Tea tree oil and dandruff?

If you're looking for an alternative to anti-dandruff shampoos, you may like the results of this study. You'll also learn my simple technique for using tea tree oil for dandruff.

If you have dandruff, you know how bothersome it can get. Flaking, itching and burning are hallmark symptoms of this scalp condition.

I thought dandruff was caused by having a dry scalp but the most common cause of dandruff is a fungus called Pityrosporum ovale.

The most popular way to stop dandruff is with chemically-treated shampoos and scalp treatments.

You can use dandruff shampoos like Head & Shoulders and Selsun Blue. Most of these products contain 1% Pyrithione Zinc, a common antifungal drug used to treat dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis.

I've used Head & Shoulders shampoo in the past but found it wasn't consistent in controlling my dandruff. Sometimes my dandruff is non-existent and other days it's worse.

It seems the more I used this shampoo, the worse my dandruff got. On 'bad' days, I couldn't wear dark shirts because people could see those tell-tale flakes on my upper back and shoulders.

Is there another way to stop that persistent itching and flaking?

It turns out you can use tea tree oil on dandruff to control the flaking and itching.

Studies show tea tree oil has anti-fungal properties. These properties can help control your dandruff and give you a healthier scalp and cleaner hair.

Below you'll read a research study proving the effectiveness of 5% tea tree oil shampoo for controlling dandruff.

Using Tea Tree Oil for Dandruff an Effective Treatment

Camperdown, Australia - Researchers compared 5% tea tree oil shampoo with a placebo to see what the effects were on dandruff and scalp health.

One hundred and twenty-six (126) male and female patients were given a 5% tea tree oil shampoo or placebo shampoo to use every day for 4 weeks. The dandruff was measured for amount of itchiness, scaliness and greasiness.

The results of the study were:

• 41% improvement in the tea tree oil group, compared to only 11% in the placebo group.

• Tea tree oil reduced the severity of symptoms.

• Tea tree oil reduced the amount of greasiness of the hair and scalp.

• There were no adverse side effects from using tea tree oil.

Researchers concluded that 5% tea tree oil shampoo is a very effective and well tolerated in the treatment of dandruff.

Comments:

Research supports the effectiveness of combining tea tree oil and dandruff treatment. This natural dandruff treatment may work for you.

Here's how to use a tea tree oil and dandruff shampoo

1. Pour a small amount of shampoo in your palm.

2. Add a few drops of organic Tea Tree Oil to the shampoo before massaging the mixture into your head and scalp. If you use too much oil, it'll reduce the amount of suds from your shampoo. Try using only a couple of drops and adjust accordingly.

3. Leave the shampoo mixture in your hair for about 5 minutes before rinsing.

Here's what you may experience:

• A cool and tingling sensation on your scalp while tea tree oil/shampoo mixture soaks in.

• The tea tree oil may leave your hair shinier.

• You may experience a really deep clean feeling in your hair after rinsing out.

• Decreased amount of dandruff and less itchy scalp.

I use this mixture whenever I want to give my hair and scalp a really good deep-cleaning.

You may have to follow this routine for about 2 weeks before seeing consistent results. I find it really gives me clean, shiny, dandruff-free hair. I like that "tingly-feeling" I get from using the tea tree oil.

Using tea tree oil on dandruff is an excellent home remedy for dandruff.

You can also try using tea tree oil shampoos and conditioners. These specialty hair care products are conveniently mixed with tea tree oil for a healthy scalp.

To improve your scalp and hair health, try to use products that are organic, sodium lauryl sulphate-free, have no detergents and have a skin-friendly pH for minimal scalp irritation. Using organic hair care products may also help balance your scalp pH and improve your hair's strength, shine and body.

Best Tea Tree Oils and Tea Tree Oil Shampoos for Dandruff

For the ultimate in natural dandruff treatment, try adding 100% tea tree oil to your hair care regimen and see what happens.

Using 100% natural skin care products that are compatible with scalp health may reduce your risk for dandruff.

A great tea tree oil to add to your shampoo is Thursday Plantation Tea Tree Oil. This oil has a high terpinen-4-ol content to deep clean your scalp and it has low para-cymene levels to minimize scalp irritation. This is the same tea tree oil I've used to mix with my shampoos.

Another great product to use is Tea Tree Oil Shampoos. These specialty shampoos have tea tree oil mixed right in and they're ready to use right out of the bottle.

Jason Natural Cosmetics Tea Tree Oil Hair & Scalp Therapy is one such shampoo. This product seems to have been effective on some customers.

Another tea tree oil shampoo is Thursday Plantation Tea Tree Deep Scalp Cleansing Shampoo I haven't used this product but I have used their 100% tea tree oil. This shampoo contains tea tree oil to help fight bacteria and fungal infections. Thursday Plantation tree oil has a high terpinen-4-ol content so I'm sure it will be an effective treatment for stopping dandruff in it's tracks. Thursday Plantation says their tea tree oil has a low para-cymene content to minimize scalp irritation.

If you have dandruff and itchy scalp problems that haven't responded to traditional treaments, try using tea tree oil. You may also benefit from using 100% organic hair products. Your dandruff may be a result of an allergic reaction to the petrochemicals and solvents that may be found in a lot of hair care products. Using organic products may help nourish your hair and scalp back to it's original healthy shine.

Research References:

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