Are essential oils effective against dandruff?

Some people seek alternatives to traditional dandruff treatments, and prefer more natural solutions. These include essential oils, which are highly concentrated extracts of aromatic plants.

Essential oils and dandruff

They may be recommended to fight dandruff in addition to treatments. You should not choose essential oils to fight dandruff in the place of treatments, but people who do use them say they can have some complementary benefits.
Some essential oils may help combat dandruff thanks to their ability to fight excess sebum, irritation or itching.

Essential oils: use with care

Nevertheless, you should use essential oils with care, because although they are natural, this does not mean they are harmless, quite the contrary. A scalp with dandruff is a scalp that is damaged, which is why you cannot apply just any old product.

You must therefore take some necessary precautions before use:

• First, essential oils must not be used by pregnant women as a matter of precaution.
• They are applied locally, pure or diluted in vegetable oil.
• If using for the first time, it may be worthwhile carrying out a test in the crook of the elbow to check you are not allergic.
• You must not use them on your mucous membranes, ears, eyes, etc.
• Exposure to sun is prohibited following application, as there is a risk of solar erythema, or even an allergic skin reaction.
• Finally, not all essential oils have beneficial effects on dandruff, each oil serves its own specific purpose.

As you can see, essential oils must not be used indiscriminately. Do not hesitate to ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice, they will advise you on what to do in case of dandruff, and which solutions are best for you.