Dandruff can be a frustrating and embarrassing condition. Dressing up smart for some fancy event only for someone to make a wisecrack like “is it snowing outside” when they see the collection of white dots on your shoulder… yeah, not nice.
In recent times people have been asking questions about hair oil and how it relates to dandruff. We thought we’d tackle this topic. So can hair oil cause dandruff?
The deal with dandruff
Contrary to popular belief, dandruff isn’t dry skin dropping from your scalp. Dandruff is actually a totally separate medical condition that is caused by a build-up of a type of yeast. This yeast then feeds on excess oil and dead skin cells to form dandruff. We must interject here and say if you are suffering from dandruff or are worried about it, you should speak to a doctor for medical advice.
Hair oil has many benefits
Before we explore the link it may have with dandruff, let’s remind ourselves of the fantastic benefits hair oil provides.
Firstly it is a brilliant moisturizer. If your hair is feeling straw-like after using one too many straighteners or curling irons, or perhaps you’ve spent too long in a chlorinated swimming pool, a good hair oil will restore that nourishment to your strands. What a relief!
Hair oil can also do wonders for strengthening your luscious locks. If you want to grow your hair you need to constantly make sure your hair is as healthy as possible. Oils can fill this role as they form protective layers around your follicles which strengthens them in every way. Truly amazing.
So does hair oil cause dandruff?
We’re pleased to report that hair oil does not cause dandruff. Thank goodness! However, that’s not the full story. There is some evidence to suggest that using hair oil when you are already suffering from dandruff could in fact make your symptoms worse. This is because the yeast that causes dandruff feeds on the extra oil you are rubbing into your hair, giving it a nice full belly, so to speak. This will amplify the number of flakes you produce, and you may experience even more of those awkward dandruff party moments.
Here’s how to treat dandruff
Again, we’d like to emphasize that dandruff is considered a medical issue and should be treated by a doctor. However, there are a couple of homemade remedies you can try that might alleviate some of the discomforts that come with dandruff.
Firstly, people have reported positive improvements by applying lemon juice to their scalp and leaving it for about 30 minutes before rinsing it out with water. The reason this works is that the acidity within lemon juice acts to balance out the PH level of your scalp. Pretty sweet huh!
Next, and this might sound a little weird but trust us.. but crushing up aspirin tablets and applying them to shampoo has been reported as being rather helpful for dandruff. This is because it contains salicylic acid which is also a major ingredient in many anti-dandruff creams and shampoos. Good to know.
Final Word
Dandruff isn’t pleasant, but hair oil won’t cause it. It may make symptoms a little bit more unpleasant, but it won’t suddenly spawn chronic dandruff over your scalp.
Always remember to treat your scalp and hair with the nourishment and love they deserve. That way you can prevent many issues in the future.
