Ease Itchy Scalp with Coconut Oil: Here’s How to Use It

Coconut oil is a great option for skin care because it’s packed with moisture, which is perfect for dry skin, including dandruff. Dandruff happens when your skin sheds too many cells, causing flakes that itch when scratched. Wondering if coconut oil helps with dandruff? 

What causes dandruff?

Some dandruff comes from a helpful fungus called Malassezia, which breaks down oils on your skin. But if there’s too much fungus, it can leave behind stuff that irritates your skin, causing dryness and flaky dandruff. Oily skin and a type of eczema called seborrheic dermatitis can also lead to dandruff. With seborrheic dermatitis, the flakes are oilier and yellowish. Not washing your hair often or using lots of oils can make this kind of dandruff worse.

Efficacy of Coconut Oil for Dandruff & More

Using coconut oil can help with dandruff, make your scalp feel better, and help your hair grow. Some studies suggest that it does more than just these benefits, such as:

Supporting Healthy Bacteria

A study from 2021 showed that coconut oil keeps the good bacteria and fungi on your scalp healthy. This helps reduce dandruff.

Fighting Inflammation

Another study found that coconut oil can ease pain and swelling. This can calm the itchiness and discomfort caused by certain skin issues, like seborrheic dermatitis and psoriasis.

Keeping Moisture In

Research in 2014 discovered that people with dry skin who used coconut oil on their scalps kept their skin moist. This helps stop it from getting too dry.

Why It Works

The special fats in coconut oil help with the irritation and flakes of dandruff. One of these fats, called lauric acid, balances the bacteria on your scalp, making it less dry and flaky.

How to Use Coconut Oil for Dandruff

If you have dermatitis and take medicine, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor before trying coconut oil. Using coconut oil for dandruff is simple. Instead of your regular shampoo and conditioner, use coconut oil.

Here’s how:

• Put the oil on your scalp and spread it all over your hair.
• Leave it on for a few minutes so it can soak in.
• Then, rinse it off well. If you like a foamy wash, mix the oil with warm water before using it.

Some recipes mix coconut oil with other stuff like essential oils or jojoba oil. These can be like special treatments you leave in for a while. You might want to wear a shower cap to keep the oil off your clothes and surfaces until you rinse it off.

Your skin and hair might feel better right after, but if your dandruff is tough, it might take a few goes before you see big changes. If coconut oil isn’t helping, talk to your doctor. Some shampoos you can buy have coconut oil in them, too.

Potential Side Effects of Coconut Oil

Using coconut oil on your skin and scalp is usually okay. But for some people, especially those with sensitive skin or eczema, there might be a small chance of problems.

Because it’s oily, coconut oil could make your scalp feel worse for some people. If you have dandruff from something called seborrheic dermatitis, coconut oil might make your scalp oilier and make the dandruff worse.

Before you put coconut oil on your scalp, try a bit on your skin first, like on your arm. Wait a day to see if anything bad happens before you use it on your scalp. Sometimes, it takes a while for a reaction to show up.

When to See a Doctor

Dandruff is usually not a big deal, and you can deal with it at home. But sometimes, you might need to see a special doctor called a dermatologist.

You might have to see a dermatologist if:

• Stuff you tried at home, like coconut oil, didn’t work.
• You used special shampoos from the store for a while, but they didn’t help.
• Your dandruff is really bad and your scalp is super itchy.
• Your scalp looks red, swollen, or has sores.
• Your immune system is weak.

The doctor will check your scalp to figure out what’s causing the dandruff and give you a plan to fix it. They might give you a special shampoo to get rid of the tough dandruff.

Coconut Oil May Help with Dandruff, But with Considerations

Using coconut oil can help with dandruff, but be careful. Try it on a small part of your skin first to make sure it doesn’t cause any problems. Don’t use too much or use it all the time, as this could make your dandruff worse. You can also try other natural stuff, like tea tree oil. If coconut oil doesn’t help, you can try special shampoos from the store. Talk to your doctor to figure out what’s best for you