You know to use a deep conditioner whenever your strands need extra moisture, but it’s just as important to take care of your scalp to ensure your hair stays healthy. If you have flaking, itchiness, or redness caused by scalp psoriasis or another form of irritation, try one of these five easy, at-home treatments to control your symptoms. Be sure to check with your doctor before trying any at-home treatments to make sure they’ll be safe for you.
1. Olive Oil
Olive oil is good for your health, but it also has many benefits when applied to the scalp and hair. An olive oil mask, for example, can help tame frizz and add shine. Olive oil also helps loosen flakes associated with psoriasis, says Soheil Simzar, MD, a clinical instructor of dermatology at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine in Los Angeles. To get these benefits, massage 1 to 2 tablespoons of oil directly into the scalp. Depending on the severity of the plaques, you can leave the oil on anywhere from 10 minutes to overnight before washing it out (wear a shower cap to bed to keep the oil off your pillowcase). Prior to rinsing, use a fine-toothed comb to remove the loosened scales.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar
Thanks to its antibacterial properties, apple cider vinegar has the ability to ease the irritation of everything from bug bites to blisters. When it comes to your scalp, apple cider vinegar can help relieve the itch associated with psoriasis. Try it by saturating your scalp with a mixture of 1 to 2 parts water and 1 part vinegar several times a week for 10 minutes (just don’t try this at-home treatment if you have cracked or bleeding skin). Use a fine-toothed comb to gently remove scales once they’ve plumped up from the moisture, then shampoo and rinse as usual. You can also use the same apple cider vinegar rinse to remove dulling product build-up. Be sure to follow up with a deep conditioner to prevent your hair from drying out.
3. Oatmeal
Oatmeal isn’t just a cholesterol-lowering breakfast option — it’s a major skin soother, too. An oatmeal bath is a popular at-home treatment option to help alleviate the pain of rashes caused by poison ivy, chicken pox, and sunburns. And when applied to the scalp daily, oatmeal can help with inflammation associated with psoriasis or dryness, says Jennifer Burns, ND, a naturopathic doctor and founder or the Bienetre Center in Phoenix. For this easy at-home treatment, mix uncooked oatmeal with water to your desired consistency (you can even add some oil to the mix to help loosen scales). Smooth the paste onto your scalp and leave it in place for at least 10 minutes before rinsing.
4. Sea Salt
A study published in February 2005 in the International Journal of Dermatology found that magnesium salts, the minerals found in the Dead Sea, help improve skin barrier function in people with inflammatory conditions such as psoriasis. Here’s how to create your own salt scalp treatment: Combine Dead Sea salts (or Epsom salts) with a fine-to-slightly-coarse grain with olive or coconut oil until you reach a paste-like consistency. Gently rub a small amount of the mixture into your scalp anywhere from once a week to once a day, depending on the severity of the plaques, then wash it off, Dr. Burns says. Store any unused scrub in an airtight container; while the salt may dissolve over time, you can add more to bring it back to the thickness you like.
5. Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil, an essential oil distilled from the leaves of a plant native to Australia, has antibacterial and antifungal properties that can help keep the scalp free of infection that may result from frequent scratching. If you have dandruff, psoriasis, or a dry, itchy scalp, mix 1 part tea tree oil to 10 parts olive oil and dab the affected areas with a cotton ball. Leave it on for five minutes before rinsing out.
