp and force the scalp to be red, itchy, and flaky. It is important to limit the use of shampoos to prevent frequent chemical activity on your scalp.
Depression, stress and mode shifts; Skin conditions are usually caused by our inability to relax. Depression, stress, and anxiety can go a long way to cause skin irritations which can lead to dry skin which can be noticed during times of depression. It is important to take or implement stress relieve behaviors like exercising, short walks, going for a massage and yoga activities.
Signs and Symptoms of Dandruff
- Itchy scalp
- White flakes usually on shoulders when wearing dark clothing
- Scally facial skin
- Facial skin with dry flakes and oily scalp
- Some facial rash over areas like the nose, ears, and eyebrows.
- Rash on the chest with dry flakes and red spots
- Eyebrow rash
- Beared Rash
- Frequent ear eczema
Conventional treatments and why they can’t get rid of dandruff.
There exist numerous treatment options which are chemically developed and are characterized by poor clinical efficiencies and compliance shortcomings. These treatments have failed to limit the recurrence of the fungal which is the main issue.
The most commonly available treatments include chemicals like glycolic acid, imidazole derivatives, sulfur, salicylic acid, zinc pyrithione, and tar derivatives. The combinations of these synthetic agents including the ketoconazole derivative are known to be active against the Malassezia yeast species but their limited scope in fighting the fungal and preventing the high level of recurrence has caused many solution seekers to reach out for more natural and herbal treatments with antifungal, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties which are all characteristics of essential oils.
Why Oregano oil is a potential cure for Dandruff.
Essential oils are known to be very volatile with antimicrobial and antifungal properties. Oregano oil is known to possess all such characteristics and many more which makes it possible for the oil to fight against dandruff.
The lack of artificial chemicals in oregano oil makes it suitable for our scalp and prevents any irritation caused by synthetic chemicals.
Oregano oil is also known to fight against major skin conditions like eczema which is known to cause dry skin and scalp.
How to use oregano oil for Dandruff?
In other to effectively reap the benefits of oregano oil it is important to use a 100% therapeutic grade and natural oregano oil. It is very important to buy oregano from a remarkable supplier with a high reputation in the market.
You can use oregano oil by adding a few drops of say 2-3 drops alongside with your shampoo and apply on the scalp and massage gently. Wait for 4-5 minutes and rinse off.
You can also use oregano oil with a carrier oil like coconut or olive oil and apply on the scalp about twice daily for severe dandruff cases. Simply mix 2-3 drops of oregano oil into a tablespoon of coconut or olive oil and apply on the scalp. Use your fingertips to massage gently and allow the oil to get right
Other activities to ensure quick healing of dandruff.
Here are some activities you can undertake alongside using oregano oil to get rid of dandruff.
- Drink a lot of water. It is very important to drink a lot of water to prevent dry skin and scalp
- Increase your intake of probiotics. Probiotics are widely known to greatly improve our overall health. In many
instances, skin conditions can be due to the foods we eat but probiotics can help increase beneficialbacteria in our system. - Massage once in a while with apple cider vinegar as it is known to fight against the yeast fungus that causes dandruff and eliminate itchiness. You can mix equal amounts of apple cider vinegar and water and massage gently into the scalp. You can wait for a few minutes and rinse.
- Use Aloe vera to ease itchiness and treat your dandruff. Studies have shown the possibilities of aloe vera to prevent the seborrheic dermatitis skin condition which is widely known to cause dandruff. You can simply peel the aloe vera leaf to get the thick fluid from within and apply on your dandruff. You can simply buy an aloe vera gel and apply directly.
- Increase your omega 3s food intake. Consume more foods with omega 3 as they are beneficial for hydrating the skin. Foods like Salmons and chia seeds are rich in healthy omega-3.
- It is known, depression, anxiety or stress may lead to dandruff issues. Chronic stress has never been any good for our skin. Try to observe if your dandruff outbreaks are due to mood switches and try to prevent them with stress relief activities like meditating, calm your mind, going for a walk, join a gym, and also go for a massage as they can greatly help to reduce stress.
- Try to get zinc and selenium supplements once in a while as they can greatly help for scalp conditions. These minerals are highly used in the majority of the sold shampoos and hair products. It is also important to note the excess of zinc and selenium may not be good for the health.
- You can use a combination of great essential oils rich in antibacterial, antifungal, antimicrobial, and antiviral properties. These essential oils may include lemongrass, tea tree oil, lavender, cypress, thyme and evergreen which can be good choices. You can use a combination of these oils to derive your own dandruff hair and scalp mask mixed with carrier oils like coconut and olive oil.
- You can also use plain virgin coconut oil as it is also rich in fatty acids which include lauric and capric acid. Also, coconut oil is also rich in antimicrobial, antiviral and antifungal properties which can greatly help with skin conditions
- Olive oil can also be used to temporarily get rid of dandruff whitish to yellowish flakes. You can simply apply olive oil on the scaly dryness on the scalp and wait for an hour and then brush the hair. For crucial or severe dandruff condition, you can keep the oil on the scalp for the whole night but remember to limit the usage to avoid oily hairs.
- The use of lemon juice extract
. The lemon juice extract is known to contain about 5% to 6% citric acid which has a high potential to inhibit fungal growth which is greatly used to fight dandruff.
Using oregano for lovers of oregano to get rid of dandruff can be very effective with positive results but is is very important to use a natural, pure and therapeutic grade oregano oil. It is very important to avoid chemical based shampoos when dealing with dandruff. These chemicals will only increase the severity of the fugal. Feel free to share your experience with using oregano oil to fight against dandruff so we can easily benefit from your experience.
Great article! Very helpful.
Thanks for sharing such a fantastic blog!
King regards,
Mead Raahauge