Apple vinegar has anti-inflammatory, and antifungal it also helps reduce itching caused by dry skin. Try diluting apple cider vinegar in warm water and using it as a rinse after shampooing to alleviate dandruff and an itchy scalp.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is extracted from mature coconuts. It contains lauric acid, a saturated fat that has antimicrobial properties. Lauric acid helps the skin absorb coconut oil efficiently. This makes it a soothing treatment for itchy scalp.
Coconut oil may be helpful for itchy scalps caused by eczema. It may also be helpful for combating head lice. One 2010 study analyzed the healing power of coconut oil mixed with anise. Researchers found this combination to be more successful at delousing and eliminating scalp itch than permethrin, a medication used to treat lice.
Natural peppermint oil
Natural peppermint oil is very much effective at reducing dandruff and soothing the scalp, calming down the itch. Try diluting it with another oil, such as olive oil, and massaging it into the scalp before shampooing. You can also use peppermint tea as a rinse after shampooing.
Keep meditating
Meditation helps a lot, it may not surprise you that activities which reduce stress, such as meditation, may be effective at eliminating itchy scalps caused by anxiety. It may also help with itching due to eczema.
A study on meditation and its effect on eczema at Emory University indicated that the perception of itching may be improved by this age-old practice by providing a coping mechanism and a sense of control. Meditation can be tried alone or in conjunction with other itchy-scalp remedies. If you’re new to meditation, try taking a class or listening to a meditation tape, app, or podcast.
Have you heard of tea tree oil before?
It’s one of the essential oil available at health food stores, tea tree oil has antimicrobial, antifungal, and antiseptic properties. It also has anti-inflammatory effects. Tea tree oil can be irritating to the skin, so it’s important to use it sparingly or dilute it prior to use.
Try adding 10 to 20 drops of tea tree oil to a gentle shampoo or mix it with olive oil and massage it directly into your scalp. Tea tree oil can help reduce or eliminate itching associated with dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, and head lice. Tea tree oil should never be ingested.
Zinc shampoo
A large study found that people with dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis have more than double the amount of histamine on their head skin than those without itchy scalps. The study analyzed the effect of shampoos containing zinc pyrithione on histamine levels. Participants with scalp itch who used zinc pyrithione shampoo had a significant reduction in histamine levels and in itch intensity.
Salicylic acid
There are shampoos containing salicylic acid that are effective at treating itchy scalp caused by psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis. Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid found in evergreen leaves and white willow tree bark. It has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. It’s also able to generate exfoliation of the skin, which may make it particularly effective for the scaly, itchy patches associated with psoriasis.
Shampoos containing this ingredient may vary by strength, so make sure to read labels and follow the usage instructions given. Some salicylic acid shampoos require light massage into the scalp during use, repeated daily or almost daily. Shampoos with this ingredient can be found in health food stores, online, and in drugstores.
Ketoconazole shampoo.
Ketoconazole is a broad-spectrum, antifungal agent. It’s effective at reducing Malassezia yeast. This is a fungus that may become overabundant on the scalp and cause Malassezia folliculitis, or scalp psoriasis. It’s available by prescription and also as an ingredient in certain shampoos.
Ketoconazole shampoos may reduce dandruff, scaly patches, and the itch caused by seborrheic dermatitis. Shampoos may have 1 or 2 per cent of ketoconazole as an active ingredient. They may require different use techniques, such as daily shampooing
