3. Oils and Essential Oils Our skin is covered in oil. These oils keep our skin soft and youthful while protecting against the environment and bacteria.

Shampoos often contain harsh chemicals that can strip these oils from the scalp leading to dry scalp and a flaky scalp. It’s long been a noted irony on this site that our dandruff shampoos can actually be causing dandruff.

We have been using oils to protect, moisturise and heal our skin for thousands of years and many of these oils have been and are still used to combat various forms of dandruff.

The first section will deal with essential oils. These are concentrated liquids normally containing plant extracts. The oils are very potent and, if applied undiluted to the skin, will cause severe reactions in some people. You can use Carrier oils (we'll deal with them next) to dilute the essential oil to safe levels before application on the skin.

The carrier oils themselves have medical properties themselves including anti fungal and/or moisturizing properties. Some of the oils will even help regulate skin cells production on your scalp.

Combining essential oils with carrier oils can create your own personalized, individual anti-dandruff treatment that is highly personalized for your own individual needs.

Read on to find your killer combination:

3(a). Essential Oils

Essential oils have been used for centuries for both medicinal and cosmetic purposes. The use of essential oils died down with the boon of pharmaceutical medicines but their popularity is rising again as we learn more about them using modern scientific clinical techniques.

The oils are typically distilled from plants and some of these oils contain a number of properties that can help control your dandruff.

It’s worth noting that the quality of essential oils varies wildly by manufacturer. There is no quality control on the oils so do your homework before buying.

To apply essential oils:

What you need

2 to 3 tablespoons of a carrier oil

6 to 9 drops of the essential oil (always confirm quantities with the manufacturers label before applying)

To apply

Mix the two oils well

Massage into the scalp

Leave for a few hours or preferably overnight

Rinse with cold/cool water

Wash out using your favorite shampoo/no poo

Warning: Essential Oils are potent. Always follow the directions on the bottle. Do not ingest or use while pregnant - there is a lack of published evidence to demonstrate their safety.

Cedarwood Oil

There are many different types of cedar conifer tree grown all over the world. The oil is derived from both the bark and foliage of the tree and has been used since the biblical times as a medicinal aid. Today the oil still has had many uses; particularly in medicine, in industry and in fragrances. The reason cedarwood oil is used to combat seb derm is that the cedarwood oil has proven antifungal[9] properties and is often used industrially as a fungicide.

Use to treat:

Seborrheic Dermatitis

Tea Tree Oil

The Tea Tree is an entire family of plants that grow natively in Australia and New Zealand. The name is of unknown origin but is reportedly from the days of Captain cook when they used the shrubbery to make a tea. Don't try this at home - the leaves are highly poisonous!

The shrubs have been used medicinally for many centuries. Ancient aboriginals would use the leaves as a topical treatment for burns, bites and other skin ailments and in recent decades usage of the oil has increased sharply.

The increased usage may be attributed to our increased awareness of the oil's capabilities. For example, there have been a number of clinical trials on successfully treating acne with tea tree. One of these trials went as far as to suggest that teat tree oil is as effective as benzoylperoxide[10] at treating dandruff.

In addition, other clinical trials have shown that the oil extracted from the plant has antifungal properties which are effective at controlling dandruff caused by seb derm[11].

One of the downsides to tea tree oil is the risk of contact dermatitis[12] so use it with care.

Use to treat

Dry Scalp, Seborrheic Dermatitis

Sage Oil

Sage, like many common herbs, has been used for medicinal as well as culinary purposes for centuries stretching back to the ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman empires.

In modern European herbal medicine a gargle of sage tea is commonly recommended to treat a wide variety of ailments such as sore throats, inflammations in the mouth, and gingivitis. This is because Sage has recognised astringent, anti inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties.[13]

In one clinical study, an extract of Sage was as effective as 1% hydrocortisone in treating the inflammation of erythma[14] (an itchy rash).

Use to treat

Dry Scalp, Seborrheic Dermatitis, Scalp Psoriasis

Lavender Oil

Lavender is a common garden herb that belongs to the mint family. There are almost 40 species that grow natively in countries from Europe to South East Asia. Medicinally it has been used for centuries and even now people use it to help with sleep and anxiety.

The oil of lavender is also an effective skin treatment as it has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory[15] properties which help heal minor burns and bug bites.

It’s anti-fungal properties have been measured by the University of Coimbra in Portugal who tested Lavender oil against a range of fungi. They reported, Lavandula oil shows wide-spectrum antifungal activity and is highly potent. This is a good starting point for developing this oil for clinical use to manage fungal infections.

Use to treat

Seborrheic Dermatitis

Peppermint Oil

Before writing this guide I assumed peppermint was a flavoring for gum and candy. I didn’t actually know that it had medicinal uses too. Of most interest to us is that it contains menthol which can help soothe dry or irritated scalps while reducing the redness and itchiness associated with the condition.

Use to treat

Dry Scalp

Eucalyptus Oil

The Eucalyptus is native to Australasia and the oil is used medicinally for a wide variety of purposes. The oil has has proven anti-inflammatory and painkilling[16] qualities. The oil contains a high concentration of cineole, an antiseptic agent that kills bacteria[17] and is sometimes found in mouthwashes.

This is an excellent choice if you have a dry itchy scalp.

Use to treat

Dry Scalp

Rosemary Oil

Rosemary is a beautiful scented herb that grows in abundance in many climates. Its has been used topically to treat dandruff and other ailments for centuries. The oil is high in antioxidants[18 which can heal dry skin as well as regulate the renewal of skin cells. In addition the oil also has an anti-inflammatory effect on swellings and the presences of camphor gives the oil antibacterial properties.

With this in mind, rosemary an excellent soothing remedy for dry skin.

Use to treat

Dry Scalp

Thyme Oil

Thyme is a herb rich in an ingredient called thymol. Thymol is an antiseptic ingredient that is used in hand sanitizers and mouthwashes. Thymol is also an antifungal agent[20] that has been shown to be effective against toenail fungal infections, acne and eczema[21].

Use to treat

Seborrheic Dermatitis

Neem Oil

Neem is a tree found in the Indian subcontinent and has been literally thousands of years to treat a wide variety of skin conditions. The neem leaf has been shown to demonstrate immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, antihyperglycaemic, antiulcer, antimalarial, antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant, antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic properties[22].

Use to treat

Dry Scalp, Seborrheic Dermatitis, Scalp Psoriasis

Lemongrass Oil

Lemongrass is a plant widespread in tropical/subtropical regions such as South East Asia, China, and Guatemala. It’s an incredibly popular food additive in many Asian cuisines and is also an ancient medicine for a wide variety of conditions. More recently it’s anti-fungal capabilities have been tested with extremely positive results. A 2% solution of lemongrass was shown to be a commercially viable treatment for seb derm[19]. In addition the oil is an antioxidant and astringent which will help tighten the skin, reduce the size of our pores, regulate skin cell production and regulate the amount of oil the skin produces.

Use to treat

Dry Scalp

Sandalwood Oil

Sandalwood is a class of woods found in India, Nepal, Bangladesh,Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Australia, Indonesia, Hawaii, and other Pacific Islands. It’s oil has been used as a fragrance in religious festivals for centuries in Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and other faiths. The oil is an antiseptic agent that also has antifungal and antibacterial properties. Although it’s an effective treatment in itself, it’s often combined with other essential oils for a fuller effect.

Use to treat

Dry Scalp, Seborrheic Dermatitis, Scalp Psoriasis