Dandruff shampoos may be overly harsh or have complex ingredient lists that can raise concerns about additional allergic reactions. Those seeking simpler remedies for dandruff may be intrigued by honey, a common household item. While there are many reasons dandruff occurs and many strategies for dandruff prevention and treatment, applying honey topically can be quick and easy to incorporate into everyday hygiene habits with little risk of side effects.
About Dandruff
The National Institutes of Health attributes two causes for dandruff: sebum (skin oil), which helps maintain skin moisture and elasticity, and yeast (malassezia), which keeps oil production in check. In a state of healthy balance, the scalp and hair are supple without being overly oily.
However, the yeast can multiply due to an array of factors, including hormonal changes, increased stress, immune problems, allergies, or underlying skin conditions, notes the Mayo Clinic. When the yeast proliferates, it raids the scalp for any available sebum, leading to dry and irritated skin. The scalp retaliates by speeding up the normal process of skin regeneration, and the abundant skin cells shed off in flakes.
Therapeutic dandruff shampoos or medicinal creams may also cause further skin irritations.
About Honey
Honey is product produced by bees using the nectar they obtain from an array of different flowers. Honey is commonly used as a sweetener in foods and beverages, but it also appears in some cosmetics, due to its humectant and antibacterial properties.
Honey may be raw or commercially pasteurized, which can lengthen its shelf life. It is widely available in generic, brand-label, and certified organic forms. However, the Mayo Clinic notes that bacterial spores in any kind of honey can lead to botulism, a rare but potentially fatal form of food poisoning in infants. It recommends giving honey to children only after they turn one year old.
Although a 2007 study in the "Archives of Adolescent and Pediatric Medicine" showed ingested honey to relieve cough in children, research on the topical applications of honey has been limited to adults.
Honey and Skin Research
The hallmark study for honey's therapeutic effect on dandruff was published in the European Journal of Medical Research in 2004. Researchers applied honey to the scalp of 30 people struggling with dandruff for three hours daily, washing the substance off with warm water. Within one week, the symptom of itching subsided dramatically, and within two weeks, skin lesions disappeared. After four weeks, researchers switched to once-weekly treatments, for another six months. Subjects reported little relapse and improved scalp condition, as well as less hair loss.
While not focused on dandruff, a 2003 study in the journal "Complementary Therapies in Medicine" found the topical administration of a honey mixture improved symptoms of dermatitis and psoriasis in two weeks. In 2004, the journal published a study tracking a three-week regimen of using a honey mixture that led to significant improvements in three different skin fungal infections.
Honey Applications
You can apply honey directly to the scalp, leaving it on for 15-30 minutes before washing it out with warm water. If time allows, place on a shower cap and leave the honey on the skin for several hours. To maintain its therapeutic benefit, do not use a shampoo afterward.
While honey which has been heated may be thinner and easier to apply, exercise extreme caution to prevent burning the skin. Dip a cotton swab into the heated honey and dab it on before applying larger quantities. Due to the huge variation in honey products, be wary of causing new skin allergies.
Dandruff Precautions
Sudden dandruff or dandruff with abrupt hair loss may be the sign of a larger health concern and should be referred to a health care provider. Dandruff in young children is unusual and should be differentiated from possible lice or ringworm, which are contagious but treatable skin diseases. If you want to change dandruff medications, consult with your health care provider before stopping your current treatment regimen.
